6. Listen to the loud noise coming from the city.Hear the noise from the Temple.It is the Lord punishing his enemies.He is giving them the punishment they should have.
7. “A woman does not give birth before she feels the pain.She does not give birth to a son before she feels the pain of birth.
8. No one has ever heard of that happening.No one has ever seen that happen.In the same way no one ever saw a country begin in one day.No one has ever heard of a new nation beginning in one day.But Jerusalem will give birth to her childrenjust as soon as she feels the birth pains.
9. In the same way I will not cause painwithout allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord.“If I cause you the pain,I will not stop you from giving birth to your new nation,” says your God.
10. “Jerusalem, rejoice.All you people who love Jerusalem, be happy.Those of you who felt sad for Jerusalemshould now feel happy with her.
11. You will enjoy her good things and be satisfiedas a child is nursed by its mother.You will receive her good thingsand enjoy her wealth.”
12. This is what the Lord says:“I will give her peace that will flow to her like a river.The wealth of the nations will come flowing to her.Like babies you will be nursed and held in my arms.You will be bounced on my knees.
13. I will comfort youas a mother comforts her child.You will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
14. When you see these things, you will be happy.You will grow like the grass.The Lord’s servants will see his power.But the Lord’s enemies will see his anger.
15. Look, the Lord is coming with fire.The Lord’s armies are coming with clouds of dust.He will punish those people with his anger.He will punish them with flames of fire.
16. The Lord will judge the people with fire.He will destroy many people with his sword.He will kill many people.
17. “These people make themselves holy and pure to go to worship their false gods in their gardens. They follow each other into their special gardens. They eat the meat of pigs and rats and other hated things. But they will all be destroyed together,” says the Lord.
18. “I know they have evil thoughts and do evil things. So I am coming to punish them. I will gather all nations and all people. All people will come together and see my glory.
19. “I will put a mark on some of the people. And I will send some of these saved people to the nations. I will send them to Tarshish, Libya, Lud (the land of archers), Tubal, Greece and all the faraway lands. These people have never heard about what I have done. They have never seen my glory. So the saved people will tell the nations about my glory.