<p class="poetry">I first decreed to Zion, &#8216;Look, here&#8217;s what will happen!&#8217;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I sent a herald to Jerusalem.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">I am the <sc>Lordsc>! That is my name!p> <p class="poetry">I will not share my glory with anyone else,p> <p class="poetry">or the praise due me with idols.p>

<p class="poetry">For my sake alone<n id="1" /> I will act,p> <p class="poetry">for how can I allow my name to be defiled?<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">I will not share my glory with anyone else!<n id="3" />p>

I will put your robe on him, tie your belt around him, and transfer your authority to him.<n id="1" /> He will become a protector of<n id="2" /> the residents of Jerusalem and of the people<n id="3" /> of Judah.

<p class="poetry">I will make cedars, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees grow in the wilderness;p> <p class="poetry">I will make evergreens, firs, and cypresses grow together in the desert.p>

<p class="poetry">I will set up within my temple and my walls a monument<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">that will be better than sons and daughters.p> <p class="poetry">I will set up a permanent monument<n id="2" /> for them that will remain.p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> swears an oath by his right hand,p> <p class="poetry">by his strong arm:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I will never again give your grainp> <p class="poetry">to your enemies as food,p> <p class="poetry">and foreigners will not drink your wine,p> <p class="poetry">which you worked hard to produce.p>