54
1 “Sing,
barren, you
who didn’t give
birth!
Break out into
singing, and cry
aloud, you
who didn’t travail
with child!
For more are
the children of
the desolate than
the children of
the married wife,”
says the LORD.
2 “Enlarge
the place of
your tent,
and let them
stretch out the
curtains of your
habitations;
don’t spare; lengthen
your cords, and
strengthen your
stakes.
3 For
you will spread
out on the
right hand and
on the left;
and your
offspring will
possess the nations
and settle in
desolate cities.
4 “Don’t be
afraid, for you
will not be
ashamed.
Don’t be confounded,
for you will
not be disappointed.
For you will
forget the shame
of your youth.
You will remember
the reproach of
your widowhood no
more.
5 For
your Maker is
your husband; the
LORD of Armies
is his name.
The Holy One
of Israel is
your Redeemer.
He will be
called the God
of the whole earth.
6 For
the LORD has
called you as
a wife forsaken
and grieved in
spirit,
even a wife of
youth, when she
is cast off,” says
your God.
7 “For
a small moment
I have forsaken
you,
but I will
gather you with
great mercies.
8 In overflowing
wrath I hid
my face from
you for a
moment,
but with
everlasting loving kindness
I will have
mercy on you,” says
the LORD your
Redeemer.
9 “For
this is like
the waters of
Noah to me;
for as I
have sworn that
the waters of
Noah will no more
go over the earth,
so I have
sworn that I
will not be
angry with you,
nor rebuke you.
10 For
the mountains may
depart,
and the hills
be removed,
but my loving
kindness will not
depart from you,
and my covenant
of peace will
not be removed,”
says the LORD who
has mercy on
you.
11 “You
afflicted, tossed with storms,
and not comforted,
behold, I will
set your stones
in beautiful colors,
and lay your
foundations with
sapphires.
12 I
will make
your pinnacles of
rubies,
your gates
of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls
of precious stones.
13 All
your children will
be taught by
the LORD,
and your
children’s peace
will be great.
14 You
will be
established in
righteousness.
You will be
far from
oppression,
for you will
not be afraid,
and far from
terror,
for it shall
not come near
you.
15 Behold,
they may gather
together, but not
by me.
Whoever gathers together
against you will
fall because of
you.
16 “Behold,
I have created the
blacksmith who fans
the coals
into flame,
and forges a
weapon for his
work;
and I have
created the
destroyer to
destroy.
17 No
weapon that is
formed against you
will prevail;
and you will
condemn every
tongue that rises
against you in
judgment.
This is the
heritage of the
LORD’s servants,
and their
righteousness is
of me,” says
the LORD.