Long ago the Lord saved Abraham from trouble. Now he says to Jacob’s people,“ You will not be ashamed anymore. Your faces will no longer grow pale with fear.

所以，救赎亚伯拉罕的耶和华论雅各家如此说：“雅各必不再羞愧，面容也不致变色。

所以，救赎亚伯拉罕的耶和华论到雅各家时如此说：“雅各必不再羞愧，面容也不再变色。

所以，救赎亚伯拉罕的耶和华论到雅各家时如此说：“雅各必不再羞愧，面容也不再变色。

因此，关于雅各家，救赎亚伯拉罕的耶和华说：“雅各的子孙必不再羞愧，脸上再无惧色。

因此，曾经救赎亚伯拉罕的耶和华，论到雅各家时，这样说：“雅各今后必不再羞愧，他的面容也不再变为苍白，

因此，救赎亚伯拉罕的耶和华论到雅各家如此说：“雅各必不再蒙羞，他的脸色也不再苍白。

所以，救贖亞伯拉罕的耶和華論雅各家如此說：雅各必不再羞愧，面容也不致變色。

所以，救贖亞伯拉罕的耶和華論到雅各家時如此說：「雅各必不再羞愧，面容也不再變色。

所以，救贖亞伯拉罕的耶和華論到雅各家時如此說：「雅各必不再羞愧，面容也不再變色。

因此，關於雅各家，救贖亞伯拉罕的耶和華說：「雅各的子孫必不再羞愧，臉上再無懼色。

因此，曾經救贖亞伯拉罕的耶和華，論到雅各家時，這樣說：“雅各今後必不再羞愧，他的面容也不再變為蒼白，

因此那贖救亞伯拉罕的永恆主、雅各家的上帝這麼說：『雅各今後必不再失望了，他的臉面今後必不再蒼白了。

因此，救贖亞伯拉罕的耶和華論到雅各家如此說：「雅各必不再蒙羞，他的臉色也不再蒼白。

是以贖亞伯拉罕之耶和華、論雅各家曰、雅各今不懷慚、其容亦不失色、

我耶和華昔救亞伯拉罕、今許雅各家、必不赧顏、必不變色、

緣此、昔贖亞伯拉罕之主、論雅各族如是曰、今雅各必不羞慚、其面必不變色、

Therefore this is what the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says to the descendants of Jacob:“ No longer will Jacob be ashamed; no longer will their faces grow pale.

Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:“ Jacob shall no more be ashamed, no more shall his face grow pale.

That is why the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says to the people of Israel,“ My people will no longer be ashamed or turn pale with fear.

Therefore, the LORD who redeemed Abraham says this about the house of Jacob: Jacob will no longer be ashamed, and his face will no longer be pale.

Therefore this is what the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says concerning the house of Jacob:“ Jacob will not be ashamed now, nor will his face turn pale now;

Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:“ Jacob shall not now be ashamed, Nor shall his face now grow pale;

Therefore thus saith Jehovah, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.

Therefore, the Lord who redeemed Abraham says this about the house of Jacob: Jacob will no longer be ashamed and his face will no longer be pale.

Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.

So this is what the LORD, the one who delivered Abraham, says to the family of Jacob:“ Jacob will no longer be ashamed; their faces will no longer show their embarrassment.

Therefore Yahweh, who redeemed Abraham, says concerning the house of Jacob:“ Jacob shall no longer be ashamed, neither shall his face grow pale.

Consider Abraham. He is the father of your people. Think about Sarah. She is your mother. When I chose Abraham, he did not have any children. But I blessed him and gave him many of them.

“‘ People of Jacob, do not be afraid. You are my servant. Israel, do not be terrified,’ ” announces the Lord.“‘ You can be sure that I will save you. I will bring you out of a place far away. I will bring your children back from the land where they were taken. Your people will have peace and security again. And no one will make them afraid.

“ Do not be afraid. You will not be put to shame anymore. Do not be afraid of being dishonored. People will no longer make fun of you. You will forget the time when you suffered as slaves in Egypt. You will no longer remember the shame of being a widow in Babylon.

But the Lord will save Israel. He will save them forever. They will never be put to shame or dishonored. That will be true for all time to come.

But the Lord will save all the people of Israel. And so they will boast about the Lord.

“‘ “A man who belongs to the family line of my servant David will be their king. All of them will have one shepherd. They will obey my laws. And they will be careful to keep my rules.

