4. So I will choose their punishment,and I will bring on them what they dreadbecause I called and no one answered;I spoke and they didn’t hear;they did what was evil in My sightand chose what I didn’t delight in.
5. You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the Lord: “Your brothers who hate and exclude youbecause of Me have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorifiedso that we can see your joy! ’But they will be put to shame.”
6. A sound of uproar from the city!A voice from the temple —the voice of the Lord,paying back His enemies what they deserve!
7. Before Zion was in labor, she gave birth;before she was in pain, she delivered a boy.
8. Who has heard of such a thing?Who has seen such things?Can a land be born in one dayor a nation be delivered in an instant?Yet as soon as Zion was in labor,she gave birth to her sons.
9. “Will I bring a baby to the point of birthand not deliver it? ”says the Lord;“or will I who deliver, close the womb? ”says your God.
10. Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her,all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her,all who mourn over her —
11. so that you may nurse and be satisfiedfrom her comforting breastand drink deeply and delight yourselvesfrom her glorious breasts.
12. For this is what the Lord says:I will make peace flow to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flood; you will nurse and be carried on her hip and bounced on her lap.
13. As a mother comforts her son,so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.
14. You will see, you will rejoice,and you will flourish like grass; then the Lord’s power will be revealed to His servants,but He will show His wrath against His enemies.
15. Look, the Lord will come with fire —His chariots are like the whirlwind —to execute His anger with furyand His rebuke with flames of fire.
16. For the Lord will execute judgmenton all flesh with His fiery sword,and many will be slain by the Lord.
17. “Those who dedicate and purify themselves to enter the groves following their leader, eating meat from pigs, vermin, and rats, will perish together.”This is the Lord’s declaration.