18. You will think back to this time of terror, asking,“Where are the Assyrian officerswho counted our towers?Where are the bookkeeperswho recorded the plunder taken from our fallen city?”
19. You will no longer see these fierce, violent peoplewith their strange, unknown language.
20. Instead, you will see Zion as a place of holy festivals.You will see Jerusalem, a city quiet and secure.It will be like a tent whose ropes are tautand whose stakes are firmly fixed.
21. The lord will be our Mighty One.He will be like a wide river of protectionthat no enemy can cross,that no enemy ship can sail upon.
22. For the lord is our judge,our lawgiver, and our king.He will care for us and save us.
23. The enemies’ sails hang looseon broken masts with useless tackle.Their treasure will be divided by the people of God.Even the lame will take their share!
24. The people of Israel will no longer say,“We are sick and helpless,”for the lord will forgive their sins.