Isaiah 54

1 Rejoice, you barren woman who has not given birth. Burst into a cry, you who have not been in labor, because the deserted woman has more children than the woman with a husband, says the Lord.

2 Enlarge the place for your tent and its curtains. Pitch it, do not hold back; lengthen your ropes and strengthen your stakes.

3 Extend your tent to the right and left. Your offspring will inherit nations and populate deserted cities.

4 Do not fear because you were put to shame, and do not be confused because you were insulted. You will forget your age-old shame and no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood.

5 The Lord is the one who made you; his name is the Lord of armies. The one who rescued you is the God of Israel, and the whole earth will call him by that name.

6 The Lord did not call you like an abandoned, fainthearted woman or like a woman hated since her youth, says your God.

7 I left you for a short time, but with great mercy I will have compassion on you.

8 In a brief moment of anger I turned my face from you, but with everlasting mercy I will have compassion on you, says the Lord who rescued you.

9 This is like the water in Noah’s time for me. Just as I swore then concerning the earth, I will no longer be angry with you, nor at my rebuke will

10 the mountains be removed or your hills be shaken. In the same way, my mercy for you will not fail, and my covenant of peace will never be removed. The Lord has said, ‘I will be merciful to you.’

11 Afflicted outcast, you have not been comforted. Look, I will set garnet among your stones and sapphire in your foundations.

12 I will make your battlements of jasper, your gates of crystal, and your border of precious stones.

13 I will cause all your sons to be taught by God, and your children will have great peace.

14 You will be built in righteousness. Stay away from wrongdoing, and you will not fear; trembling will not come near you.

15 Look, newcomers will come to you through me and run to you for refuge.

16 Look, I am creating you—not like a metalworker who blows on coals and brings out a tool for work. I did not create you for destruction, to destroy

17 every perishable tool. I will not let any of them succeed against you. You will defeat every voice that rises against you in judgment, and your adversaries will be condemned by it. This is the inheritance of those who serve the Lord, and you will be righteous before me, says the Lord.