¶“Before she (Zion) was in labor, she gave birth;
Before her labor pain came, she gave birth to a boy.
“Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things?
Can a land be born in one day?
Or can a nation be brought forth in a moment?
As soon as Zion was in labor, she also brought forth her sons.
“Shall I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD.
“Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.
“Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her;
Rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her,
That you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts,
That you may drink deeply and be delighted with her bountiful bosom.”
For the LORD says this, “Behold, I extend peace to her (Jerusalem) like a river,
And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
And you will be nursed, you will be carried on her hip and [playfully] rocked on her knees.
“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;
And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
When you see this, your heart will rejoice;
Your bones will flourish like new grass.
And the [powerful] hand of the LORD will be revealed to His servants,
But His indignation will be toward His enemies.
For indeed, the LORD will come in fire
And His chariots will be like the stormy wind,
To render His anger with rage,
And His rebuke with flames of fire.
For the LORD will execute judgment by fire
And by His sword on all mankind,
And those slain by the LORD will be many.
“Those who [vainly attempt to] sanctify and cleanse themselves to go to the gardens [to sacrifice to idols],
Following after one in the center,
Who eat swine’s flesh, detestable things and mice,
Will come to an end together,” says the LORD.
“For I know their works and their thoughts. The time is coming to gather all nations and languages, and they will come and see My glory. I will set up a [miraculous] sign among them, and from them I will send survivors to the nations: Tarshish, Pul (Put), Lud, Meshech, Tubal and Javan, to the distant islands and coastlands that have not heard of My fame nor seen My glory. And they will declare and proclaim My glory among the nations. Then they shall bring all your countrymen (children of Israel) from all the nations as a grain offering to the LORD—on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels—to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD. I will also take some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.
“For just as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I make will remain and endure before Me,” declares the LORD,
“So your offspring and your name will remain and endure.
“And it shall be that from New Moon to New Moon
And from Sabbath to Sabbath,
All mankind will come to bow down and worship before Me,” says the LORD.
“Then they will go forth and look
Upon the dead bodies of the [rebellious] men
Who have transgressed against Me;
For their worm (maggot) will not die,
And their fire will not go out;
And they will be an abhorrence to all mankind.”
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