1Sing , O barren , thou that didst not bear ; break forth into singing , and cry aloud , thou that didst not travail with child : for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife , saith Jehovah . 2Enlarge the place of thy tent , and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations ; spare not : lengthen thy cords , and strengthen thy stakes . 3For thou shalt spread abroad on the right hand and on the left ; and thy seed shall possess the nations , and make the desolate cities to be inhabited .
God's Assurance of Protection
4Fear not ; for thou shalt not be ashamed : neither be thou confounded ; for thou shalt not be put to shame : for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth ; and the reproach of thy widowhood shalt thou remember no more . 5For thy Maker is thy husband ; Jehovah of hosts is his name : and the Holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer ; the God of the whole earth shall he be called . 6For Jehovah hath called thee as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit , even a wife of youth , when she is cast off , saith thy God . 7For a small moment have I forsaken thee ; but with great mercies will I gather thee . 8In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment ; but with everlasting lovingkindness will I have mercy on thee , saith Jehovah thy Redeemer .
The Future Glory of Zion
9For this is as the waters of Noah unto me ; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 10For the mountains may depart , and the hills be removed ; but my lovingkindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed , saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee. 11O thou afflicted , tossed with tempest , and not comforted , behold , I will set thy stones in fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires . 12And I will make thy pinnacles of rubies , and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy border of precious stones.
The Assurance of God's Faithfulness
13And all thy children shall be taught of Jehovah ; and great shall be the peace of thy children . 14In righteousness shalt thou be established : thou shalt be far from oppression , for thou shalt not fear ; and from terror , for it shall not come near thee. 15Behold , they may gather together , but not by me : whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall because of thee. 16Behold , I have created the smith that bloweth the fire of coals , and bringeth forth a weapon for his work ; and I have created the waster to destroy . 17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper ; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn . This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah , and their righteousness which is of me , saith Jehovah .