Be glad, earth and sky! Roar, sea, and every creature in you;

be glad, fields, and everything in you! The trees in the woods will shout for joy

"You will leave Babylon with joy; you will be led out of the city in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into singing, and the trees will shout for joy.

Cypress trees will grow where now there are briers; myrtle trees will come up in place of thorns. This will be a sign that will last forever, a reminder of what I, the LORD, have done."

He makes some people poor and others rich; he humbles some and makes others great.

He lifts the poor from the dust and raises the needy from their misery. He makes them companions of princes and puts them in places of honor. The foundations of the earth belong to the LORD; on them he has built the world.

Yes, it is God who raises the humble and gives joy to all who mourn.

Yes, look at them and bring them down; crush the wicked where they stand.

Judgment does not come from the east or from the west, from the north or from the south;

it is God who is the judge, condemning some and acquitting others.

But you are angry with your chosen king; you have deserted and rejected him.

You have made him old before his time and covered him with disgrace.

He will destroy the tall cedars of Lebanon and all the oaks in the land of Bashan.

He will level the high mountains and hills,

A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, "Wonderful Counselor," "Mighty God," "Eternal Father," "Prince of Peace."

His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace. He will rule as King David's successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time. The LORD Almighty is determined to do all this.

The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David's descendants.

and find pleasure in obeying him. He will not judge by appearance or hearsay;

He will rule his people with justice and integrity.

Cows and bears will eat together, and their calves and cubs will lie down in peace. Lions will eat straw as cattle do.

On Zion, God's sacred hill, there will be nothing harmful or evil. The land will be as full of knowledge of the LORD as the seas are full of water.

He has humbled those who were proud; he destroyed the strong city they lived in, and sent its walls crashing into the dust.

The LORD says, "A day is coming when I will restore the kingdom of David, which is like a house fallen into ruins. I will repair its walls and restore it. I will rebuild it and make it as it was long ago.

and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!"

He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands.

God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful.

He chose what the world looks down on and despises and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important.

I, the LORD, will speak to them, and what I say will be done. There will be no more delay. In your own lifetime, you rebels, I will do what I have warned you I would do. I have spoken," says the Sovereign LORD.

Do you think you will have any courage left or have strength enough to lift your hand when I am finished with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and I keep my word.

I, the LORD, have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not ignore your sins or show pity or be merciful. You will be punished for what you have done." The Sovereign LORD has spoken.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.