12. The Lord says,“I am the one who strengthens you.Why should you fear mortals,who are no more enduring than grass?
13. Have you forgotten the Lord who made you,who stretched out the heavensand laid the earth's foundations?Why should you live in constant fearof the fury of those who oppress you,of those who are ready to destroy you?Their fury can no longer touch you.
14. Those who are prisoners will soon be set free;they will live a long lifeand have all the food they need.
15. “I am the Lord your God;I stir up the seaand make its waves roar.My name is the Lord Almighty!
16. I stretched out the heavensand laid the earth's foundations;I say to Jerusalem, ‘You are my people!I have given you my teaching,and I protect you with my hand.’ ”
17. Jerusalem, wake up!Rouse yourself and get up!You have drunk the cup of punishmentthat the Lord in his anger gave you to drink;you drank it down, and it made you stagger.
18. There is no one to lead you,no one among your peopleto take you by the hand.
19. A double disaster has fallen on you:your land has been devastated by war,and your people have starved.There is no one to show you sympathy.
20. At the corner of every streetyour people collapse from weakness;they are like deer caught in a hunter's net.They have felt the force of God's anger.
21. You suffering people of Jerusalem,you that stagger as though you were drunk,
22. the Lord your God defends you and says,“I am taking away the cupthat I gave you in my anger.You will no longer have to drinkthe wine that makes you stagger.
23. I will give it to those who oppressed you,to those who made you lie down in the streetsand trampled on you as if you were dirt.”