We have heard a cry of terror,
of dread—there is no peace.
⁶ Ask and see
whether a male can give birth.
Why then do I see every man
with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor
and every face turned pale?^(C)
7 How awful that day will be!^(D)
There will be no other like it!^(E)
It will be a time of trouble for Jacob,
but he will be saved out of it.
⁸ On that day—
this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies—
I will break his yoke from your neck^(F)
and tear off your chains,^(G)
and strangers will never again enslave him.^(H)
9 They will serve the Lord their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.^(I)
10 As for you, my servant Jacob,^(J)
do not be afraid—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
and do not be discouraged, Israel,
for without fail I will save you out of a distant place,
your descendants, from the land of their captivity!
Jacob will return and have calm and quiet
with no one to frighten him.^(K)
11 For I will be with you—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
to save you!^(L)
I will bring destruction on all the nations
where I have scattered you;
however, I will not bring destruction on you.
I will discipline you justly,
and I will by no means leave you unpunished.^(M)

Your injury is incurable;
your wound most severe.^(N)
13 You have no defender for your case.^(O)
There is no remedy for your sores,
and no healing for you.^[b]
14 All your lovers have forgotten you;^(P)
they no longer look for you,
for I have struck you as an enemy would,
with the discipline^(Q) of someone cruel,^(R)
because of your enormous guilt
and your innumerable sins.
¹⁵ Why do you cry out about your injury?
Your pain has no cure!
I have done these things to you
because of your enormous guilt
and your innumerable sins.^(S)
16 Nevertheless, all who devoured you will be devoured,^(T)
and all your adversaries—all of them—
will go off into exile.
Those who plunder you will be plundered,
and all who raid you will be raided.^(U)
17 But I will bring you health^(V)
and will heal you of your wounds—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
for they call you Outcast,
Zion whom no one cares about.

I will certainly restore the fortunes^[c] of Jacob’s tents^(W)
and show compassion^(X) on his dwellings.
Every city will be rebuilt on its mound;
every citadel will stand on its proper site.
¹⁹ Thanksgiving will come out of them,
a sound of rejoicing.
I will multiply them, and they will not decrease;^(Y)
I will honor them, and they will not be insignificant.
²⁰ His children will be as in past days;
his congregation will be established in my presence.
I will punish all his oppressors.^(Z)
21 Jacob’s leader will be one of them;
his ruler will issue from him.
I will invite him to me, and he will approach me,^(AA)
for who would otherwise risk his life to approach me?
This is the Lord’s declaration.
²² You will be my people,
and I will be your God.^(AB)

²³ Look, a storm from the Lord!^(AC)
Wrath has gone out,
a churning storm.
It will whirl about the heads of the wicked.
²⁴ The Lord’s burning anger will not turn back
until he has completely fulfilled the purposes of his heart.
In time to come you will understand it.^(AD)