Isaiah 54

Chapter 54

Future Glory for Jerusalem

1 “Sing, O childless woman,
you who have never given birth!
Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem,
you who have never been in labor.
For the desolate woman now has more children
than the woman who lives with her husband,”
says the LORD.2 “Enlarge your house; build an addition.
Spread out your home, and spare no expense!3 For you will soon be bursting at the seams.
Your descendants will occupy other nations
and resettle the ruined cities.4 “Fear not; you will no longer live in shame.
Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you.
You will no longer remember the shame of your youth
and the sorrows of widowhood.5 For your Creator will be your husband;
the LORD of Heaven’s Armies is his name!
He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
the God of all the earth.6 For the LORD has called you back from your grief—
as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,”
says your God.7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with great compassion I will take you back.8 In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while.
But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the LORD, your Redeemer.9 “Just as I swore in the time of Noah
that I would never again let a flood cover the earth,
so now I swear
that I will never again be angry and punish you.10 For the mountains may move
and the hills disappear,
but even then my faithful love for you will remain.
My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”
says the LORD, who has mercy on you.11 “O storm-battered city,
troubled and desolate!
I will rebuild you with precious jewels
and make your foundations from lapis lazuli.12 I will make your towers of sparkling rubies,
your gates of shining gems,
and your walls of precious stones.13 I will teach all your children,
and they will enjoy great peace.14 You will be secure under a government that is just and fair.
Your enemies will stay far away.
You will live in peace,
and terror will not come near.15 If any nation comes to fight you,
it is not because I sent them.
Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat.16 “I have created the blacksmith
who fans the coals beneath the forge
and makes the weapons of destruction.
And I have created the armies that destroy.17 But in that coming day
no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice
raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD;
their vindication will come from me.
I, the LORD, have spoken!

ISAIAH 54

A Promise //of the [Lord]'s Protection

1  t Sing and shout,
even though you have never
had children!
The [Lord] has promised that you
will have more children
than someone married
for a long time.

2 Make your tents larger!
Spread out the tent pegs;
fasten them firmly.

3 You and your descendants
will take over the land
of other nations.
You will settle in towns
that are now in ruins.

4 Don't be afraid or ashamed
and don't be discouraged.
You won't be disappointed.
Forget how sinful you were
when you were young;
stop feeling ashamed
for being left a widow.

5 The [Lord] All-Powerful,
the Holy God of Israel,
rules all the earth.
He is your Creator and husband,
and he will rescue you.

6 You were like a young wife,
brokenhearted and crying
because her husband
had divorced her.
But the [Lord] your God says,
“I am taking you back!

7 I rejected you for a while,
but with love and tenderness
I will embrace you again.

8 For a while, I turned away
in furious anger.
Now I will have mercy
and love you forever!
I, your protector and [Lord],
make this promise.”

The [Lord] Promises //Lasting Peace

9  t I once promised Noah that I
would never again destroy
the earth by a flood.
Now I have promised that I
will never again get angry
and punish you.

10  t Every mountain and hill
may disappear.
But I will always be kind
and merciful to you;
I won't break my agreement
to give your nation peace.

The New Jerusalem

11  t t Jerusalem, you are sad
and discouraged,
tossed around in a storm.
But I, the [Lord],
will rebuild your city
with precious stones;t
for your foundation
I will use blue sapphires.

12 Your fortressest
will be built of rubies,
your gates of jewels,
and your walls of gems.

13  t I will teach your children
and make them successful.

14 You will be built on fairness
with no fears of injustice;
every one of your worries
will be taken far from you.

15 I will never send anyone
to attack your city,
and you will make prisoners
of those who do attack.

16 Don't forget that I created
metalworkers who make weapons
over burning coals.
I also created armies
that can bring destruction.

17 Weapons made to attack you
won't be successful;
words spoken against you
won't hurt at all.
My servants, Jerusalem is yours!
I, the [Lord], promise
to bless you with victory.