Isaiah 54

1 Yahweh says, “You [people of Jerusalem] [MET], start to sing! You [who are like] [MET] women who have never given birth to children, sing loudly and shout joyfully, because you, [who are like] [MET] childless women who have been abandoned [by their husbands], will [soon] have more children than women who have never had any children.

“Sing, O barren, she [who] has not borne! Break forth with singing, and cry aloud, She [who] has not brought forth! For more [are] the sons of the desolate, Than the sons of the married one,” said YHWH.

2 Make your tents larger; make them wider, and fasten them firmly with tent pegs.

“Enlarge the place of your tent, And they stretch out the curtains of your dwelling places, Do not restrain—lengthen your cords, And make your pins strong.

3 [You will need to make your city much larger] because [soon] you and your descendants will spread all over the land. They will force the people of [other] nations [who now live in your cities] to leave, and you will live [again] in those cities [that were previously abandoned].

For you break forth right and left, And nations possess your seed,

4 Do not be afraid; you will no [longer] be ashamed. Previously you were ashamed [because your enemies conquered you] and caused many of your women to become widows, but [soon] you will not even remember that.

And they cause desolate cities to be inhabited. Do not fear, for you are not ashamed, Nor blush, for you are not confounded, For you forget the shame of your youth, And the reproach of your widowhood You do not remember anymore.

5 [I], the Commander of the armies of angels, the Holy one of Israel, who rules over the whole earth, the one who created you, will be [like] [MET] a husband to you.

For your Maker [is] your husband, YHWH of Hosts [is] His Name, And your Redeemer [is] the Holy One of Israel, He is called God of all the earth.

6 You were like a woman whose husband left her, and caused you to be very sad; you were like a young woman who got married when she was [very] young, and then her husband abandoned her.

For as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, YHWH has called you, Even a youthful wife when she is refused,” said your God.

7 I abandoned you [people of Jerusalem] for a while, but [now] I am saying, ‘I will take you back.’

“In a small moment I have forsaken you, And in great mercies I gather you,

8 I was very angry with you for a while, and I turned away from you. But I will act mercifully toward you and I will faithfully love you forever. That is what [I], Yahweh, your protector, say to you.

In overflowing wrath I hid My face [for] a moment from you, And in perpetual kindness I have loved you, Said your Redeemer—YHWH!

9 During the time that Noah lived, I solemnly promised that I would never again allow a flood to cover the earth. So [now] I solemnly promise that I will not be angry with you again and (rebuke you/threaten to punish you).

For this [is as] the days of Noah to Me, In that I have sworn that the waters of Noah Do not pass over the earth again—So I have sworn, Wrath is not on you, Nor rebuke against you.

10 Even if the mountains and hills shake and collapse, I will not stop faithfully loving you, and I will not cancel my agreement to cause things to go well for you. That is what [I], Yahweh, who act mercifully, say.

For the mountains depart, and the hills remove, And My kindness does not depart from you, And the covenant of My peace does not remove,” Says YHWH, your loving one.

11 You [people of Jerusalem] [APO], [your enemies acted very violently toward you]; [it was as though] your city was battered by a severe storm, and no one helped you. But [now] I will cause your city to be rebuilt with stones made of (turquoise/valuable stones), and I will cause the foundations of the city to be made of (sapphires/valuable blue stones).

“O afflicted, storm-tossed, not comforted, Behold, I am laying your stones with cement, And have founded you with sapphires,

12 I will cause the towers on the city wall to be made of (rubies/valuable red stones), and all the gates of the city will be made of [other] very valuable stones.

And have made your pinnacles of agate, And your gates of carbuncle stones, And all your border of stones of delight,

13 I will be the one who will teach you people and cause things to go well with you.

And all your sons are taught of YHWH, And the peace of your sons [is] abundant.

14 Your [government] will be strong because of acting justly/fairly; no one will (oppress you/cause you to suffer); you will not be afraid, because there will be nothing [PRS] that will (terrorize you/cause you to become extremely afraid).

You establish yourself in righteousness, Be far from oppression, for you do not fear, And from ruin, for it does not come near to you.

15 If any army attacks you, it will not be because I have incited them to do that, and you will defeat any group that attacks you.

Behold, he diligently assembles without My desire, Whoever has assembled near you falls by you!

16 Think about this: (Blacksmiths/Men who make things from metal) fan the coals to make a very hot flame in order to produce weapons that can be used [in battles], but I am the one who has produced blacksmiths! And I am also the one who created people who destroy [other people and cities].

Behold, I have created an artisan, Blowing on a fire of coals, And bringing out an instrument for his work, And I have created a destroyer to destroy.

17 [But I am promising you that I will] not allow you to be defeated/injured by soldiers using weapons that have been made to attack you, and when others try to accuse you, you will (refute them/show that they are wrong). That is the reward that I will give to the people who serve me; I will defend them; that is what [I], Yahweh, promise.”

No weapon formed against you prospers, And every tongue rising against you, You condemn in judgment. This [is] the inheritance of the servants of YHWH, And their righteousness from Me,” a declaration of YHWH!

A Dove is Sent Forth from the Ark