“ Comfort my people,” says your God.“ Comfort them.

你们的神说：“你们要安慰，安慰我的百姓。

你们的上帝说：“要安慰，安慰我的百姓。

你们的神说：“要安慰，安慰我的百姓。

你们的上帝说：“你们要安慰我的子民。

你们的神说：“你们要安慰，要安慰我的子民！

你们的神说：“要安慰，要安慰我的子民；

你們的神說：你們要安慰，安慰我的百姓。

你們的上帝說：「要安慰，安慰我的百姓。

你們的神說：「要安慰，安慰我的百姓。

你們的上帝說：「你們要安慰我的子民。

你們的神說：“你們要安慰，要安慰我的子民！

你們的上帝說：要安慰，要安慰我的人民哦。

你們的神說：「要安慰，要安慰我的子民；

爾之上帝曰、爾其慰藉、慰藉我民、

上帝曰、爾其慰藉我民、慰藉我民、

爾之天主曰、爾當慰藉、慰藉我民、

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

“ Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.

“ Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.

“ Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God.

“ Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

“ Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

“ Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.

“ Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.

The Lord says to his people,“ I comfort you because of who I am. Why are you afraid of mere human beings? They are like grass that dries up.

He comforts us in all our troubles. Now we can comfort others when they are in trouble. We ourselves receive comfort from God.

People of Zion, sing! Israel, shout loudly! People of Jerusalem, be glad! Let your hearts be full of joy.The Lord has stopped punishing you. He has made your enemies turn away from you. The Lord is the King of Israel. He is with you. You will never again be afraid that others will harm you.The time is coming when people will say to Jerusalem,“ Zion, don’t be afraid. Don’t give up.The Lord your God is with you. He is the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you. In his love he will no longer punish you. Instead, he will sing for joy because of you.”

You can be sure that I will comfort Zion’s people. I will look with loving concern on all their destroyed buildings. I will make their deserts like Eden. I will make their dry and empty land like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be there. People will sing and give thanks to me.

So encourage one another with these words of comfort.

“ Listen to my message, you nations. Announce it on shores far away. Say,‘ He who scattered Israel will gather them. He will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’I will set the people of Jacob free. I will save them from those who are stronger than they are.They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion. They will be joyful because of everything I give them. I give them grain, olive oil and fresh wine. I give them the young animals in their flocks and herds. Israel will be like a garden that has plenty of water. And they will not be sad anymore.Then young women will dance and be glad. And so will the men, young and old alike. I will turn their mourning into gladness. I will comfort them. And I will give them joy instead of sorrow.I will satisfy the priests. I will give them more than enough. And my people will be filled with the good things I give them,” announces the Lord.

“ Be glad along with Jerusalem, all you who love her. Be filled with joy because of her. Take great delight in her, all you who mourn over her.You will nurse at her comforting breasts. And you will be satisfied. You will drink until you are full. And you will delight in her rich and plentiful supply.”The Lord continues,“ I will cause peace to flow over her like a river. I will make the wealth of nations sweep over her like a flooding stream. You will nurse and be carried in her arms. You will play on her lap.As a mother comforts her child, I will comfort you. You will find comfort in Jerusalem.”When you see that happen, your hearts will be filled with joy. Just as grass grows quickly, you will succeed. The Lord will show his power to those who serve him. But he will pour out his anger on his enemies.

So the Lord replied with kind and comforting words. He spoke them to the angel who talked with me.

“ City of Zion, be full of joy! People of Jerusalem, shout! See, your king comes to you. He always does what is right. He has won the victory. He is humble and riding on a donkey. He is sitting on a donkey’s colt.

So the Lord and King says,“ Those who serve me will have food to eat. But you will be hungry. My servants will have plenty to drink. But you will be thirsty. Those who serve me will be full of joy. But you will be put to shame.My servants will sing with joy in their hearts. But you will cry out because of the great pain in your hearts. You will cry because your spirits are sad.

I will listen to what God the Lord says. He promises peace to his faithful people. But they must not turn to foolish ways.

Shout for joy, you heavens! Be glad, you earth! Burst into song, you mountains! The Lord will comfort his people. He will show his tender love to those who are suffering.But the city of Zion said,“ The Lord has deserted me. The Lord has forgotten me.”The Lord answers,“ Can a mother forget the baby who is nursing at her breast? Can she stop having tender love for the child who was born to her? She might forget her child. But I will not forget you.I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Your walls are never out of my sight.

