The Sovereign LORD Almighty says to his people who live in Zion, "Do not be afraid of the Assyrians, even though they oppress you as the Egyptians used to do.

Let everyone who lives in Zion shout and sing! Israel's holy God is great, and he lives among his people."

I am bringing the day of victory near--- it is not far away at all. My triumph will not be delayed. I will save Jerusalem and bring honor to Israel there."

I will bless the Israelites who belong to the tribe of Judah, and their descendants will possess my land of mountains. My chosen people, who serve me, will live there.

Yes, the time is coming when sentries will call out on the hills of Ephraim, 'Let's go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.' "

They will come and sing for joy on Mount Zion and be delighted with my gifts--- gifts of grain and wine and olive oil, gifts of sheep and cattle. They will be like a well-watered garden; they will have everything they need.

The LORD says, "When that time comes, the people of both Israel and Judah will come weeping, looking for me, their God.

They will ask the way to Zion and then go in that direction. They will make an eternal covenant with me and never break it.

(Refugees escape from Babylonia and come to Jerusalem, and they tell how the LORD our God took revenge for what the Babylonians had done to his Temple.)

The LORD says, "My people shout, 'The LORD has shown that we are in the right. Let's go and tell the people in Jerusalem what the LORD our God has done.' "

There in the land, on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, all you people of Israel will worship me. I will be pleased with you and will expect you to bring me your sacrifices, your best offerings, and your holy gifts.

They will live on the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They will live there forever, and so will their children and all their descendants. A king like my servant David will rule them forever.

I will live there with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Sing and shout for joy, people of Israel! Rejoice with all your heart, Jerusalem!

The time is coming when they will say to Jerusalem, "Do not be afraid, city of Zion! Do not let your hands hang limp!

as joyful as people at a festival." The LORD says, "I have ended the threat of doom and taken away your disgrace.

The time is coming! I will bring your scattered people home; I will make you famous throughout the world and make you prosperous once again." The LORD has spoken.

So I have come back to Jerusalem to show mercy to the city. My Temple will be restored, and the city will be rebuilt."

The angel also told me to proclaim: "The LORD Almighty says that his cities will be prosperous again and that he will once again help Jerusalem and claim the city as his own."

The first one said to the other, "Run and tell that young man with the measuring line that there are going to be so many people and so much livestock in Jerusalem that it will be too big to have walls.

The LORD said to his people, "I scattered you in all directions. But now, you exiles, escape from Babylonia and return to Jerusalem.

I will return to Jerusalem, my holy city, and live there. It will be known as the faithful city, and the hill of the LORD Almighty will be called the sacred hill.

And the streets will again be full of boys and girls playing.

I will rescue my people from the lands where they have been taken,

And this is how all Israel will be saved. As the scripture says, "The Savior will come from Zion and remove all wickedness from the descendants of Jacob.

As fresh water brings joy to the thirsty, so God's people rejoice when he saves them."

Sing to the LORD because of the great things he has done. Let the whole world hear the news.

The Sovereign LORD will destroy death forever! He will wipe away the tears from everyone's eyes and take away the disgrace his people have suffered throughout the world. The LORD himself has spoken.

They will reach Jerusalem with gladness, singing and shouting for joy. They will be happy forever, forever free from sorrow and grief.

"Comfort my people," says our God. "Comfort them!

Encourage the people of Jerusalem. Tell them they have suffered long enough and their sins are now forgiven. I have punished them in full for all their sins."

Israel, you are like a young wife, deserted by her husband and deeply distressed. But the LORD calls you back to him and says:

I turned away angry for only a moment, but I will show you my love forever." So says the LORD who saves you.

The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end; I will keep forever my promise of peace." So says the LORD who loves you.

I will build your towers with rubies, your gates with stones that glow like fire, and the wall around you with jewels.

Justice and right will make you strong. You will be safe from oppression and terror.

Your days of grief will come to an end. I, the LORD, will be your eternal light, More lasting than the sun and moon.

The Sovereign LORD has filled me with his Spirit. He has chosen me and sent me To bring good news to the poor, To heal the broken-hearted, To announce release to captives And freedom to those in prison.

To give to those who mourn in Zion Joy and gladness instead of grief, A song of praise instead of sorrow. They will be like trees That the LORD himself has planted. They will all do what is right, And God will be praised for what he has done.

Be glad and rejoice forever in what I create. The new Jerusalem I make will be full of joy, and her people will be happy.

The LORD says to his people, "Your wounds are incurable, your injuries cannot be healed.

My people will return weeping, praying as I lead them back. I will guide them to streams of water, on a smooth road where they will not stumble. I am like a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my oldest son."

Why do you cry out so loudly? Why are you suffering like a woman in labor? Is it because you have no king, and your counselors are dead?

"Happy are you who are hungry now; you will be filled! "Happy are you who weep now; you will laugh!

I cried bitterly because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

because the Lamb, who is in the center of the throne, will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond. "If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word;

Even before they finish praying to me, I will answer their prayers.

Call to me when trouble comes; I will save you, and you will praise me."

I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.

You will seek me, and you will find me because you will seek me with all your heart.

"Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell you wonderful and marvelous things that you know nothing about.

The Sovereign LORD says, "I will once again let the Israelites ask me for help, and I will let them increase in numbers like a flock of sheep.

"Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asks for bread?

As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of:

We have courage in God's presence, because we are sure that he hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will.

He hears us whenever we ask him; and since we know this is true, we know also that he gives us what we ask from him.