11. Then let those ransomed by the Lord returnand come to Zion with singingand with everlasting joy upon their heads.Let happiness and joy overwhelm them;let grief and groaning flee.
12. I, I am the one who comforts you.Why should you fear humans who will die,mortals who are treated like grass?
13. You forgot the Lord your maker,the one who stretched out the heavensand founded the earth.You were continually afraid, all day long,on account of the oppressor’s wrath—a fear by which they intend to destroy you.Where now is the oppressor’s wrath?
14. The imprisoned ones will soon be released;they won’t die in the pitor even lack bread.
15. I am the Lord your God,who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the Lord of heavenly forces is his name.
16. I put my words in your mouthand hid you in the shadow of my hand,stretching out the heavens, founding the earth,and saying to Zion, "You are my people."
17. Wake yourself, wake yourself!Rise up, Jerusalem,who drank the cup of wrath from the Lord’s hand.You drank; you drained the goblet of reeling.
18. There’s no one to guide her among all the children she bore;there’s no one to take her by the hand among all the children she raised.
19. These two things have happened to you—Who will be sorry for you?—destruction and devastation,famine and sword—who will comfort you?
20. Your children passed out;they lay at the head of every street like antelope in a net,filled with the Lord’s wrath,with the rebuke of your God.
21. Therefore, hear this, suffering one,who is drunk, but not from wine.
22. The Lord, your Lord and your God,who contends for his people, says:Look, I have taken the cup of reeling,the goblet of my wrath, from your hand.You will no longer drink from it.
23. I will put it in the hand of your tormentors,who said to you,"Lie down so that we can walk on you.Make your back like the ground,like a street for those walking on it."