10. “So people of Jacob, my servants, don’t be afraid.Israel, don’t be frightened,” says the Lord.“I will soon save you from that faraway place where you are captives.I will save your family from that land.The people of Jacob will be safe and have peace again;there will be no enemy to frighten them.
11. I am with you and will save you,”says the Lord.“I will completely destroy all those nationswhere I scattered you,but I will not completely destroy you.I will punish you fairly,but I will still punish you.”
12. This is what the Lord said:“You people have a wound that cannot be cured;your injury will not heal.
13. There is no one to argue your caseand no cure for your sores.So you will not be healed.
14. All those nations who were your friends have forgotten you.They don’t care about you.I have hurt you as an enemy would.I punished you very hard,because your guilt was so greatand your sins were so many.
15. Why are you crying out about your injury?There is no cure for your pain.I did these things to you because of your great guilt,because of your many sins.
16. But all those nations that destroyed you will now be destroyed.All your enemies will become captives in other lands.Those who stole from you will have their own things stolen.Those who took things from you in war will have their own things taken.
17. I will bring back your healthand heal your injuries,” says the Lord,“because other people forced you away.They said about you, ‘No one cares about Jerusalem!’ ”
18. This is what the Lord said:“I will soon make the tents of Jacob’s people as they used to be,and I will have pity on Israel’s houses.The city will be rebuilt on its hill of ruins,and the king’s palace will stand in its proper place.
19. People in those places will sing songs of praise.There will be the sound of laughter.I will give them many childrenso their number will not be small.I will bring honor to themso no one will look down on them.
20. Their descendants will be as they were in the old days.I will set them up as a strong people before me,and I will punish the nations who have hurt them.
21. One of their own people will lead them;their ruler will come from among them.He will come near to me when I invite him.Who would dare to come to me uninvited?” says the Lord.
22. “So you will be my people,and I will be your God.”
23. Look! It is a storm from the Lord!He is angry and has gone out to punish the people.Punishment will come like a stormcrashing down on the evil people.