Study Desk

"Rejoice, childless one, who did not give birth; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor!^(a) For the children of the forsaken one will be more than the children of the married woman,"^(b) says the Lord .

"Enlarge the site of your tent, and let your tent curtains be stretched out;^(c) do not hold back; lengthen your ropes, and drive your pegs deep.

For you will spread out to the right and to the left,^(d) and your descendants will dispossess nations and inhabit the desolate cities.

"Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame;^(e) don't be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth, and you will no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood.^(f)

Indeed, your husband is your Maker^(g)— His name is Yahweh of Hosts— and the Holy One of Israel^(h) is your Redeemer;⁽ⁱ⁾ He is called the God of all the earth.

For the Lord has called you, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit,^(j) a wife of one's youth^(k) when she is rejected," says your God.

"I deserted you for a brief moment,^(l) but I will take you back with great compassion.

In a surge of anger I hid My face^(m) from you for a moment, but I will have compassion on you with everlasting love,"⁽ⁿ⁾ says the Lord your Redeemer.

"For this is like the days^[a] of Noah to Me: when I swore that the waters of Noah would never flood the earth again,^(o) so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.^(p)

Though the mountains move and the hills shake, My love will not be removed from you and My covenant of peace^(q) will not be shaken," says your compassionate Lord .

"Poor Jerusalem, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I will set your stones in black mortar,^[b] and lay your foundations in sapphires.^[c](r)

I will make your fortifications^[d] out of rubies, your gates out of sparkling stones, and all your walls out of precious stones.

Then all your children will be taught by the Lord ,^(s) their prosperity will be great,

and you will be established on a foundation of righteousness. You will be far from oppression, you will certainly not be afraid; you will be far from terror, it will certainly not come near you.

If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever attacks you will fall before you.

Look, I have created the craftsman who blows on the charcoal fire and produces a weapon suitable for its task; and I have created the destroyer to cause havoc.

No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation^[e] raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the Lord 's servants,^(t) and their righteousness is from Me."^(u) This is the Lord 's declaration.