The Lord Vindicates Zion

5 Hear the word of the Lord,

You who tremble at His word:

“Your brethren who ghated you,

Who cast you out for My name’s sake, said,

h‘Let the Lord be glorified,

That iwe may see your joy.’

But they shall be ashamed.”

6 The sound of noise from the city!

A voice from the temple!

The voice of the Lord,

Who fully repays His enemies!

7 “Before she was in labor, she gave birth;

Before her pain came,

She delivered a male child.

8 Who has heard such a thing?

Who has seen such things?

Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?

Or shall a nation be born at once?

For as soon as Zion was in labor,

She gave birth to her children.

9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the Lord.

“Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.

10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem,

And be glad with her, all you who love her;

Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;

11 That you may feed and be satisfied

With the consolation of her bosom,

That you may drink deeply and be delighted

With the abundance of her glory.”

12 For thus says the Lord:

“Behold, jI will extend peace to her like a river,

And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.

Then you shall kfeed;

On her sides shall you be lcarried,

And be dandled on her knees.

13 As one whom his mother comforts,

So I will mcomfort you;

And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”