“Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.
So ·do you think you can build a house for me [^Lwhere is this house you would build for me]?
    ·Do I need a place to rest [Where is my resting place]?
² [^LHasn’t…?] My hand made all things.
    All things are here because I made them,”
says the Lord.

“These are the people ·I am pleased with [^Lupon whom I look]:
    those who are ·not proud or stubborn [humble and contrite in spirit]
    and who ·fear [tremble at] my word.
³ But those people who kill bulls as a sacrifice to me
    are like those who kill people.
Those who kill sheep as a sacrifice
    are like those who break the necks of dogs.
Those who give me ·grain [^Lgift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1]
    are like those who offer me the blood of pigs [^Cdogs and pigs were ritually unclean animals and were forbidden as sacrifices].
Those who burn incense
    are like those who worship idols [^Ctheir rituals were no better than pagan worship because their hearts were not right with God].
These people choose their own ways, not mine,
    and they ·love [delight in] ·the terrible things they do [their abominations].
⁴ So I will choose ·their punishments [harsh treatment for them],
    and I will punish them with what they fear most.
This is because I called to them, but they did not listen.
    I spoke to them, but they did not hear me.
They did things I said were evil;
    they chose to do things I did not ·like [delight in].”

⁵ You people who ·obey the words of the Lord [^Ltremble at his word],
    listen to what he says:
“Your brothers hated you
    and ·turned against [excluded; cast out] you because ·you followed me [^Lof my name].
Your brothers said, ‘Let the Lord be ·honored [glorified]
    so we may see ·you rejoice [your joy],’
    but they will be ·punished [^Lput to shame].
⁶ ·Listen to the loud noise coming [^LA sound of uproar…!] from the city;
    hear the ·noise [or voice] from the Temple.
It is the [^Lvoice/sound of the] Lord ·punishing [repaying] his enemies,
    giving them the punishment they deserve.

⁷ “·A woman does not give birth [^LShe gives birth; ^Calluding to Jerusalem/Zion; v. 8] before she ·feels the pain [goes into labor];
    she ·does not give birth to a son [delivers a son/child] before the pain starts.
⁸ ·No one has ever [^LWho has…?] heard of that happening;
    ·no one has ever [^LWho has…?] seen that happen.
·In the same way no one ever saw [^LCan…?] a country ·begin [be born] in one day;
    ·no one has ever heard of a new nation beginning [^Lcan a nation be brought forth…?] in one moment.
But ·Jerusalem [^LZion; ^Cthe location of the Temple] will give birth to her children
    just as soon as she feels the birth pains [^Cthe rebirth of the nation will be sudden and unexpected].
⁹ ·In the same way I will not cause pain [^LWill I bring one to the moment of birth…?]
    without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord.
“If I cause you ·the pain [to deliver],
    ·I will not stop you from giving birth to your new nation [^Lwill I (now) close the womb?],” says your God.
¹⁰ “·Jerusalem, rejoice [or Rejoice with Jerusalem].
    All you people who love Jerusalem, be ·happy [glad for/with her].
Those of you who ·felt sad [mourned] for Jerusalem
    should now ·feel happy [^Lrejoice with joy] with her.
¹¹ You will ·take comfort from her [^Lnurse] and be satisfied,
    ·as a child is nursed by its mother [^Lat her comforting breasts].
You will ·receive her good things [^Ldrink deeply]
    ·and enjoy her wealth [from her glorious abundance].”

“I will give her peace that will flow to her like a river.
    The ·wealth [glory] of the nations will come to her like a ·river overflowing its banks [flood].
·Like babies you will [^LYou will] be nursed and held in ·my [^Lher] arms
    and bounced on ·my [^Lher] knees.
¹³ I will comfort you
    as a mother comforts her child.
You will be comforted in Jerusalem.”

¹⁴ When you see these things, ·you [^Lyour heart] will ·be happy [rejoice],
    and ·you [or your bones] will ·grow [flourish] like the grass.
The Lord’s servants will see his ·power [^Lhand],
    but his enemies will see his ·anger [wrath].
¹⁵ Look, the Lord is coming with fire
    and his ·armies [^Lchariots] with ·clouds of dust [a whirlwind].
He will ·punish those people with his anger [^Lsatisfy/render his anger with fury/wrath];
    he will ·punish them [^Lsatisfy/render his rebuke] with flames of fire.
¹⁶ The Lord will judge the people with fire,
    and he will ·destroy many people [judge all people] with his sword;
·he will kill many people [^Lmany will be slain by the Lord].