18. Then you will ask yourself,“Where are those officialswho terrified us and forced usto pay such heavy taxes?”
19. You will never again have to seethe proud people who spokea strange and foreign languageyou could not understand.
20. Look to Mount Zionwhere we celebrateour religious festivals.You will see Jerusalem,secure as a tent with pegsthat cannot be pulled upand fastened with ropesthat can never be broken.
21. Our wonderful Lordwill be with us!There will be deep riversand wide streamssafe from enemy ships.
22. The Lord is our judgeand our ruler;the Lord is our kingand will keep us safe.
23. But your nation is a shipwith its rigging loose,its mast shaky,and its sail not spread.Some day even you who are lamewill take everything you wantfrom your enemies.
24. The Lord will forgive your sins,and none of you will say,“I feel ill.”