<p class="poetry">The oppressed and the poor look for water, but there is none;p> <p class="poetry">their tongues are parched from thirst.p> <p class="poetry">I, the <sc>Lordsc>, will respond to their prayers;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them.p>

<p class="poetry">I will do this so<n id="1" /> people<n id="2" /> will observe and recognize,p> <p class="poetry">so they will pay attention and understandp> <p class="poetry">that the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s power<n id="3" /> has accomplished this,p> <p class="poetry">and that the Holy One of Israel has brought it into being.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">This is what the true God,<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc>, says &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">the one who created the sky and stretched it out,p> <p class="poetry">the one who fashioned the earth and everything that lives on it,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">the one who gives breath to the people on it,p> <p class="poetry">and life to those who live on it:<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> emerges like a hero,p> <p class="poetry">like a warrior he inspires himself for battle;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he shouts, yes, he yells,p> <p class="poetry">he shows his enemies his power.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">My servant is truly blind,p> <p class="poetry">my messenger is truly deaf.p> <p class="poetry">My covenant partner,<n id="1" /> the servant of the <sc>Lordsc>, is truly blind.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Now, this is what the <sc>Lordsc> says,p> <p class="poetry">the one who created you, O Jacob,p> <p class="poetry">and formed you, O Israel:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Don&#8217;t be afraid, for I will protect<n id="1" /> you.p> <p class="poetry">I call you by name, you are mine.p>

<p class="poetry">I decreed and delivered and proclaimed,p> <p class="poetry">and there was no other god among you.p> <p class="poetry">You are my witnesses,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;that I am God.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says,p> <p class="poetry">your protector,<n id="1" /> the Holy One of Israel:<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;For your sake I send to Babylonp> <p class="poetry">and make them all fugitives,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">turning the Babylonians&#8217; joyful shouts into mourning songs.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">This is what the <sc>Lordsc>, the one who made you, says &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">the one who formed you in the womb and helps you:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Don&#8217;t be afraid, my servant Jacob,p> <p class="poetry">Jeshurun,<n id="1" /> whom I have chosen!p>

<p class="poetry">I will give you hidden treasures,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">riches stashed away in secret places,p> <p class="poetry">so you may recognize that I am the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">the one who calls you by name, the God of Israel.p>

<p class="poetry">I am<n id="1" /> the one who forms lightp> <p class="poetry">and creates darkness;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">the one who brings about peacep> <p class="poetry">and creates calamity.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">I am the <sc>Lordsc>, who accomplishes all these things.p>

<p class="poetry">O sky, rain down from above!p> <p class="poetry">Let the clouds send down showers<n id="1" /> of deliverance!p> <p class="poetry">Let the earth absorb it<n id="2" /> so salvation may grow,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and deliverance may sprout up<n id="4" /> along with it.p> <p class="poetry">I, the <sc>Lordsc>, create it.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says,p> <p class="poetry">the Holy One of Israel,<n id="1" /> the one who formed him,p> <p class="poetry">concerning things to come:<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;How dare you question me<n id="3" /> about my children!p> <p class="poetry">How dare you tell me what to do with<n id="4" /> the work of my own hands!p>

<p class="poetry">It is me &#8211; I stir him up and commission him;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I will make all his ways level.p> <p class="poetry">He will rebuild my city;p> <p class="poetry">he will send my exiled people home,p> <p class="poetry">but not for a price or a bribe,&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies.p>

<p class="poetry">I have not spoken in secret,p> <p class="poetry">in some hidden place.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I did not tell Jacob&#8217;s descendants,p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Seek me in vain!&#8217;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">I am the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">the one who speaks honestly,p> <p class="poetry">who makes reliable announcements.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Leave Babylon!p> <p class="poetry">Flee from the Babylonians!p> <p class="poetry">Announce it with a shout of joy!p> <p class="poetry">Make this known!p> <p class="poetry">Proclaim it throughout the earth!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Say, &#8216;The <sc>Lordsc> protects<n id="2" /> his servant Jacob.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Listen to me, you coastlands!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Pay attention, you people who live far away!p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> summoned me from birth;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">he commissioned me when my mother brought me into the world.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">But I thought,<n id="1" /> &#8220;I have worked in vain;p> <p class="poetry">I have expended my energy for absolutely nothing.&#8221;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">But the <sc>Lordsc> will vindicate me;p> <p class="poetry">my God will reward me.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;At the time I decide to show my favor, I will respond to you;p> <p class="poetry">in the day of deliverance I will help you;p> <p class="poetry">I will protect you<n id="1" /> and make you a covenant mediator for people,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">to rebuild<n id="3" /> the land<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">and to reassign the desolate property.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>