1Sing, you who cannot have children, you who never gave birth. Burst into singing and shout aloud, you who never had labour pains. For the children of the woman left alone are more than the children of the married wife, says the LORD.
2Make the space of your tent larger. Let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings. Do not hold back. Make your ropes long, and make your tent pegs strong.
3For you will spread out to the right hand and to the left. Your children will take the nations as their own, and will fill the empty cities with people.
4Do not be afraid, for you will not be ashamed. Do not be dismayed, for you will not be disgraced. You will forget the shame of your youth, and you will remember the reproach of your widowhood no more.
5For your Maker is your husband. The LORD of hosts is his name. Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. He will be called the God of the whole earth.
6For the LORD has called you back like a wife who was left and is grieved in spirit, a wife married in youth and then turned away, says your God.
7For a short moment I left you, but with great mercy I will gather you back.
8In a burst of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, says the LORD your Redeemer.
9This is like the waters of Noah to me. I swore that the waters of Noah would never cover the earth again. In the same way I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.
10The mountains may go away and the hills be moved, but my kindness will not go away from you. My covenant of peace will not be moved, says the LORD, who has mercy on you.
11You who suffer, tossed about by the storm and not comforted, look, I will set your stones in bright colours, and lay your foundations with sapphires.
12I will make your windows of agates, and your gates of carbuncles, and all your borders of beautiful stones.
13All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be the peace of your children.
14You will be made firm in righteousness. You will be far from cruel treatment, for you will not be afraid. Terror will be far away, for it will not come near you.
15Look, they will surely gather together, but not by me. Whoever gathers together against you will fall because of you.
16Look, I have made the blacksmith who blows on the coals in the fire and brings out a tool for his work. And I have made the destroyer to destroy.
17No weapon made against you will succeed. Every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will prove wrong. This is what the servants of the LORD receive, and their righteousness comes from me, says the LORD.