<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;Comfort, comfort my people,&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">says your<n id="1" /> God.p>

<p class="poetry">As a mother consoles a child,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">so I will console you,p> <p class="poetry">and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Therefore, the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">the powerful ruler of Israel,<n id="2" /> says this:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Ah, I will seek vengeance<n id="3" /> against my adversaries,p> <p class="poetry">I will take revenge against my enemies.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">At that time<n id="1" /> you will say:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I praise you, O <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">for even though you were angry with me,p> <p class="poetry">your anger subsided, and you consoled me.p>

<p class="poetry">These double disasters confronted you.p> <p class="poetry">But who feels sorry for you?p> <p class="poetry">Destruction and devastation,p> <p class="poetry">famine and sword.p> <p class="poetry">But who consoles you?<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">In unison give a joyful shout,p> <p class="poetry">O ruins of Jerusalem!p> <p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> consoles his people;p> <p class="poetry">he protects<n id="1" /> Jerusalem.p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;O afflicted one, driven away,<n id="1" /> and unconsoled!p> <p class="poetry">Look, I am about to set your stones in antimonyp> <p class="poetry">and I lay your foundation with lapis-lazuli.p>

<p class="poetry">to announce the year when the <sc>Lordsc> will show his favor,p> <p class="poetry">the day when our God will seek vengeance,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">to console all who mourn,p>

<p class="poetry">Certainly the <sc>Lordsc> will console Zion;p> <p class="poetry">he will console all her ruins.p> <p class="poetry">He will make her wilderness like Eden,p> <p class="poetry">her desert like the Garden of the <sc>Lordsc>.p> <p class="poetry">Happiness and joy will be restored to<n id="1" /> her,p> <p class="poetry">thanksgiving and the sound of music.p>

<p class="poetry">So I say:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Don&#8217;t look at me!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I am weeping bitterly.p> <p class="poetry">Don&#8217;t try<n id="2" /> to console mep> <p class="poetry">concerning the destruction of my defenseless people.&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Shout for joy, O sky!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Rejoice, O earth!p> <p class="poetry">Let the mountains give a joyful shout!p> <p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> consoles his peoplep> <p class="poetry">and shows compassion to the<n id="2" /> oppressed.p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;I, I am the one who consoles you.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Why are you afraid of mortal men,p> <p class="poetry">of mere human beings who are as short-lived as grass?<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love;p> <p class="poetry">they, they are the object of your devotion.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">You pour out liquid offerings to them,p> <p class="poetry">you make an offering.p> <p class="poetry">Because of these things I will seek vengeance.<n id="2" />p>