Zephaniah 3:19

3:19 Look, at that time I will deal with those who mistreated you.

I will rescue the lame sheep ¹ 

and gather together the scattered sheep.

I will take away their humiliation

and make the whole earth admire and respect them. ² 

Isaiah 60:15

60:15 You were once abandoned

and despised, with no one passing through,

but I will make you ³  a permanent source of pride

and joy to coming generations.

Isaiah 61:9

61:9 Their descendants will be known among the nations,

their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will recognize that

the Lord has blessed them.” ⁴ 

Isaiah 62:7

62:7 Don’t allow him to rest until he reestablishes Jerusalem, ⁵ 

until he makes Jerusalem the pride ⁶  of the earth.

Isaiah 62:12

62:12 They will be called, “The Holy People,

the Ones Protected ⁷  by the Lord.”

You will be called, “Sought After,

City Not Abandoned.”

Malachi 3:12

3:12 “All nations will call you happy, for you indeed will live in ⁸  a delightful land,” says the Lord who rules over all.

[3:19]  ¹ tn The word “sheep” is supplied for clarification. As in Mic 4:6-7, the exiles are here pictured as injured and scattered sheep whom the divine shepherd rescues from danger.

[3:19]  ² tn Heb “I will make them into praise and a name, in all the earth, their shame.” The present translation assumes that “their shame” specifies “them” and that “name” stands here for a good reputation.

[60:15]  ³ tn Heb “Instead of your being abandoned and despised, with no one passing through, I will make you.”

[61:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “all who see them will recognize them, that they [are] descendants [whom] the Lord has blessed.”

[62:7]  ⁵ tn “Jerusalem” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons; note the following line.

[62:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “[the object of] praise.”

[62:12]  ⁷ tn Or “the redeemed of the Lord” (KJV, NAB).

[3:12]  ⁸ tn Heb “will be” (so NAB, NRSV); TEV “your land will be a good place to live in.”