¹⁵ The Lord has taken away your punishment,
    he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;^(A)
    never again will you fear^(B) any harm.^(C)
16 On that day
    they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
    do not let your hands hang limp.^(D)
17 The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.^(E)
He will take great delight^(F) in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,^(G)
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”^(H)

²⁰ This company of Israelite exiles who are in Canaan
    will possess the land as far as Zarephath;^(A)
the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad
    will possess the towns of the Negev.^(B)

¹³ As a mother comforts her child,^(A)
    so will I comfort^(B) you;
    and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

²⁶ who carries out the words^(A) of his servants
    and fulfills^(B) the predictions of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem,^(C) ‘It shall be inhabited,’
    of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’
    and of their ruins,^(D) ‘I will restore them,’^(E)

14 The Lord will have compassion^(A) on Jacob;
    once again he will choose^(B) Israel
    and will settle them in their own land.^(C)
Foreigners^(D) will join them
    and unite with the descendants of Jacob.