8. Who has ever heard of such a thing?Who has ever seen this?Can a country be brought forth in one day?Can a nation be born in a single moment?Yet as soon as Zion goes into labor she gives birth to sons!
9. “Do I bring a baby to the birth opening and then not deliver it?”asks the Lord.“Or do I bring a baby to the point of delivery and then hold it back?”asks your God.
10. Be happy for Jerusalem and rejoice with her, all you who love her!Share in her great joy,all you who have mourned over her!
11. For you will nurse from her satisfying breasts and be nourished;you will feed with joy from her milk-filled breasts.
12. For this is what the Lord says:“Look, I am ready to extend to her prosperity that will flow like a river, the riches of nations will flow into her like a stream that floods its banks.You will nurse from her breast and be carried at her side;you will play on her knees.
13. As a mother consoles a child,so I will console you,and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.”
14. When you see this, you will be happy, and you will be revived.The Lord will reveal his power to his servantsand his anger to his enemies.
15. For look, the Lord comes with fire,his chariots come like a windstorm,to reveal his raging anger,his battle cry, and his flaming arrows.
16. For the Lord judges all humanitywith fire and his sword;the Lord will kill many.
17. “As for those who consecrate and ritually purify themselves so they can follow their leader and worship in the sacred orchards, those who eat the flesh of pigs and other disgusting creatures, like mice – they will all be destroyed together,” says the Lord.
18. “I hate their deeds and thoughts! So I am coming to gather all the nations and ethnic groups; they will come and witness my splendor.
19. I will perform a mighty act among them and then send some of those who remain to the nations – to Tarshish, Pul, Lud (known for its archers), Tubal, Javan, and to the distant coastlands that have not heard about me or seen my splendor. They will tell the nations of my splendor.