8 Thus says the Lord:

“In a time of favor I have answered you,

in a day of salvation I have helped you;

I have kept you and given you

as a covenant to the people,

to establish the land,

to apportion the desolate heritages;

9 saying to the prisoners, ‘Come forth,’

to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’

They shall feed along the ways,

on all bare heights shall be their pasture;

10 they shall not hunger or thirst,

neither scorching wind nor sun shall smite them,

for he who has pity on them will lead them,

and by springs of water will guide them.

11 And I will make all my mountains a way,

and my highways shall be raised up.

12 Lo, these shall come from afar,

and lo, these from the north and from the west,

and these from the land of Syene.”*

13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;

break forth, O mountains, into singing!

For the Lord has comforted his people,

and will have compassion on his afflicted.

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

my Lord has forgotten me.”

15 “Can a woman forget her sucking child,

that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?

Even these may forget,

yet I will not forget you.