7. This will be a terrible day!There will never be another time like this.This is a time of great trouble for the people of Jacob.But they will be saved from it.”
8. The Lord of heaven’s armies says, “At that timeI will break the yoke from their necks.And I will break the ropes holding them.Foreign people will never again make my people slaves!
9. They will serve the Lord their God.And they will serve David their king.I will send that king to them.
10. “So people of Jacob, my servants, don’t be afraid!Israel, don’t be frightened,” says the Lord.“I will save you from that faraway place where you are captives.I will save your family from that land.The people of Jacob will be safe and have peace again.There will be no enemy to frighten them.
11. I am with you and will save you,”says the Lord.“I scattered you among those nations.Even if I completely destroy all those nations,I will not destroy you.You will be punished fairly.But I will punish you.”
12. This is what the Lord said:“You people have a wound that cannot be cured.Your injury will not heal.
13. There is no one to argue your case.There is no cure for your sores.So you will not be healed.
14. All those nations who were your friends have forgotten you.They don’t care about you.I hurt you as an enemy would.I punished you very hard.I did this because your guilt was so great.I did this because your sins were so many.
15. Why are you crying about your injury?There is no cure for your pain.I, the Lord, did these things to you because of your great guilt.I did these things because of your many sins.
16. But those nations that destroyed you will now be destroyed.Your enemies will become captives.Those who stole from you will have their own things stolen.Those who took things from you in war will have their own things taken.