1. The Lord will again show mercy to the people of Jacob. The Lord will again choose the people of Israel. He will settle them in their own land. Then non-Israelite people will join the Israelites. The non-Israelite people will become a part of the family of Jacob.
2. Nations will take the Israelites back to their land. Those men and women from the other nations will become slaves to Israel. In the past the Israelites were their slaves. But now the Israelites will defeat those nations and rule over them.
3. The Lord will take away the Israelites’ hard work, and he will comfort them. They will no longer have to work as slaves.
4. On that day Israel will sing this song about the king of Babylon:The cruel king who ruled us is finished.His rule is finished!
5. The Lord breaks the scepter of evil rulers.He takes away their power.
6. The king of Babylon beat people in anger.He beat them again and again.He ruled the people in anger.He kept on doing terrible things to the people.
7. But now, the whole land rests and is quiet.Now the people begin to sing.
8. Even the pine trees are happy.And the cedar trees of Lebanon rejoice.They say, “The king has fallen.No one will ever cut us down again.”
9. The place of the dead is excitedto meet you when you come.It wakes the spirits of the dead to greet you.They were the leaders of the world.It makes dead kings stand up from their thrones to greet you.They were rulers of nations.
10. All these leaders will make fun of you.They will say,“Now you are weak, as we are.Now you are just like us.”
11. Your pride has been sent down to where the dead are.The music from your harps goes with it.Flies are spread out like your bed beneath you.And worms cover your body like a blanket.