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3. Future of Jerusalem

¹ Woe to the city of oppressors,
   rebellious and defiled!
² She obeys no one,
   she accepts no correction.
She does not trust in the LORD,
   she does not draw near to her God.
³ Her officials within her
   are roaring lions;
her rulers are evening wolves,
   who leave nothing for the morning.
⁴ Her prophets are unprincipled;
   they are treacherous people.
Her priests profane the sanctuary
   and do violence to the law.
⁵ The LORD within her is righteous;
   he does no wrong.
Morning by morning he dispenses his justice,
   and every new day he does not fail,
   yet the unrighteous know no shame.

Jerusalem Remains Unrepentant

    ⁶ “I have destroyed nations;
   their strongholds are demolished.
I have left their streets deserted,
   with no one passing through.
Their cities are laid waste;
   they are deserted and empty.
⁷ Of Jerusalem I thought,
   ‘Surely you will fear me
   and accept correction!’
Then her place of refuge Or her sanctuary would not be destroyed,
   nor all my punishments come upon Or all those I appointed over her.
But they were still eager
   to act corruptly in all they did.
⁸ Therefore wait for me,”
   declares the LORD,
   “for the day I will stand up to testify. Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew will rise up to plunder
I have decided to assemble the nations,
   to gather the kingdoms
and to pour out my wrath on them—
   all my fierce anger.
The whole world will be consumed
   by the fire of my jealous anger.

Restoration of Israel’s Remnant

    ⁹ “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples,
   that all of them may call on the name of the LORD
   and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of Cush That is, the upper Nile region
   my worshipers, my scattered people,
   will bring me offerings.
¹¹ On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame
   for all the wrongs you have done to me,
because I will remove from you
   your arrogant boasters.
Never again will you be haughty
   on my holy hill.
¹² But I will leave within you
   the meek and humble.
The remnant of Israel
   will trust in the name of the LORD.
¹³ They will do no wrong;
   they will tell no lies.
A deceitful tongue
   will not be found in their mouths.
They will eat and lie down
   and no one will make them afraid.”

    ¹⁴ Sing, Daughter Zion;
   shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
   Daughter Jerusalem!
¹⁵ The LORD has taken away your punishment,
   he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
   never again will you fear any harm.
¹⁶ On that day
   they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
   do not let your hands hang limp.
¹⁷ The LORD your God is with you,
   the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
   in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
   but will rejoice over you with singing.”

    ¹⁸ “I will remove from you
   all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,
   which is a burden and reproach for you.
¹⁹ At that time I will deal
   with all who oppressed you.
I will rescue the lame;
   I will gather the exiles.
I will give them praise and honor
   in every land where they have suffered shame.
²⁰ At that time I will gather you;
   at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
   among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes Or I bring back your captives
   before your very eyes,” says the LORD.

He repeats the same things, with some change in the words; and not without reason, because no one of them thought that the Jews, who were cast as it were into the grave, would ever come forth again, and especially, that they would be raised unto such dignity and unto so elevated an honor. As then this was not probable, that Prophet confirms his prediction—I will restore you, says God, I will gather you, even because I have given you a name; that is, it is my resolved and fixed purpose to render you celebrated: but here again are laid down the words we have already noticed.

He afterwards adds—When I shall restore your captivities. The plural number is to be noticed; and not rightly nor prudently is what has been done by many interpreters, who have rendered the word in the singular number; for the Prophet mentions captivities designedly, as the Jews had not only been driven into exile, but had also been scattered through various countries, so that they were not one captive people, but many troops of captives. Hence his purpose was to obviate a doubt; for it would not have been enough that one captivity should be restored, except all who had been dispersed were collected into one body by the wonderful power of God. And hence he adds before your eyes, that the Jews might be convinced that they should be eye-witnesses of this miracle, which yet they could hardly conceive, without raising up their thoughts above the world.