54:7 “For a short time I abandoned ¹  you,

but with great compassion I will gather you.

54:8 In a burst ²  of anger I rejected you ³  momentarily,

but with lasting devotion I will have compassion on you,”

says your protector, ⁴  the Lord.

54:9 “As far as I am concerned, this is like in Noah’s time, ⁵ 

when I vowed that the waters of Noah’s flood ⁶  would never again cover the earth.

In the same way I have vowed that I will not be angry at you or shout at you.

54:10 Even if the mountains are removed

and the hills displaced,

my devotion will not be removed from you,

nor will my covenant of friendship ⁷  be displaced,”

says the Lord, the one who has compassion on you.

54:11 “O afflicted one, driven away, ⁸  and unconsoled!

Look, I am about to set your stones in antimony

and I lay your foundation with lapis-lazuli.

54:12 I will make your pinnacles out of gems, ⁹ 

your gates out of beryl, ¹⁰ 

and your outer wall ¹¹  out of beautiful ¹²  stones.

54:13 All your children will be followers of the Lord,

and your children will enjoy great prosperity. ¹³ 

54:14 You will be reestablished when I vindicate you. ¹⁴ 

You will not experience oppression; ¹⁵ 

indeed, you will not be afraid.

You will not be terrified, ¹⁶ 

for nothing frightening ¹⁷  will come near you.

54:15 If anyone dares to ¹⁸  challenge you, it will not be my doing!

Whoever tries to challenge you will be defeated. ¹⁹ 

54:16 Look, I create the craftsman,

who fans the coals into a fire

and forges a weapon. ²⁰ 

I create the destroyer so he might devastate.

54:17 No weapon forged to be used against you will succeed;

you will refute everyone who tries to accuse you. ²¹ 

This is what the Lord will do for his servants –

I will vindicate them,” ²² 

says the Lord.