²² But you have come to Mount Zion,^(A) to the city^(B) of the living God,^(C) the heavenly Jerusalem.^(D) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,

⁹ By faith he made his home in the promised land^(A) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,^(B) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.^{(C) 10} For he was looking forward to the city^(D) with foundations,^(E) whose architect and builder is God.^(F)

¹⁵ They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam^(A) son of Bezer,^[a] who loved the wages of wickedness.

¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.^(A) Therefore God is not ashamed^(B) to be called their God,^(C) for he has prepared a city^(D) for them.

¹⁰ “This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.”^(A) Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted,^(B) inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more ¹¹ the sounds of joy and gladness,^(C) the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings^(D) to the house of the Lord, saying,

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

¹² “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate^(I) and without people or animals^(J)—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks.^{(K) 13} In the towns of the hill^(L) country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,^(M) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand^(N) of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.