“ People of Jerusalem, get up. Shine, because your light has come. The glory of the Lord will shine on you.Darkness covers the earth. Thick darkness spreads over the nations. But I will rise and shine on you. My glory will appear over you.Nations will come to your light. Kings will come to the brightness of your new day.“ Look up. Look all around you. All your people are getting together to come back to you. Your sons will come from far away. Your daughters will be carried on the hip like little children.Then your face will glow with joy. Your heart will beat fast because you are so happy. Wealth from across the ocean will be brought to you. The riches of the nations will come to you.Herds of young camels will cover your land. They will come from Midian and Ephah. They will also come from Sheba. They’ll carry gold and incense. And people will shout praises to me.All of Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve as your sacrifices. I will accept them as offerings on my altar. That is how I will bring honor to my glorious temple.“ Whose ships are these that sail along like clouds? They fly like doves to their nests.People from the islands are coming to me. The ships of Tarshish are out in front. They are bringing your children back from far away. Your children are bringing their silver and gold with them. They are coming to honor me. I am the Lord your God. I am the Holy One of Israel. I have honored you.“ People from other lands will rebuild your walls. Their kings will serve you. When I was angry with you, I struck you. But now I will show you my tender love.Your gates will always stand open. They will never be shut, day or night. Then people can bring you the wealth of the nations. Their kings will come along with them.The nation or kingdom that will not serve you will be destroyed. It will be completely wiped out.“ Lebanon’s glorious trees will be brought to you. Its junipers, firs and cypress trees will be brought. They will be used to make my temple beautiful. And I will bring glory to the place where my throne is.The children of those who crush you will come and bow down to you. All those who hate you will kneel down at your feet. Jerusalem, they will call you the City of the Lord. They will name you Zion, the City of the Holy One of Israel.“ You have been deserted and hated. No one even travels through you. But I will make you into something to be proud of forever. You will be a place of joy for all time to come.You will get everything you need from kings and nations. You will be like children who are nursing at their mother’s breasts. Then you will know that I am the one who saves you. I am the Lord. I set you free. I am the Mighty One of Jacob.Instead of bronze I will bring you gold. In place of iron I will give you silver. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze. In place of stones I will give you iron. I will make peace govern you. I will make godliness rule over you.People will no longer harm one another in your land. They will not wipe out or destroy anything inside your borders. You will call your walls Salvation. And you will name your gates Praise.You will not need the light of the sun by day anymore. The bright light of the moon will no longer have to shine on you. I will be your light forever. My glory will shine on you. I am the Lord your God.Your sun will never set again. Your moon will never lose its light. I will be your light forever. Your days of sorrow will come to an end.Then all your people will do what is right. The land will belong to them forever. They will be like a young tree I have planted. My hands have created them. They will show how glorious I am.The smallest family among you will become a tribe. The smallest tribe will become a mighty nation. I am the Lord. When it is the right time, I will act quickly.”The Spirit of the Lord and King is on me. The Lord has anointed me to announce good news to poor people. He has sent me to comfort those whose hearts have been broken. He has sent me to announce freedom for those who have been captured. He wants me to set prisoners free from their dark cells.He has sent me to announce the year when he will set his people free. He wants me to announce the day when he will pay his enemies back. Our God has sent me to comfort all those who are sad.He wants me to help those in Zion who are filled with sorrow. I will put beautiful crowns on their heads in place of ashes. I will anoint them with olive oil to give them joy instead of sorrow. I will give them a spirit of praise in place of a spirit of sadness. They will be like oak trees that are strong and straight. The Lord himself will plant them in the land. That will show how glorious he is.

I was the first to tell Zion. I said,‘ Look! The people of Israel are coming back!’ I sent a messenger to Jerusalem with the good news.

In days to come, the people of Israel will sing,“ Lord, we will praise you. You were angry with us. But now your anger has turned away from us. And you have brought us comfort.

Does anyone among you have respect for the Lord? Does anyone obey the message of the Lord’ s servant? Let the person who walks in the dark trust in the Lord. Let the one who doesn’t have any light to guide them depend on their God.

Strengthen the hands of those who are weak. Help those whose knees give way.Say to those whose hearts are afraid,“ Be strong and do not fear. Your God will come. He will pay your enemies back. He will come to save you.”

So do not be afraid. I am with you. Do not be terrified. I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will hold you safe in my hands. I always do what is right.“ All those who are angry with you will be put to shame. And they will be dishonored. Those who oppose you will be destroyed. And they will vanish.You might search for your enemies. But you will not find them. Those who go to war against you will completely disappear.I am the Lord your God. I take hold of your right hand. I say to you,‘ Do not be afraid. I will help you.’Family of Jacob, you are as weak as a worm. But do not be afraid. People of Israel, there are only a few of you. But do not be afraid. I myself will help you,” announces the Lord. He is the one who sets his people free. He is the Holy One of Israel.

Burst into songs of joy together, you broken- down buildings in Jerusalem. The Lord has comforted his people. He has set Jerusalem free.

The Lord has announced a message from one end of the earth to the other. He has said,“ Tell the people of Zion,‘ Look! Your Savior is coming! He is bringing his people back as his reward. He has won the battle over their enemies.’ ”They will be called the Holy People. They will be called the People the Lord Set Free. And Jerusalem will be named the City the Lord Cares About. It will be named the City No Longer Deserted.

Nehemiah said,“ Go and enjoy some good food and sweet drinks. Send some of it to people who don’t have any. This day is holy to our Lord. So don’t be sad. The joy of the Lord makes you strong.”

The God who is highly honored lives forever. His name is holy. He says,“ I live in a high and holy place. But I also live with anyone who turns away from their sins. I live with anyone who is not proud. I give new life to them. I give it to anyone who turns away from their sins.I will not find fault with my people forever. I will not always be angry with them. If I were, I would cause their spirits to grow weak. The people I created would faint away.I was very angry with them. They always longed for more and more of everything. So I punished them for that sin. I turned my face away from them because I was angry. But they kept on wanting their own way.I have seen what they have done. But I will heal them. I will guide them. I will give those who mourn in Israel the comfort they had before.Then they will praise me. I will give perfect peace to those who are far away and those who are near. And I will heal them,” says the Lord.

Tell those who do what is right that things will go well with them. They will enjoy the results of the good things they’ve done.

So God gave his word when he made his promise. He wanted to make it very clear that his purpose does not change. He wanted those who would receive what was promised to know this.When God made his promise, he gave his word. He did this so we would have good reason not to give up. Instead, we have run to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope is set before us in God’s promise. So God made his promise and gave his word. These two things can’t change. He couldn’t lie about them.