1 Jerusalem, be strong and great again!Holy city of God, clothe yourself with splendour!The heathen will never enter your gates again.
2 Shake yourself free, Jerusalem!Rise from the dust and sit on your throne!Undo the chains that bind you,captive people of Zion!
3 The Sovereign Lord says to his people, “When you became slaves, no money was paid for you; in the same way nothing will be paid to set you free.
4 When you went to live in Egypt as foreigners, you did so of your own free will; Assyria, however, took you away by force and paid nothing for you.
5 And now in Babylonia the same thing has happened: you are captives, and nothing was paid for you. Those who rule over you boast and brag and constantly show contempt for me.
6 In time to come you will acknowledge that I am God and that I have spoken to you.”
7 How wonderful it is to seea messenger coming across the mountains,bringing good news, the news of peace!He announces victory and says to Zion,“Your God is king!”
8 Those who guard the city are shouting,shouting together for joy!They can see with their own eyesthe return of the Lord to Zion!
9 Break into shouts of joy,you ruins of Jerusalem!The Lord will rescue his cityand comfort his people.
10 The Lord will use his holy power;he will save his people,and all the world will see it.
11 Make sure you leave Babylonia,all you that carry the temple equipment!Touch no forbidden thing;keep yourselves holy and leave.
12 This time you will not have to leave in a hurry;you will not be trying to escape.The Lord your God will lead youand protect you on every side.
13 The Lord says,“My servant will succeed in his task;he will be highly honoured.
14 Many people were shocked when they saw him;he was so disfigured that he hardly looked human.