16-17 “‘Everyone who hurt you will be hurt;your enemies will end up as slaves.Your plunderers will be plundered;your looters will become loot.As for you, I’ll come with healing,curing the incurable,Because they all gave up on youand dismissed you as hopeless—that good-for-nothing Zion.’
18-21 “Again, God’s Message:“‘I’ll turn things around for Jacob.I’ll compassionately come in and rebuild homes.The town will be rebuilt on its old foundations;the mansions will be splendid again.Thanksgivings will pour out of the windows;laughter will spill through the doors.Things will get better and better.Depression days are over.They’ll thrive, they’ll flourish.The days of contempt will be over.They’ll look forward to having children again,to being a community in which I take pride.I’ll punish anyone who hurts them,and their prince will come from their own ranks.One of their own people shall be their leader.Their ruler will come from their own ranks.I’ll grant him free and easy access to me.Would anyone dare to do that on his own,to enter my presence uninvited?’ God’s Decree.
22 “‘And that’s it: You’ll be my very own people,I’ll be your very own God.’”
23-24 Look out! God’s hurricane is let loose,his hurricane blast,Spinning the heads of the wicked like dust devils!God’s raging anger won’t let upUntil he’s made a clean sweepcompleting the job he began.When the job’s doneyou’ll see it’s been well done.