12 The Lord says, “I am the one who comforts you. So why should you be afraid of people? They are only humans who live and die like the grass.
13 “I, the Lord, am the one who made you. With my power I made the earth and spread the sky over the earth. But you have forgotten me, so you are always afraid that angry men will hurt you. Those men planned to destroy you, but where are they now?
14 “People in prison will soon be made free. They will not die and rot in prison. They will have plenty of food.
15 “I am the Lord your God, the one who stirs up the sea and makes the waves roar.” The Lord All-Powerful is his name.
16 “My servant, I gave you the words I want you to say, and I covered you with my hands to protect you. I did this to make a new heaven and earth and so that you would say to Israel, ‘You are my people.’”
17 Wake up! Wake up! Jerusalem, get up! The Lord was very angry with you. So you were punished. It was like a cup of poison you had to drink, and you drank it all.
18 Jerusalem had many people, but none of them became leaders for her. None of the children she raised became guides to lead her.