“‘Cries of fear^(Q) are heard—
    terror, not peace.
⁶ Ask and see:
    Can a man bear children?
Then why do I see every strong man
    with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor,^(R)
    every face turned deathly pale?^(S)
7 How awful that day^(T) will be!
    No other will be like it.
It will be a time of trouble^(U) for Jacob,
    but he will be saved^(V) out of it.

⁸ “‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty,
    ‘I will break the yoke^(W) off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;^(X)
    no longer will foreigners enslave them.^(Y)
9 Instead, they will serve the Lord their God
    and David^(Z) their king,^(AA)
    whom I will raise up for them.

¹⁰ “‘So do not be afraid,^(AB) Jacob my servant;^(AC)
    do not be dismayed, Israel,’
declares the Lord.
‘I will surely save^(AD) you out of a distant place,
    your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,^(AE)
    and no one will make him afraid.^(AF)
11 I am with you^(AG) and will save you,’
    declares the Lord.
‘Though I completely destroy all the nations
    among which I scatter you,
    I will not completely destroy^(AH) you.
I will discipline^(AI) you but only in due measure;
    I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’^(AJ)

“‘Your wound^(AK) is incurable,
    your injury beyond healing.^(AL)
13 There is no one to plead your cause,^(AM)
    no remedy for your sore,
    no healing^(AN) for you.
¹⁴ All your allies^(AO) have forgotten you;
    they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy^(AP) would
    and punished you as would the cruel,^(AQ)
because your guilt is so great
    and your sins^(AR) so many.
¹⁵ Why do you cry out over your wound,
    your pain that has no cure?^(AS)
Because of your great guilt and many sins
    I have done these things to you.^(AT)

¹⁶ “‘But all who devour^(AU) you will be devoured;
    all your enemies will go into exile.^(AV)
Those who plunder^(AW) you will be plundered;
    all who make spoil of you I will despoil.
¹⁷ But I will restore you to health
    and heal^(AX) your wounds,’
declares the Lord,
‘because you are called an outcast,^(AY)
    Zion for whom no one cares.’^(AZ)

“‘I will restore the fortunes^(BA) of Jacob’s tents^(BB)
    and have compassion^(BC) on his dwellings;
the city will be rebuilt^(BD) on her ruins,
    and the palace will stand in its proper place.
¹⁹ From them will come songs^(BE) of thanksgiving^(BF)
    and the sound of rejoicing.^(BG)
I will add to their numbers,^(BH)
    and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honor,^(BI)
    and they will not be disdained.
²⁰ Their children^(BJ) will be as in days of old,
    and their community will be established^(BK) before me;
    I will punish^(BL) all who oppress them.
²¹ Their leader^(BM) will be one of their own;
    their ruler will arise from among them.^(BN)
I will bring him near^(BO) and he will come close to me—
    for who is he who will devote himself
    to be close to me?’
declares the Lord.
²² “‘So you will be my people,^(BP)
    and I will be your God.^(BQ)’”

²³ See, the storm^(BR) of the Lord
    will burst out in wrath,
a driving wind swirling down
    on the heads of the wicked.
²⁴ The fierce anger^(BS) of the Lord will not turn back^(BT)
    until he fully accomplishes
    the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
    you will understand^(BU) this.

“The people who survive the sword
    will find favor^(BW) in the wilderness;
    I will come to give rest^(BX) to Israel.”

“I have loved^(BY) you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn^(BZ) you with unfailing kindness.
⁴ I will build you up again,
    and you, Virgin^(CA) Israel, will be rebuilt.^(CB)
Again you will take up your timbrels^(CC)
    and go out to dance^(CD) with the joyful.^(CE)
5 Again you will plant^(CF) vineyards
    on the hills of Samaria;^(CG)
the farmers will plant them
    and enjoy their fruit.^(CH)
6 There will be a day when watchmen^(CI) cry out
    on the hills of Ephraim,
‘Come, let us go up to Zion,
    to the Lord our God.’”^(CJ)

“Sing^(CK) with joy for Jacob;
    shout for the foremost^(CL) of the nations.
Make your praises heard, and say,
    ‘Lord, save^(CM) your people,
    the remnant^(CN) of Israel.’
⁸ See, I will bring them from the land of the north^(CO)
    and gather^(CP) them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind^(CQ) and the lame,^(CR)
    expectant mothers and women in labor;
    a great throng will return.
⁹ They will come with weeping;^(CS)
    they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead^(CT) them beside streams of water^(CU)
    on a level^(CV) path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,^(CW)
    and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

¹⁰ “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;
    proclaim it in distant coastlands:^(CX)
‘He who scattered^(CY) Israel will gather^(CZ) them
    and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’^(DA)
11 For the Lord will deliver Jacob
    and redeem^(DB) them from the hand of those stronger^(DC) than they.
¹² They will come and shout for joy^(DD) on the heights^(DE) of Zion;
    they will rejoice in the bounty^(DF) of the Lord—
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,^(DG)
    the young of the flocks^(DH) and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,^(DI)
    and they will sorrow^(DJ) no more.
¹³ Then young women will dance and be glad,
    young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning^(DK) into gladness;
    I will give them comfort^(DL) and joy^(DM) instead of sorrow.
¹⁴ I will satisfy^(DN) the priests^(DO) with abundance,
    and my people will be filled with my bounty,^(DP)”
declares the Lord.