8. Who has heard such a thing?Who has seen such things?Shall a land be born in one day?Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?For as soon as Zion was in laborshe brought forth her children.
9. Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?”says the Lord;“shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?”says your God.
10. “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,all you who love her;rejoice with her in joy,all you who mourn over her;
11. that you may nurse and be satisfiedfrom her consoling breast;that you may drink deeply with delightfrom her glorious abundance.”
12. For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,and bounced upon her knees.
13. As one whom his mother comforts,so I will comfort you;you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
14. You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass;and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants,and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.
15. “For behold, the Lord will come in fire,and his chariots like the whirlwind,to render his anger in fury,and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16. For by fire will the Lord enter into judgment,and by his sword, with all flesh;and those slain by the Lord shall be many.
17. “Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating pig’s flesh and the abomination and mice, shall come to an end together, declares the Lord.