We have heard a cry of terror,
of dread—there is no peace.
⁶ Ask and see
whether a male can give birth.
Why then do I see every man
with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor
and every face turned pale?^(C)
7 How awful that day will be!^(D)
There will be no other like it!^(E)
It will be a time of trouble for Jacob,
but he will be saved out of it.
⁸ On that day—
this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies—
I will break his yoke from your neck^(F)
and tear off your chains,^(G)
and strangers will never again enslave him.^(H)
9 They will serve the Lord their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.^(I)
10 As for you, my servant Jacob,^(J)
do not be afraid—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
and do not be discouraged, Israel,
for without fail I will save you out of a distant place,
your descendants, from the land of their captivity!
Jacob will return and have calm and quiet
with no one to frighten him.^(K)
11 For I will be with you—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
to save you!^(L)
I will bring destruction on all the nations
where I have scattered you;
however, I will not bring destruction on you.
I will discipline you justly,
and I will by no means leave you unpunished.^(M)

Your injury is incurable;
your wound most severe.^(N)
13 You have no defender for your case.^(O)
There is no remedy for your sores,
and no healing for you.^[b]
14 All your lovers have forgotten you;^(P)
they no longer look for you,
for I have struck you as an enemy would,
with the discipline^(Q) of someone cruel,^(R)
because of your enormous guilt
and your innumerable sins.
¹⁵ Why do you cry out about your injury?
Your pain has no cure!
I have done these things to you
because of your enormous guilt
and your innumerable sins.^(S)
16 Nevertheless, all who devoured you will be devoured,^(T)
and all your adversaries—all of them—
will go off into exile.
Those who plunder you will be plundered,
and all who raid you will be raided.^(U)
17 But I will bring you health^(V)
and will heal you of your wounds—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
for they call you Outcast,
Zion whom no one cares about.

I will certainly restore the fortunes^[c] of Jacob’s tents^(W)
and show compassion^(X) on his dwellings.
Every city will be rebuilt on its mound;
every citadel will stand on its proper site.
¹⁹ Thanksgiving will come out of them,
a sound of rejoicing.
I will multiply them, and they will not decrease;^(Y)
I will honor them, and they will not be insignificant.
²⁰ His children will be as in past days;
his congregation will be established in my presence.
I will punish all his oppressors.^(Z)
21 Jacob’s leader will be one of them;
his ruler will issue from him.
I will invite him to me, and he will approach me,^(AA)
for who would otherwise risk his life to approach me?
This is the Lord’s declaration.
²² You will be my people,
and I will be your God.^(AB)

²³ Look, a storm from the Lord!^(AC)
Wrath has gone out,
a churning storm.
It will whirl about the heads of the wicked.
²⁴ The Lord’s burning anger will not turn back
until he has completely fulfilled the purposes of his heart.
In time to come you will understand it.^(AD)

The people who survived the sword
found favor in the wilderness.^(B)
When Israel went to find rest,^(C)
3 the Lord appeared to him^[a] from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;^(D)
therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you.^(E)
4 Again I will build you so that you will be rebuilt,
Virgin Israel.^(F)
You will take up your tambourines again^(G)
and go out in joyful dancing.
⁵ You will plant vineyards again^(H)
on the mountains of Samaria;
the planters will plant and will enjoy the fruit.^(I)
6 For there will be a day when watchmen will call out
in the hill country of Ephraim,
“Come, let’s go up to Zion,^(J)
to the Lord our God!”

Sing with joy for Jacob;
shout for the foremost of the nations!
Proclaim, praise, and say,
“Lord, save your people,^(K)
the remnant of Israel!” ^(L)
8 Watch! I am going to bring them from the northern land.
I will gather them from remote regions of the earth^(M)—
the blind and the lame will be with them,^(N)
along with those who are pregnant and those about to give birth.
They will return here as a great assembly!^(O)
9 They will come weeping,
but I will bring them back with consolation.^[b](P)
I will lead them to wadis filled with water,
by a smooth way where they will not stumble,^(Q)
for I am Israel’s Father,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.^(R)
10 Nations, hear the word of the Lord,
and tell it among the far off coasts and islands!^(S)
Say, “The one who scattered Israel will gather him.^(T)
He will watch over him as a shepherd guards his flock,
¹¹ for the Lord has ransomed Jacob
and redeemed him from the power of one stronger than he.”^(U)
12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;^(V)
they will be radiant with joy^(W)
because of the Lord’s goodness,
because of the grain, the new wine, the fresh oil,^(X)
and because of the young of the flocks and herds.
Their life will be like an irrigated garden,
and they will no longer grow weak from hunger.
¹³ Then the young women will rejoice with dancing,
while young and old men rejoice together.
I will turn their mourning into joy,^(Y)
give them consolation,
and bring happiness out of grief.
¹⁴ I will refresh the priests with an abundance,^[c](Z)
and my people will be satisfied with my goodness.
This is the Lord’s declaration.