“I have been inactive for a long time; I kept quiet and held back. Like a woman in labor I groan; I pant and gasp.

Remember what I accomplished in antiquity! Truly I am God, I have no peer; I am God, and there is none like me,

In a burst of anger I rejected you momentarily, but with lasting devotion I will have compassion on you,” says your protector, the Lord.

You were once abandoned and despised, with no one passing through, but I will make you a permanent source of pride and joy to coming generations.

All of your people will be godly; they will possess the land permanently. I will plant them like a shoot; they will be the product of my labor, through whom I reveal my splendor.

They will rebuild the perpetual ruins and restore the places that were desolate; they will reestablish the ruined cities, the places that have been desolate since ancient times.

the one who made his majestic power available to Moses, who divided the water before them, gaining for himself a lasting reputation,

We existed from ancient times, but you did not rule over them, they were not your subjects.

You will not always be angry with me, will you? You will not be mad at me forever, will you?’ That is what you say, but you continually do all the evil that you can.”

So their land will become an object of horror. People will forever hiss out their scorn over it. All who pass that way will be filled with horror and will shake their heads in derision.

For he did not kill me before I came from the womb, making my pregnant mother’s womb my grave forever.

In a far-off land the Lord will manifest himself to them. He will say to them, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love. That is why I have continued to be faithful to you.

Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish a lasting covenant with you.

I will bring terrors on you, and you will be no more! Though you are sought after, you will never be found again, declares the sovereign Lord.”

The traders among the peoples hiss at you; you have become a horror, and will be no more.’”

All who know you among the peoples are shocked at you; you have become terrified and will be no more.’”

I will turn you into a perpetual desolation, and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

Then, when my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel.’”

Now they must put away their spiritual prostitution and the pillars of their kings far from me, and then I will live among them forever.

But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.