Isaiah 54
The Lord tells those who are barren and childless to rejoice, for they will have more children than those who have husbands. He instructs them to expand their homes and prepare for a large family, for they will inherit the nations and inhabit desolate cities. The Lord promises to redeem and restore them, and to show them everlasting mercy, swearing not to be angry with them or rebuke them. He also promises to establish their children in peace and justice, and to protect them from harm, for they are the servants of the Lord.
1Give praise, you who are barren and unable to conceive. Sing praise and make a joyful noise, you who have not given birth. For many are the children of the desolate, more so than of her who has a husband, says the Lord2Enlarge the place of your tent and extend the skins of your tabernacles, unsparingly. Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes3For you shall extend to the right and to the left. And your offspring shall inherit the nations, and you shall inhabit the desolate cities4Do not be afraid! For you will not be confounded, and you will not blush. And you will not be put to shame, because you shall forget the confusion of your youth, and you shall no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood5For the One who made you will rule over you. The Lord of hosts is his name. And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, will be called the God of all the earth6For the Lord has called you, like a woman forsaken and mourning in spirit, and like a wife rejected in her youth, said your God7For a brief moment, I have forsaken you, and with great pities, I will gather you8In a moment of indignation, I have hidden my face from you, for a little while. But with everlasting mercy, I have taken pity on you, said your Redeemer, the Lord9For me, it is just as in the days of Noah, to whom I swore that I would no longer bring in the waters of Noah over the earth. Thus have I sworn not to be angry with you, and not to rebuke you10For the mountains will be moved, and the hills will tremble. But my mercy will not depart from you, and the covenant of my peace will not be shaken, said the Lord, who has compassion on you11O poor little ones, convulsed by the tempest, away from any consolation! Behold, I will set your stones in order, and I will lay your foundation with sapphires12and I will make your ramparts out of jasper, and your gates out of sculpted stones, and all your borders out of desirable stones13All your children will be taught by the Lord. And great will be the peace of your children14And you will be founded in justice. Depart far from oppression, for you will not be afraid. And depart from terror, for it will not approach you15Behold, a settler will arrive, who was not with me, a certain new arrival will be joined to you16Behold, I created the smith who fans the coals of the fire and produces an object by his work, and I have created the slayer who destroys17No object which has been formed to use against you will succeed. And every tongue that resists you in judgment, you shall judge. This is the inheritance of the servants of the Lord, and this is their justice with me, says the Lord
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