6. “I have destroyed nations;their towers were ruined.I made their streets emptyso no one goes there anymore.Their cities are ruined;no one lives there at all.
7. I said, ‘Surely now Jerusalem will respect meand will accept my teaching.’Then the place where they lived would not be destroyed,and I would not have to punish them.But they were still eagerto do evil in everything they did.
8. Just wait,” says the Lord.“Someday I will stand up as a witness.I have decided that I will gather nationsand assemble kingdoms.I will pour out my anger on them,all my strong anger.My anger will be like firethat will burn up the whole world.
9. “Then I will give the people of all nations pure speechso that all of them will speak the name of the Lordand worship me together.
10. People will come from where the Nile River begins;my scattered people will come with gifts for me.
11. Then Jerusalem will not be ashamedof the wrongs done against me,because I will remove from this citythose who like to brag;there will never be any more proud peopleon my holy mountain in Jerusalem.
12. But I will leave in the citythe humble and those who are not proud,and they will trust in the Lord.
13. Those who are left alive in Israel won’t do wrong or tell lies;they won’t trick people with their words.They will eat and lie downwith no one to make them afraid.”
14. Sing, Jerusalem.Israel, shout for joy!Jerusalem, be happyand rejoice with all your heart.
15. The Lord has stopped punishing you;he has sent your enemies away.The King of Israel, the Lord, is with you;you will never again be afraid of being harmed.