1 “ Sing, barren, you who didn’t give birth; break out into singing, and cry aloud, you who did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,” says Yahweh.

“Woman, be happy, you who have had no children. Cry for joy, you who have never had the pains of having a child, for you will have many children. Yes, you will have more children than the one who has a husband,” says the Lord.

2 “ Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare: lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.

“Make your tent bigger. Spread out the curtains of your home, and do not hold back. Make your ropes longer and your tie-downs stronger.

3 F or you will spread out on the right hand and on the left; and your offspring will possess the nations, and settle in desolate cities.

For you will spread out to the right and to the left. Your children will own nations, and they will fill the destroyed cities with people.

4 “ Don’t be afraid; for you will not be ashamed. Don’t be confounded; for you will not be disappointed. For you will forget the shame of your youth; and the reproach of your widowhood you shall remember no more.

“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed. Do not be troubled, for you will not be put to shame. You will forget how you were ashamed when you were young. You will not remember the sorrow of being without a husband any more.

5 F or your Maker is your husband; Yahweh of Armies is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called the God of the whole earth.

Your Maker is your husband. His name is the Lord of All. And the One Who saves you is the Holy One of Israel. He is called the God of All the earth.

6 F or Yahweh has called you as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off,” says your God.

For the Lord has called you like a wife left alone and filled with sorrow, like a wife who married when young and is left,” says your God.

7 “ For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you.

“For a short time I left you, but with much loving-pity I will take you back.

8 I n overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says Yahweh your Redeemer.

When I was very angry I hid My face from you for a short time. But with loving-kindness that lasts forever I will have pity on you,” says the Lord Who bought you and saves you.

9 “ For this is like the waters of Noah to me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.

“For this is like the days of Noah to Me. As I promised that the waters of Noah should not flood the earth again, so I have promised that I will not be angry with you or speak sharp words to you.

10 F or the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my loving kindness will not depart from you, and my covenant of peace will not be removed,” says Yahweh who has mercy on you.

The mountains may be taken away and the hills may shake, but My loving-kindness will not be taken from you. And My agreement of peace will not be shaken,” says the Lord who has loving-pity on you.

11 “ You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors, and lay your foundations with sapphires.

“O suffering one, shaken by the storm and not comforted, see, I will set your stones in beautiful colors. You will stand upon blue stones of much worth.

12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.

I will make your towers of bright red stones. Your gates will be made of shining stones, and all your walls will be made of stones of great worth.

13 A ll your children will be taught by Yahweh; and your children’s peace will be great.

All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and the well-being of your children will be great.

14 I n righteousness you will be established. You will be far from oppression, for you will not be afraid; and far from terror, for it shall not come near you.

All will be right and good for you. No one over you will make it hard for you, and you will not be afraid. You will be far from trouble, for it will not come near you.

15 B ehold, they may gather together, but not by me. Whoever gathers together against you will fall because of you.

If anyone brings trouble against you, it will not be from Me. Whoever comes against you will fall because of you.

16 “ Behold, I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flam, and forges a weapon for his work; and I have created the destroyer to destroy.

See, I Myself have made the workman who blows on the fire to give it more heat and makes a sword for its work. I have made the destroyer to destroy.

17 N o weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Yahweh’s servants, and their righteousness is of me,” says Yahweh.

No tool that is made to fight against you will do well. And you will prove wrong every tongue that says you are guilty. This is the gift given to the servants of the Lord. I take away their guilt and make them right,” says the Lord.