The future glory of Jerusalem

A new day for Jerusalem

1Jerusalem, stand up! Shine!

Your new day is dawning.

The glory of the LORD

shines brightly on you.

2The earth and its people

are covered with darkness,

but the glory of the LORD

is shining upon you.

3Nations and kings

will come to the light

of your dawning day.

Crowds are coming to Jerusalem

The LORD said:

4Open your eyes! Look around!

Crowds are coming.

Your sons are on their way

from distant lands;

your daughters are being carried

like little children.

5When you see this,

your faces will glow;

your hearts will pound

and swell with pride.60.5 swell with pride: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

Treasures from across the sea

and the wealth of nations

will be brought to you.

6Your country will be covered

with caravans of young camels

from Midian and Ephah.60.6 Midian…Ephah: Midian was the ancestor of a nomadic tribe of the Arabian desert, east of the Gulf of Aqaba. Ephah was a clan within the tribe of Midian.

The people of Sheba60.6 Sheba: Perhaps a place in what is now south-west Arabia. The Queen of Sheba brought gifts to Solomon (1 Kings 10.1-13).

will bring gold and spices

in praise of me, the LORD.

7Every sheep of Kedar

will come to you;

rams from Nebaioth60.7 Kedar…Nebaioth: Regions in northern Arabia.

will be yours as well.

I will accept them as offerings

and bring honour to my temple.

8What is that sailing by

like clouds

or like doves flying home?

9On those distant islands

your people are waiting

for me, the LORD.60.9 On…LORD: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

Seagoing ships60.9 Seagoing ships: See the note at 2.16. lead the way

to bring them home

with their silver and gold.

I, the holy LORD God of Israel,

do this to honour your people,

so they will honour me.

Jerusalem will be rebuilt

The LORD said:

10Jerusalem, your city walls

will be rebuilt by foreigners;

their rulers will become

your slaves.

I punished you in my anger;

now I will be kind

and treat you with mercy.

11Your gates will be open60.11: Rev 21.25,26.

day and night

to let the rulers of nations

lead their people to you

with all their treasures.

12Any nation or kingdom

that refuses to serve you

will be wiped out.

13Wood from Lebanon's best trees

will be brought to you—

the pines, the firs,

and the cypress trees.

It will be used in my temple

to make beautiful the place

where I rest my feet.

14The descendants of enemies60.14: Rev 3.9.

who hated and ill-treated you

will kneel at your feet.

They will say, “You are Zion,

the city of the LORD,

the holy God of Israel.”

15You were hated and deserted,

rejected by everyone.

But I will make you beautiful,

a city to be proud of

for all time to come.

16You will drain the wealth

of kings and foreign nations.

You will know that I,

the mighty LORD God of Israel,

have saved and rescued you.

17I will bring bronze and iron

in place of wood and stone;

in place of bronze and iron,

I will bring gold and silver.

I will appoint peace and justice

as your rulers and leaders.

18Violence, destruction, and ruin

will never again be heard of

within your borders.

“Victory” will be the name

you give to your walls;

“Praise” will be the name

you give to your gates.

19You won't need the light60.19: Rev 21.23; 22.5.

of the sun or the moon.

I, the LORD your God,

will be your eternal light

and bring you honour.

20Your sun will never set

or your moon go down.

I, the LORD, will be

your everlasting light,

and your days of sorrow

will come to an end.

21Your people will live right

and always own the land;

they are the trees I planted

to bring praise to me.

22Even the smallest family

will be a powerful nation.

I am the LORD,

and when the time comes,

I will quickly do all this.