8 Thus says the Lord:

“In an macceptable 7time I have heard You,

And in the day of salvation I have helped You;

I will 8preserve You nand give You

As a covenant to the people,

To restore the earth,

To cause them to inherit the desolate 9heritages;

9 That You may say oto the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’

To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’

“They shall feed along the roads,

And their pastures shall be on all desolate heights.

10 They shall neither phunger nor thirst,

qNeither heat nor sun shall strike them;

For He who has mercy on them rwill lead them,

Even by the springs of water He will guide them.

11 sI will make each of My mountains a road,

And My highways shall be elevated.

12 Surely tthese shall come from afar;

Look! Those from the north and the west,

And these from the land of Sinim.”

13 uSing, O heavens!

Be joyful, O earth!

And break out in singing, O mountains!

For the Lord has comforted His people,

And will have mercy on His afflicted.

God Will Remember Zion

14 vBut Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,

And my Lord has forgotten me.”

15 “Can wa woman forget her nursing child,

1And not have compassion on the son of her womb?

Surely they may forget,

xYet I will not forget you.

16 See, yI have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;

Your walls are continually before Me.