Chapter 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 Yahweh .
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 ; Yahweh 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh , 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 Yahweh ’s servants , and their righteousness is of me ," says Yahweh .