Three words of consolation

At a signal from the Lord, the nations will bring Israel back to Zion

22 Thus says the Lord the Lord:

behold I will lift up my hand to the nations,

and raise for the people my banner (as signal);

and then they will bring your sons in their bosom,

and carry your daughters upon their shoulders.

23 Kings will be your foster-fathers,

and queens will be your nursing mothers;

with face to the earth they will do you homage,

and lick the dust of your feet:

and then you will know that I am the Lord,

who never will bring those who trust me to shame.

The Lord is omnipotent

24 Can prey from the mighty be wrenched,

or can captives escape from a tyrant?

25 Verily, thus says the Lord:

yes, even from the mighty can captives be wrenched,

and the prey of a tyrant escape;

but I will defend your cause,

I will deliver your children,

26 and cause your oppressors to eat their own flesh,

and to drink themselves drunk with their blood as with wine.

And then all flesh will know

that I am your saviour-redeemer,

the Lord, the Strong One of Jacob.

The Lord’s omnipotent love

50 Thus says the Lord:

where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement,

wherewith I have put her away?

Or which of my creditors is it

to whom I have ever sold you?

If sold you have been, ’tis because of your sins;

your rebellions have led to your mother’s divorce.

2 Why, when I came, was there no one,

and none to respond when I called?

Is my hand too short to deliver?

And have I no power to rescue?

With a word of a rebuke did I dry up the sea,

and rivers I turned into desert;

their fish dried up for lack of water,

their monsters perished on thirsty land.

3 I clothed the heavens in mourning,

and sackcloth I made their covering.