²⁶ People will come from the towns of Judah and the villages around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin and the western foothills, from the hill country and the Negev,^(A) bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the Lord.

⁷ Are these not the words the Lord proclaimed through the earlier prophets^(A) when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were at rest^(B) and prosperous, and the Negev and the western foothills^(C) were settled?’”^(D)

¹³ In the towns of the hill^(A) country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,^(B) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand^(C) of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.

⁴⁴ Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds^(A) will be signed, sealed and witnessed^(B) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,^(C) because I will restore^(D) their fortunes,^[a] declares the Lord.”

¹¹ the sounds of joy and gladness,^(A) the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings^(B) to the house of the Lord, saying,

For I will restore the fortunes^(E) of the land as they were before,^(F)’ says the Lord.

⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,^(A) the firstborn from the dead,^(B) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.^(C)

To him who loves us^(D) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,^(E)

⁹ But you are a chosen people,^(A) a royal priesthood,^(B) a holy nation,^(C) God’s special possession,^(D) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.^{(E) 10} Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;^(F) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.