Wednesday, March 13

“Although you have been forsaken and hated,

    with no one traveling through,

I will make you the everlasting pride

    and the joy of all generations.

16 

You will drink the milk of nations

    and be nursed at royal breasts.

Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior,

    your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

17 

Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,

    and silver in place of iron.

Instead of wood I will bring you bronze,

    and iron in place of stones.

I will make peace your governor

    and well-being your ruler.

18 

No longer will violence be heard in your land,

    nor ruin or destruction within your borders,

but you will call your walls Salvation

    and your gates Praise.

19 

The sun will no more be your light by day,

    nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,

for the Lord will be your everlasting light,

    and your God will be your glory.

20 

Your sun will never set again,

    and your moon will wane no more;

the Lord will be your everlasting light,

    and your days of sorrow will end.

21 

Then all your people will be righteous

    and they will possess the land forever.

They are the shoot I have planted,

    the work of my hands,

    for the display of my splendor.

22 

The least of you will become a thousand,

    the smallest a mighty nation.

I am the Lord;

    in its time I will do this swiftly.”