1 ‘Sing, barren woman,you who never bore a child;burst into song, shout for joy,you who were never in labour;because more are the children of the desolate womanthan of her who has a husband,’says the Lord.
2 ‘Enlarge the place of your tent,stretch your tent curtains wide,do not hold back;lengthen your cords,strengthen your stakes.
3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left;your descendants will dispossess nationsand settle in their desolate cities.
4 ‘Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.You will forget the shame of your youthand remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
5 For your Maker is your husband –the Lord Almighty is his name –the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;he is called the God of all the earth.
6 The Lord will call you backas if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit –a wife who married young,only to be rejected,’ says your God.