Future Glory for Jerusalem

1“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.

For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you.

2Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,

but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you.

3All nations will come to your light;

mighty kings will come to see your radiance.

4“Look and see, for everyone is coming home!

Your sons are coming from distant lands;

your little daughters will be carried home.

5Your eyes will shine,

and your heart will thrill with joy,

for merchants from around the world will come to you.

They will bring you the wealth of many lands.

6Vast caravans of camels will converge on you,

the camels of Midian and Ephah.

The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense

and will come worshiping the LORD.

7The flocks of Kedar will be given to you,

and the rams of Nebaioth will be brought for my altars.

I will accept their offerings,

and I will make my Temple glorious.

8“And what do I see flying like clouds to Israel,

like doves to their nests?

9They are ships from the ends of the earth,

from lands that trust in me,

led by the great ships of Tarshish.

They are bringing the people of Israel home from far away,

carrying their silver and gold.

They will honor the LORD your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

for he has filled you with splendor.

10“Foreigners will come to rebuild your towns,

and their kings will serve you.

For though I have destroyed you in my anger,

I will now have mercy on you through my grace.

11Your gates will stay open day and night

to receive the wealth of many lands.

The kings of the world will be led as captives

in a victory procession.

12For the nations that refuse to serve you

will be destroyed.

13“The glory of Lebanon will be yours—

the forests of cypress, fir, and pine—

to beautify my sanctuary.

My Temple will be glorious!

14The descendants of your tormentors

will come and bow before you.

Those who despised you

will kiss your feet.

They will call you the City of the LORD,

and Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15“Though you were once despised and hated,

with no one traveling through you,

I will make you beautiful forever,

a joy to all generations.

16Powerful kings and mighty nations

will satisfy your every need,

as though you were a child

nursing at the breast of a queen.

You will know at last that I, the LORD,

am your Savior and your Redeemer,

the Mighty One of Israel.a

17I will exchange your bronze for gold,

your iron for silver,

your wood for bronze,

and your stones for iron.

I will make peace your leader

and righteousness your ruler.

18Violence will disappear from your land;

the desolation and destruction of war will end.

Salvation will surround you like city walls,

and praise will be on the lips of all who enter there.

19“No longer will you need the sun to shine by day,

nor the moon to give its light by night,

for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light,

and your God will be your glory.

20Your sun will never set;

your moon will not go down.

For the LORD will be your everlasting light.

Your days of mourning will come to an end.

21All your people will be righteous.

They will possess their land forever,

for I will plant them there with my own hands

in order to bring myself glory.

22The smallest family will become a thousand people,

and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation.

At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.”