But I will make you healthy again. I will heal your wounds,” announces the Lord. “That’s because you have been thrown out. You are called Zion, the one no one cares about.”
The Lord says, “The poor are being robbed. Those who are in need groan. So I will stand up to help them. I will keep them safe from those who tell lies about them.”
He said, “I am the Lord your God. Listen carefully to me. Do what is right in my eyes. Pay attention to my commands. Obey all my rules. If you do, I will not send on you any of the sicknesses I sent on the Egyptians. I am the Lord who heals you.”
He will lift up a banner. It will show the nations that he is gathering the people of Israel. He’ll bring back those who had been taken away as prisoners. He’ll gather together the scattered people of Judah. He’ll bring them back from all four directions.
The moon will shine like the sun. And the sunlight will be seven times brighter than usual. It will be like the light of seven full days. That will happen when the Lord bandages and heals the wounds and bruises he has brought on his people.
You were like a wife who was deserted. And her heart was broken. You were like a wife who married young. And her husband sent her away. But now I am calling you to come back,” says your God.
The Lord and King will gather those who were taken away from their homes in Israel. He announces, “I will gather them to myself. And I will gather others to join them.”
Then the light of my blessing will shine on you like the rising sun. I will heal you quickly. I will march out ahead of you. And my glory will follow behind you and guard you. That’s because I always do what is right.
“You have been deserted and hated. No one even travels through you. But I will make you into something to be proud of forever. You will be a place of joy for all time to come.
Jerusalem is like a tent that has been destroyed. All its ropes have snapped. My people have gone away from me. Now no one is left to set up my tent. I have no one to set up my shelter.
“You have not been faithful,” says the Lord. “Return to me. I will heal you. Then you will not turn away from me anymore.” “Yes,” the people say. “We will come to you. You are the Lord our God.
“Haven’t you noticed what these people are saying? They say, ‘The Lord once chose the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah. But now he has turned his back on them.’ So they hate my people. They do not think of them as a nation anymore.
All those who pass by clap their hands and make fun of you. They laugh at you and shake their heads at the city of Jerusalem. They say, “Could that be the city that was called perfect and beautiful? Is that the city that brought joy to everyone on earth?”
“I will search for the lost. I will bring back those who have wandered away. I will bandage the ones who are hurt. I will make the weak ones stronger. But I will destroy those who are fat and strong. I will take good care of my sheep. I will treat them fairly.”
“You will know that I have heard all the terrible things you said. You said them about those who live in the mountains of Israel. You made fun of them. You said, ‘They have been destroyed. They’ve been handed over to us. Let’s wipe them out.’
They treated my name as if it were not holy. They did it everywhere they went among the nations. People said about them, ‘They are the Lord’s people. But they were forced to leave his land.’
But here is what will happen for you who have respect for me. The sun that brings life will rise. Its rays will bring healing to my people. You will go out and leap for joy like calves that have just been fed.
“He himself carried our sins” in his body on the cross. (Isaiah 53:5) He did it so that we would die as far as sins are concerned. Then we would lead godly lives. “His wounds have healed you.” (Isaiah 53:5)
It flowed down the middle of the city’s main street. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing 12 crops of fruit. Its fruit was ripe every month. The leaves of the tree bring healing to the nations.