1   She is the book of the commandments of God, the law that stands for ever. All who hold fast to her shall live, but those who forsake her shall die. 2   Return, Jacob, and lay hold of her; set your course towards her radiance, and face her beacon light. 3   Do not give up your glory to another or your privileges to an alien people. 4   Happy are we, Israel, because we know what is pleasing to God!

5    6   Take heart, my people, you who keep Israel's name alive. You were sold to the heathen, but not to be destroyed; it was because you roused God's anger that you were handed over to your enemies. 7   You provoked your Maker by sacrificing to demons and to that which is not God. 8   You forgot the Everlasting God who nurtured you, and you grieved Jerusalem who fostered you; 9   for she saw how God's anger had come upon you, and she said: Listen, you neighbours of Zion, God has brought great grief upon me. 10   I have seen the captivity of my sons and daughters which the Everlasting has inflicted upon

A message to a conquered people them; 11   I nursed them in delight, but with tears and mourning I saw them go. 12   Let no one exult over me in my widowhood, bereaved of so many. I have been left desolate through the sins of my children, through their turning away from the law of God. 13   They would not learn his statutes, or follow his commandments, or let God guide and train them in his righteousness.

14   Come then, neighbours of Zion, remember the captivity of my sons and daughters which the Everlasting has inflicted upon them. 15   For he brought down on them a nation from far away, a ruthless nation speaking a strange language and without reverence for age or pity for children. 16   They carried off the widow's beloved sons, and left her in loneliness, deprived of her daughters. 17   But I, how can I help you? 18   Only the One who brought these evils upon you can deliver you from your enemies. 19   Go your way, my children, go, for I am left desolate. 20   I have put off the robes of peaceful days, and put on the sackcloth of a suppliant. I will cry out to the Everlasting as long as I live.

21   Take heart, my children! Cry out to God, and he will rescue you from tyranny and from the power of your enemies. 22   For I have set my hope of your deliverance on the Everlasting; the Holy One, your everlasting saviour, has filled me with joy over the mercy soon to be granted you. 23   I saw you go with mourning and tears, but God will give you back to me with joy and gladness for ever. 24   For as the neighbours of Zion have now seen your captivity, so they will soon see your deliverance coming upon you from your God with the great glory and splendour of the Everlasting. 25   My children, endure in patience the wrath God has brought upon you; your enemy has hunted you down, but soon you will see him destroyed, and will put your foot upon his neck. 26   My pampered children have trodden rough paths; they have been carried off like a flock seized by raiders.

27   Take heart, my children! Cry out to God, for he who afflicted you will not forget you. 28   You once resolved to go astray from God; now with tenfold zeal you must turn about and seek him. 29   He who brought these calamities upon you will bring you everlasting joy when he delivers you.

30   Take heart, Jerusalem! He who called you by name will comfort you. 31   Wretched shall they be who despoiled you and gloated over your fall; 32   wretched the cities where your children were slaves; wretched the city that received your sons! 33   The same city that rejoiced

A message to a conquered people at your downfall and made merry over your ruin shall grieve over her own desolation. 34   I will strip her of the multitudes that were her boast, and turn her pride to mourning. 35   Fire from the Everlasting shall be her doom for many a day, and long shall she be a haunt of demons.

36   Jerusalem, look eastwards and see the joy that is coming to you from God. 37   They come, the sons from whom you parted, they come, gathered together at the word of the Holy One from east to west, rejoicing in the glory of God.

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