5. Listen to what the Lord says, you that fear him and obey him: “Because you are faithful to me, some of your own people hate you and will have nothing to do with you. They mock you and say, ‘Let the Lord show his greatness and save you, so that we may see you rejoice.’ But they themselves will be disgraced!
6. Listen! That loud noise in the city, that sound in the Temple, is the sound of the Lord punishing his enemies!
7. “My holy city is like a woman who suddenly gives birth to a child, without ever going into labour.
8. Has anyone ever seen or heard of such a thing? Has a nation ever been born in a day? Zion will not have to suffer long, before the nation is born.
9. Do not think that I will bring my people to the point of birth and not let them be born.” The Lord has spoken.
10. Rejoice with Jerusalem; be glad for her,all you that love this city!Rejoice with her now,all you that have mourned for her!
11. You will enjoy her prosperity,like a child at its mother's breast.
12. The Lord says, “I will bring you lasting prosperity; the wealth of the nations will flow to you like a river that never goes dry. You will be like a child that is nursed by its mother, carried in her arms, and treated with love.
13. I will comfort you in Jerusalem, as a mother comforts her child.
14. When you see this happen, you will be glad; it will make you strong and healthy. Then you will know that I, the Lord, help those who obey me, and I show my anger against my enemies.”
15. The Lord will come with fire. He will ride on the wings of a storm to punish those he is angry with.
16. By fire and sword he will punish all the people of the world whom he finds guilty — and many will be put to death.