As for you, my servant Jacob, do not be afraid – this is the Lord’s declaration – and do not be discouraged, Israel, for without fail I will save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their captivity! Jacob will return and have calm and quiet with no one to frighten him.
‘Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; don’t be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth, and you will no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood.
And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.
‘So this is what the Lord God says: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have compassion on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name.
My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow my ordinances, and keep my statutes and obey them.
Yet you are our Father, even though Abraham does not know us and Israel doesn’t recognise us. You, Lord, are our Father; your name is Our Redeemer from Ancient Times.
And the ransomed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
the angel who has redeemed me from all harm – may he bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow to be numerous within the land.