Promise to Zion

14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,
And the Lord has forgotten me.”
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child
And have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, but (A)I will not forget you.
16 “Behold, I have (B)inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your (C)walls are continually before Me.
17 “Your [a]builders hurry;
Your (D)destroyers and devastators
Will depart from you.
18 (E)Lift up your eyes and look around;
(F)All of them gather together, (G)they come to you.
(H)As I live,” declares the Lord,
“You will surely (I)put on all of them as [b]jewels and bind them on as a bride.
19 “For (J)your waste and desolate places and your destroyed land—
Surely now you will be (K)too cramped for the inhabitants,
And those who (L)swallowed you will be far away.
20 “The (M)children of [c]whom you were bereaved will yet say in your ears,
‘The place is too cramped for me;
Make room for me that I may live here.’
21 “Then you will (N)say in your heart,
‘Who has begotten these for me,
Since I have been bereaved of my children
And am (O)barren, an (P)exile and a wanderer?
And who has reared these?
Behold, I was (Q)left alone;
[d](R)From where did these come?’”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 49:17 So ancient versions and DSS; M.T. reads sons
  2. Isaiah 49:18 Lit an ornament
  3. Isaiah 49:20 Lit your bereavement
  4. Isaiah 49:21 Lit These, where are they?

God Helps His Servant

50 Thus says the Lord,

“Where is the (A)certificate of divorce
By which I have (B)sent your mother away?
Or to whom of My creditors did I (C)sell you?
Behold, you were sold for your (D)iniquities,
And for your (E)transgressions your mother (F)was sent away.
“Why was there (G)no man when I came?
When I called, why was there none to answer?
Is My (H)hand so short that it cannot ransom?
Or have I no power to deliver?
Behold, I (I)dry up the sea with My rebuke,
I (J)make the rivers a wilderness;
Their fish stink for lack of water
And die of thirst.

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It will no longer be said to you, “[a](A)Forsaken,”
Nor to your land will it any longer be said, “[b]Desolate”;
But you will be called, “[c]My delight is in her,”
And your land, “[d](B)Married”;
For the (C)Lord delights in you,
And to Him your land will be married.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 62:4 I.e. Azubah
  2. Isaiah 62:4 I.e. Shemamah
  3. Isaiah 62:4 I.e. Hephzibah
  4. Isaiah 62:4 I.e. Beulah