12 “I, even I, am he who comforts(A) you.
    Who are you that you fear(B) mere mortals,(C)
    human beings who are but grass,(D)
13 that you forget(E) the Lord your Maker,(F)
    who stretches out the heavens(G)
    and who lays the foundations of the earth,
that you live in constant terror(H) every day
    because of the wrath of the oppressor,
    who is bent on destruction?
For where is the wrath of the oppressor?(I)
14     The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;(J)
they will not die in their dungeon,
    nor will they lack bread.(K)
15 For I am the Lord your God,
    who stirs up the sea(L) so that its waves roar(M)
    the Lord Almighty(N) is his name.
16 I have put my words in your mouth(O)
    and covered you with the shadow of my hand(P)
I who set the heavens in place,
    who laid the foundations of the earth,(Q)
    and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.(R)’”

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12 “I, yes I, am the one who comforts you.
    So why are you afraid of mere humans,
    who wither like the grass and disappear?
13 Yet you have forgotten the Lord, your Creator,
    the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy
    and laid the foundations of the earth.
Will you remain in constant dread of human oppressors?
    Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies?
Where is their fury and anger now?
    It is gone!
14 Soon all you captives will be released!
    Imprisonment, starvation, and death will not be your fate!
15 For I am the Lord your God,
    who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar.
    My name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
16 And I have put my words in your mouth
    and hidden you safely in my hand.
I stretched out[a] the sky like a canopy
    and laid the foundations of the earth.
I am the one who says to Israel,
    ‘You are my people!’”

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Footnotes

  1. 51:16 As in Syriac version (see also 51:13); Hebrew reads planted.