Isaiah 54

1Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

2Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;

3For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

4Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

5For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.footnote a

6For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.

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

8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

9For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

10For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

11O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

12And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.

13And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

14In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

15Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

16Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Future Blessings for Zion

1“Shout for joy, O barren woman,who bears no children;break forth in song and cry aloud,you who have never travailed;because more are the children of the desolate womanthan of her who has a husband,”footnote asays the LORD. 2“Enlarge the site of your tent,stretch out the curtains of your dwellings,do not hold back.Lengthen your ropesand drive your stakes in deep.footnote b 3For you will spread out to the right and left;your descendants will dispossess the nationsand inhabit the desolate cities.

4Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame;do not be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated.For you will forget the shame of your youthand will remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. 5For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;He is called the God of all the earth. 6For the LORD has called you back,like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit,like the rejected wife of one’s youth,”says your God.

7“For a brief moment I forsook you,but with great compassion I will bring you back. 8In a surge of angerI hid My face from you for a moment,but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,”says the LORD your Redeemer.

9“For to Me this is like the days of Noah,footnote cwhen I swore that the waters of Noahwould never again cover the earth.So I have sworn that I will not be angry with youor rebuke you. 10Though the mountains may be removedand the hills may be shaken,My loving devotion will not depart from you,and My covenant of peace will not be broken,”says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

11“O afflicted city, lashed by storms,without solace,surely I will set your stones in antimonyand lay your foundations with sapphires.footnote d 12I will make your pinnacles of rubies,your gates of sparkling jewels,and all your walls of precious stones. 13Then all your sons will be taught by the LORD,footnote eand great will be their prosperity. 14In righteousness you will be established,far from oppression,for you will have no fear.Terror will be far removed,for it will not come near you.

15If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me;whoever assails you will fall before you. 16Behold, I have created the craftsmanwho fans the coals into flameand forges a weapon fit for its task;and I have created the destroyerto wreak havoc. 17No weapon formed against you shall prosper,and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,and their vindication is from Me,”declares the LORD.