1 *Ga 4.27. Sing and shout,

even though you have never

had children!

The Lord has promised that you

will have more children

than someone married

for a long time.

2 Make your tents larger!

Spread out the tent pegs;

fasten them firmly.

3 You and your descendants

will take over the land

of other nations.

You will settle in towns

that are now in ruins.

4 Don’t be afraid or ashamed

and don’t be discouraged.

You won’t be disappointed.

Forget how sinful you were

when you were young;

stop feeling ashamed

for being left a widow.

5 The Lord All-Powerful,

the Holy God of Israel,

rules all the earth.

He is your Creator and husband,

and he will rescue you.

6 You were like a young wife,

brokenhearted and crying

because her husband

had divorced her.

But the Lord your God says,

"I am taking you back!

7 I rejected you for a while,

but with love and tenderness

I will embrace you again.

8 For a while, I turned away

in furious anger.

Now I will have mercy

and love you forever!

I, your protector and Lord,

make this promise."

9 *Gn 9.8-17. I once promised Noah that I

would never again destroy

the earth by a flood.

Now I have promised that I

will never again get angry

and punish you.

10 *Jdt 16.15. Every mountain and hill

may disappear.

But I will always be kind

and merciful to you;

I won’t break my agreement

to give your nation peace.

11 *Rev 21.18-21.*Tb 13.16,17. Jerusalem, you are sad

and discouraged,

tossed around in a storm.

But I, the Lord,

will rebuild your city

with precious stones;*54.11 with precious stones: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

for your foundation

I will use blue sapphires.

12 Your fortresses*54.12 fortresses: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

will be built of rubies,

your gates of jewels,

and your walls of gems.

13 *Jn 6.45. I will teach your children

and make them successful.

14 You will be built on fairness

with no fears of injustice;

every one of your worries

will be taken far from you.

15 I will never send anyone

to attack your city,

and you will make prisoners

of those who do attack.

16 Don’t forget that I created

metalworkers who make weapons

over burning coals.

I also created armies

that can bring destruction.

17 Weapons made to attack you

won’t be successful;

words spoken against you

won’t hurt at all.

My servants, Jerusalem is yours!

I, the Lord, promise

to bless you with victory.