20. I’ve stripped off the robe of peace and put on the rough cloth of mourners.I’ll spend my days crying outto the eternal one.
21. Children, be confident! Cry out to God!God will rescue you from your enemies’ authority and grip.
22. I have placed hope in the eternal onefor your salvation;the holy one has sent me joy,because your eternal saviorwill soon have mercy on you.
23. I sent you awaywith mourning and wailing,but God will restore you to mewith gladness and joy forever.
24. Just as Zion’s neighborshave now seen your exile,they’ll also soon seeGod’s deliverance of you;it will come to you with all the glory and splendor of the eternal one.
25. Children, bear up patientlyunder God’s anger,which has come on you.Your enemy has hunted you down,but you’ll soon see their destruction.Then you’ll step on their throats.
26. My delicate childrenhave traveled rough roads.They were taken as a flocksnatched away by enemies.
27. Children, be confident!Cry out to God,for the one who brought this on you will remember you.
28. Just as you plottedto stray away from God,return with ten times as much effortto seek him out.
29. The one who broughtthese horrible things on youwill bring you eternal joyalong with your deliverance.
30. Jerusalem, be confident!The one who named you will comfort you.
31. Misery will fall upon thosewho mistreated youand celebrated your fall.
32. Misery will fall upon the citiesthat enslaved your young.Misery will fall upon the citiesthat received your children.
33. Just as the enemy celebrated your falland rejoiced at your misfortune,she herself will feel the painof being left desolate.
34. I’ll strip away the prideshe has in her great population,and turn her arrogance into grief.
35. The eternal one will send fire on herfor many days,and demons will inhabit herfor a long time.