4. Everyone will sit under his own vine and fig tree.No one will make him afraid.This is because the Lord of heaven’s armies has said it.
5. All other nations follow their own gods.But we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever.
6. The Lord says, “At that time,I will bring back to me the crippled.I will bring back to Jerusalem those who were sent away.I will bring back to me those who were hurt.
7. I will keep alive those who were crippled.I will make a strong nation of those who were sent away.The Lord will be their king in Mount Zion forever.
8. And you, watchtower of the flocks, strong city of Jerusalem,you will be a kingdom as in the past.Jerusalem, the right to rule will come again to you.”
9. Now, why do you cry so loudly?Is your king gone?Have you lost your leader?You are in pain like a woman trying to give birth.
10. People of Jerusalem, be in pain.Be like a woman trying to give birth.Now you must leave the cityand live in the field.You will go to Babylon.But you will be saved from that place.The Lord will go thereand take you back from your enemies.
11. But now many nationshave come to fight against you.They say, “Let’s destroy Jerusalemand be proud we have defeated her.”
12. But they don’t knowwhat the Lord is thinking.They don’t understand his plan for them.He will crush them like a bundle of grain on the threshing floor.
13. “Get up and crush them, people of Jerusalem.I will make you strong as if you had horns of iron.I will make you strong as if you had hooves of bronze.You will beat many nations into small pieces.You will give their wealth to the Lord.You will give their treasure to the Lord of all the earth.”