A Promise to the Childless
Then what is written will come true. Sing, you who had no children! Shout for joy, you who never gave birth! You will have more children than a married woman, says the Lord. Make your tent bigger. Stretch out your curtains. Don’t hold back. Make your ropes longer and your stakes stronger. You will spread out to the right and to the left. Your children will take over other lands. They will make empty cities full of people again.
God Will Remove Your Shame
Don’t be afraid. You won’t be ashamed. Don’t worry. You won’t be put to shame. You will forget the shame of your youth. You won’t remember the sadness of being alone anymore. Your Maker is your husband. His name is the Lord of hosts. The Holy One of Israel will save you. He is the God of the whole earth. The Lord has called you back like a woman who was left alone and sad. He has called you back like a wife who was young and rejected, says your God.
I left you for a short time. But I will bring you back with great kindness. I was angry and hid my face from you for a moment. But I will show you kindness forever. I will have mercy on you, says the Lord who saves you. This is like the waters of Noah to me. I promised that the flood would never cover the earth again. In the same way, I promise I will not be angry with you. The mountains may move and the hills may fall. But my kindness will not leave you. My promise to my people will not be broken, says the Lord who has mercy on you.
A Beautiful New City
You have had hard times. You have been tossed around like a storm. No one has helped you. But I will make your stones beautiful. I will build your foundation with sapphires. I will make your windows out of beautiful stones. I will make your gates from rubies. All your walls will be made from lovely stones. The Lord will teach all your children. Your children will have great peace.
God’s Protection
You will be made strong by doing what is right. You will be far from those who hurt you. You won’t be afraid. Terror will not come near you. People may gather together against you. But it won’t be because of me. Anyone who gathers against you will fall. I made the person who works with metal. He blows on the coals in the fire. He makes tools for his work. I also made the one who destroys. No weapon made against you will work. Anyone who speaks against you will be proven wrong. This is what I give to those who serve the Lord. I make them right, says the Lord.