Isaiæ 54
1 Lauda sterilis quae non paris: decanta laudem, et hinni quae non pariebas: quoniam multi filii desertae magis quam eius, quae habet virum, dicit Dominus.
Sing for joy, childless woman, you who have had a baby! Shout aloud, and sing happily, Jerusalem, you who have never given birth! For the abandoned woman now has more children than the married woman, says the Lord.
2 Dilata locum tentorii tui, et pelles tabernaculorum tuorum extende, ne parcas: longos fac funiculos tuos, et clavos tuos consolida.
Make the tent where you live bigger; stretch the fabric to enlarge your home. Don't try and save space—extend your tent cords and make your tent pegs stronger.
3 Ad dexteram enim, et ad laevam penetrabis: et semen tuum Gentes hereditabit, et civitates desertas inhabitabit.
You're going to be spreading out right and left; your descendants will take over the land of other nations and live in towns that were once abandoned.
4 Noli timere quia non confunderis, neque erubesces: non enim te pudebit, quia confusionis adolescentiae tuae oblivisceris, et opprobrii viduitatis tuae non recordaberis amplius.
Do not be afraid, for you won't be humiliated; don't be upset, for you won't be disgraced. You will forget about the shame of your youth, and you won't remember the embarrassment of your widowhood any longer.
5 Quia dominabitur tui qui fecit te, Dominus exercituum nomen eius: et redemptor tuus sanctus Israel, Deus omnis terrae vocabitur.
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 the whole earth.
6 Quia et mulierem derelictam et moerentem spiritu vocavit te Dominus, et uxorem ab adolescentia abiectam, dixit Deus tuus.
The Lord has called you to come back, like a wife who's been abandoned and deeply hurt, a wife who was married when she was young, only to be rejected, says your God.
7 Ad punctum in modico dereliqui te, et in miserationibus magnis congregabo te.
I deserted you for just a little while, but I will bring you back, showing you a great deal of kindness.
8 In momento indignationis abscondi faciem meam parumper a te, et in misericordia sempiterna misertus sum tui: dixit redemptor tuus Dominus.
In a moment of anger I turned my face away from you, but now with trustworthy love I will always be kind to you, says the Lord, your Redeemer.
9 Sicut in diebus Noe istud mihi est, cui iuravi ne inducerem aquas Noe ultra super terram: sic iuravi ut non irascar tibi, et non increpem te.
To me this is just like Noah's time, when I promised on oath that a flood would never cover the earth again. In the same way I promise on oath that I won't be angry with you or tell you off.
10 Montes enim commovebuntur, et colles contremiscent: misericordia autem mea non recedet a te, et foedus pacis meae non movebitur: dixit miserator tuus Dominus.
Though the mountains cease to exist and the hills disappear, yet my trustworthy love for you won't cease to exist and my agreement of peace won't disappear, says the Lord, who shows you kindness.
11 Paupercula tempestate convulsa, absque ulla consolatione. Ecce ego sternam per ordinem lapides tuos, et fundabo te in sapphiris,
My poor storm-damaged city that can't be comforted! Look, I'm going to reset your stones in cement made of antimony, I will use sapphires to lay your foundations.
12 et ponam iaspidem propugnacula tua: et portas tuas in lapides sculptos, et omnes terminos tuos in lapides desiderabiles.
I will make your fortifications out of rubies; I will make your gates out of sparkling beryl. All your walls will be made of precious stones,
13 Universos filios tuos doctos a Domino: et multitudinem pacis filiis tuis.
and all your children will be students of the Lord, and they will live in complete peace.
14 Et in iustitia fundaberis: recede procul a calumnia, quia non timebis: et a pavore, quia non appropinquabit tibi.
Your society will operate from principles of goodness and right; nobody will be there to oppress you. You won't be afraid; you won't have to face any kind of terror.
15 Ecce accola veniet, qui non erat mecum, advena quondam tuus adiungetur tibi.
If any invader comes to attack you, I didn't send them; you will defeat anyone who attacks you.
16 Ecce ego creavi fabrum sufflantem in igne prunas, et proferentem vas in opus suum, et ego creavi interfectorem ad disperdendum.
Look—I have created a blacksmith who blows the coals into a hot flame and forges a suitable weapon; and I have created the destroyer who brings destruction.
17 Omne vas, quod fictum est contra te, non dirigetur: et omnem linguam resistentem tibi in iudicio, iudicabis. Haec est hereditas servorum Domini, et iustitia eorum apud me, dicit Dominus.
None of the weapons forged against you will succeed, and you will condemn anyone who accuses you. This is how the servants of the Lord are blessed, and I am the one who vindicates them, declares the Lord.
A Dove is Sent Forth from the Ark
