6 On that day—

this is the Lord’s declaration—

I will assemble the lame

and gather the scattered,af

those I have injured.

7 I will make the lame into a remnant,ag

those far removed into a strong nation.

Then the Lord will reign over themah in Mount Zion

from this time on and forever.

8 And you, watchtower for the flock,ai

fortified hillB of Daughter Zion,

the former ruleaj will come to you;

sovereignty will come to Daughter Jerusalem.

FROM EXILE TO VICTORY

9 Now, why are you shouting loudly?ak

Is there no king with you?

Has your counselor perishedal

so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?

10 Writhe and cry out,C,am Daughter Zion,

like a woman in labor,

for now you will leave the cityan

and camp in the open fields.

You will go to Babylon;

there you will be rescued;ao

there the Lord will redeem youa

from the grasp of your enemies!

11 Many nations have now assembled against you;b

they say, “Let her be defiled,

and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”

12 But they do not know the Lord’s intentionsc

or understand his plan,

that he has gathered them

like sheaves to the threshing floor.

13 Rise and thresh,d Daughter Zion,

for I will make your horns iron

and your hooves bronze

so you can crush many peoples.e

Then youA will set apart their plunderf

for the Lord,

their wealth for the Lord of the whole earth.