Be glad, Israel, because of your Creator; rejoice, people of Zion, because of your king!

Zion's young people were as precious to us as gold, but now they are treated like common clay pots.

I will use Judah like a soldier's bow and Israel like the arrows. I will use the men of Zion like a sword, to fight the men of Greece."

But the heavenly Jerusalem is free, and she is our mother.

For the scripture says, "Be happy, you childless woman! Shout and cry with joy, you who never felt the pains of childbirth! For the woman who was deserted will have more children than the woman whose husband never left her."

The LORD protects and defends me; I trust in him. He gives me help and makes me glad; I praise him with joyful songs.

You that are righteous, be glad and rejoice because of what the LORD has done. You that obey him, shout for joy!

All you that are righteous, shout for joy for what the LORD has done; praise him, all you that obey him.

Come, let us praise the LORD! Let us sing for joy to God, who protects us!

For the LORD is a mighty God, a mighty king over all the gods.

May he be pleased with my song, for my gladness comes from him.

God is my savior; I will trust him and not be afraid. The LORD gives me power and strength; he is my savior.

A day is coming when people will sing, "Give thanks to the LORD! Call for him to help you! Tell all the nations what he has done! Tell them how great he is!

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

You will toss them in the air; the wind will carry them off, and they will be scattered by the storm. Then you will be happy because I am your God; you will praise me, the holy God of Israel.

Jerusalem rejoices because of what the LORD has done. She is like a bride dressed for her wedding. God has clothed her with salvation and victory.

Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty,

I will still be joyful and glad, because the LORD God is my savior.

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!

Rejoice, rejoice, people of Zion! Shout for joy, you people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you! He comes triumphant and victorious, but humble and riding on a donkey--- on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The people of Israel will be strong like soldiers, happy like those who have been drinking wine. Their descendants will remember this victory and be glad because of what the LORD has done.

Mary said, "My heart praises the Lord;

my soul is glad because of God my Savior,

In conclusion, my friends, be joyful in your union with the Lord. I don't mind repeating what I have written before, and you will be safer if I do so.

It is we, not they, who have received the true circumcision, for we worship God by means of his Spirit and rejoice in our life in union with Christ Jesus. We do not put any trust in external ceremonies.

May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice!

"Afterward I will pour out my Spirit on everyone: your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your old people will have dreams, and your young people will see visions.

At that time I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, both men and women.

My teaching will fall like drops of rain and form on the earth like dew. My words will fall like showers on young plants, like gentle rain on tender grass.

Perhaps an angel may come to their aid--- one of God's thousands of angels, who remind us of our duty.

May the king be like rain on the fields, like showers falling on the land.

May righteousness flourish in his lifetime, and may prosperity last as long as the moon gives light.

If you wander off the road to the right or the left, you will hear his voice behind you saying, "Here is the road. Follow it."

Whenever you plant your crops, the Lord will send rain to make them grow and will give you a rich harvest, and your livestock will have plenty of pasture.

As the scripture says, "When he went up to the very heights, he took many captives with him; he gave gifts to people."

So the one who came down is the same one who went up, above and beyond the heavens, to fill the whole universe with his presence.

I will send you rain at the right time, so that the land will produce crops and the trees will bear fruit.

If you do, he will send rain on your land when it is needed, in the autumn and in the spring, so that there will be grain, wine, and olive oil for you,

He will send rain in season from his rich storehouse in the sky and bless all your work, so that you will lend to many nations, but you will not have to borrow from any.

The king's favor is like the clouds that bring rain in the springtime---life is there.

That is why the rains were held back, and the spring showers did not come. You even look like a prostitute; you have no shame.

Let us try to know the LORD. He will come to us as surely as the day dawns, as surely as the spring rains fall upon the earth."

Ask the LORD for rain in the spring of the year. It is the LORD who sends rain clouds and showers, making the fields green for everyone.

Be patient, then, my friends, until the Lord comes. See how patient farmers are as they wait for their land to produce precious crops. They wait patiently for the autumn and spring rains.

You also must be patient. Keep your hopes high, for the day of the Lord's coming is near.

I kept it from raining when your crops needed it most. I sent rain on one city, but not on another. Rain fell on one field, but another field dried up.