The Hebrew Prophets

The coastlands are putting their hope in me, with the 'Tarshish' ships in the lead, to bring your children from far away, and with them their silver and gold, for the sake of ADONAI your God, the Holy One of Isra'el, who glorifies you.

Foreigners will rebuild your walls, their kings will be at your service; for in my anger I struck you, but in my mercy I pity you.

Your gates will always be open, they will not be shut by day or by night, so that people can bring you the wealth of nations, with their kings led in procession.

For the nation or kingdom that won't serve you will perish; yes, those nations will be utterly destroyed.

"The glory of the L'vanon will come to you, cypresses together with elm trees and larches, to beautify the site of my sanctuary - I will glorify the place where I stand.

The children of your oppressors will come and bow low before you, all who despised you will fall at your feet, calling you the city of ADONAI, Tziyon of the Holy One of Isra'el.

"In the past you were abandoned and hated, so that no one would even pass through you; but now I will make you the pride of the ages, a joy for many generations.

You will drink the milk of nations, you will nurse at royal breasts and know that I, ADONAI, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Ya'akov.

"For bronze I will bring you gold, for iron I will bring you silver, bronze in place of wood, and iron in place of stones. I will make shalom your governor and righteousness your taskmaster.

Violence will no longer be heard in your land, desolation or destruction within your borders; instead, you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.

"No more will the sun be your light by day, nor will moonlight shine on you; instead ADONAI will be your light forever and your God your glory.

No longer will your sun go down; your moon will no longer wane; for ADONAI will be your light forever; your days of mourning will end.

All your people will be tzaddikim; they will inherit the land forever; they will be the branch I planted, my handiwork, in which I take pride.

The smallest will grow to a thousand, the weakest will become a mighty nation. I, ADONAI, when the right time comes, will quickly bring it about."

The Spirit of Adonai ELOHIM is upon me, because ADONAI has anointed me to announce good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted; to proclaim freedom to the captives, to let out into light those bound in the dark;

to proclaim the year of the favor of ADONAI and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn,

yes, provide for those in Tziyon who mourn, giving them garlands instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a cloak of praise instead of a heavy spirit, so that they will be called oaks of righteousness planted by ADONAI, in which he takes pride.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins, restore sites long destroyed; they will renew the ruined cities, destroyed many generations ago.

Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, foreigners plow your land and tend your vines;

but you will be called cohanim of ADONAI, spoken of as ministers to our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and revel in their riches.

Because of your shame, which was doubled, and because they cried, "They deserve disgrace," therefore in their land what they own will be doubled, and joy forever will be theirs.

"For I, ADONAI, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offerings. So I will be faithful to reward them and make an eternal covenant with them."

Their descendants will be known among the nations, their offspring among the peoples; all who see them will acknowledge that they are the seed ADONAI has blessed.

I am so joyful in ADONAI! My soul rejoices in my God, for he has clothed me in salvation, dressed me with a robe of triumph, like a bridegroom wearing a festive turban, like a bride adorned with her jewels.

For just as the earth brings forth its plants, or a garden makes its plants spring up, so ADONAI, God, will cause victory and glory to spring up before all nations.