7. Ah! How mighty is that day—there is none like it!A time of distress for Jacob,though he shall be saved from it.
8. On that day—oracle of the Lord of hosts—I will break his yoke off your neck and snap your bonds. Strangers shall no longer enslave them;
9. instead, they shall serve the Lord, their God, and David, their king, whom I will raise up for them.
10. But you, my servant Jacob, do not fear!—oracle of the Lord—do not be dismayed, Israel!For I will soon deliver you from places far away,your offspring from the land of their exile;Jacob shall again find rest,secure, with none to frighten him,
11. for I am with you—oracle of the Lord—to save you.I will bring to an end all the nationsamong whom I have scattered you;but you I will not bring to an end.I will chastise you as you deserve,I will not let you go unpunished.
12. For thus says the Lord:Incurable is your wound,grievous your injury;
13. There is none to plead your case,no remedy for your running sore,no healing for you.
14. All your lovers have forgotten you,they do not seek you out.I struck you as an enemy would strike,punishing you cruelly.
15. Why cry out over your wound?There is no relief for your pain.Because of your great guilt,your numerous sins,I have done this to you.
16. Yet all who devour you shall be devoured,all your enemies shall go into exile.All who plunder you shall become plunder,all who pillage you I will hand over to be pillaged.
17. For I will restore your health;I will heal your injuries—oracle of the Lord.“The outcast” they have called you,“whom no one looks for.”
18. Thus says the Lord:See! I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents,on his dwellings I will have compassion;A city shall be rebuilt upon its own ruins,a citadel restored where it should be.
19. From them will come praise,the sound of people rejoicing.I will increase them, they will not decrease,I will glorify them, they will not be insignificant.
20. His children shall be as of old,his assembly shall stand firm in my presence,I will punish all his oppressors.
21. His leader shall be one of his own,and his ruler shall emerge from his ranks.He shall approach me when I summon him;Why else would he dareapproach me?—oracle of the Lord.