16. All who invoke a blessing or take an oathwill do so by the God of truth.For I will put aside my angerand forget the evil of earlier days.
17. “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth,and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.
18. Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation!And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness.Her people will be a source of joy.
19. I will rejoice over Jerusalemand delight in my people.And the sound of weeping and cryingwill be heard in it no more.
20. “No longer will babies die when only a few days old.No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life.No longer will people be considered old at one hundred!Only the cursed will die that young!
21. In those days people will live in the houses they buildand eat the fruit of their own vineyards.
22. Unlike the past, invaders will not take their housesand confiscate their vineyards.For my people will live as long as trees,and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains.
23. They will not work in vain,and their children will not be doomed to misfortune.For they are people blessed by the lord,and their children, too, will be blessed.
24. I will answer them before they even call to me.While they are still talking about their needs,I will go ahead and answer their prayers!
25. The wolf and the lamb will feed together.The lion will eat hay like a cow.But the snakes will eat dust.In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain.I, the lord, have spoken!”