“ People of Jerusalem, get up. Shine, because your light has come. The glory of the Lord will shine on you.Darkness covers the earth. Thick darkness spreads over the nations. But I will rise and shine on you. My glory will appear over you.Nations will come to your light. Kings will come to the brightness of your new day.“ Look up. Look all around you. All your people are getting together to come back to you. Your sons will come from far away. Your daughters will be carried on the hip like little children.Then your face will glow with joy. Your heart will beat fast because you are so happy. Wealth from across the ocean will be brought to you. The riches of the nations will come to you.Herds of young camels will cover your land. They will come from Midian and Ephah. They will also come from Sheba. They’ll carry gold and incense. And people will shout praises to me.All of Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve as your sacrifices. I will accept them as offerings on my altar. That is how I will bring honor to my glorious temple.“ Whose ships are these that sail along like clouds? They fly like doves to their nests.People from the islands are coming to me. The ships of Tarshish are out in front. They are bringing your children back from far away. Your children are bringing their silver and gold with them. They are coming to honor me. I am the Lord your God. I am the Holy One of Israel. I have honored you.

Those the Lord has saved will return to their land. They will sing as they enter the city of Zion. Joy that lasts forever will be like beautiful crowns on their heads. They will be filled with gladness and joy. Sorrow and sighing will be gone.

You will know that I am with you in Israel. I am the Lord your God. There is no other God. So my people will never again be put to shame.

Instead of being put to shame you will receive a double share of wealth. Instead of being dishonored you will be glad to be in your land. You will receive a double share of riches there. And you’ll be filled with joy that will last forever.The Lord says,“ I love those who do what is right. I hate it when people steal and do other sinful things. So I will be faithful to my people. And I will bless them. I will make a covenant with them that will last forever.Their children after them will be famous among the nations. Their families will be praised by people everywhere. All those who see them will agree that I have blessed them.”The people of Jerusalem will say,“ We take great delight in the Lord. We are joyful because we belong to our God. He has dressed us with salvation as if it were our clothes. He has put robes of godliness on us. We are like a groom who is dressed up for his wedding. We are like a bride who decorates herself with her jewels.The soil makes the young plant come up. A garden causes seeds to grow. In the same way, the Lord and King will make godliness grow. And all the nations will praise him.”

Here is the new song they sang.“ You are worthy to take the scroll and break open its seals. You are worthy because you were put to death. With your blood you bought people for God. They come from every tribe, people and nation, no matter what language they speak.

You are our Father. Abraham might not accept us as his children. Jacob might not recognize us as his family. But you are our Father, Lord. Your name is One Who Always Sets Us Free.

The Lord sets his people free. He is the Holy One of Israel. He speaks to his servant, who is looked down on and hated by the nations. He speaks to the servant of rulers. He says to him,“ Kings will see you and stand up to honor you. Princes will see you and bow down to show you their respect. I am the Lord. I am faithful. I am the Holy One of Israel. I have chosen you.”The Lord says to his servant,“ When it is time to have mercy on you, I will answer your prayers. When it is time to save you, I will help you. I will keep you safe. You will put into effect my covenant with the people of Israel. Then their land will be made like new again. Each tribe will be sent back to its territory that was left empty.I want you to say to the prisoners,‘ Come out.’ Tell those who are in their dark cells,‘ You are free!’“ On their way home they will eat beside the roads. They will find plenty to eat on every bare hill.They will not get hungry or thirsty. The heat from the desert sun will not beat down on them. The God who has tender love for them will guide them. Like a shepherd, he will lead them beside springs of water.I will make roads across the mountains. I will build wide roads for my people.They will come from far away. Some of them will come from the north. Others will come from the west. Still others will come from Aswan in the south.”Shout for joy, you heavens! Be glad, you earth! Burst into song, you mountains! The Lord will comfort his people. He will show his tender love to those who are suffering.But the city of Zion said,“ The Lord has deserted me. The Lord has forgotten me.”The Lord answers,“ Can a mother forget the baby who is nursing at her breast? Can she stop having tender love for the child who was born to her? She might forget her child. But I will not forget you.I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Your walls are never out of my sight.Your people will hurry back. Those who destroyed you so completely will leave you.Look up. Look all around you. All your people are getting together to come back to you. You can be sure that I live,” announces the Lord.“ And you can be just as sure that your people will be like decorations you will wear. Like a bride, you will wear them proudly.“ Zion, you were destroyed. Your land was left empty. It was turned into a dry and empty desert. But now you will be too small to hold all your people. And those who destroyed you will be far away.The children born during your time of sorrow will speak to you. They will say,‘ This city is too small for us. Give us more space to live in.’Then you will say to yourself,‘ Whose children are these? I lost my children. And I couldn’t have any more. My children were taken far away from me. And no one wanted them. Who brought these children up? I was left all alone. So where have these children come from?’ ”The Lord and King continues,“ I will call out to the nations. I will give a signal to them. They will bring back your sons in their arms. They will carry your daughters on their hips.Their kings will become like fathers to you. Their queens will be like mothers who nurse you. They will bow down to you with their faces toward the ground. They will kiss the dust at your feet to show you their respect. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Those who put their hope in me will not be ashamed.”Can goods that were stolen by soldiers be taken away from them? Can prisoners be set free from the powerful Babylonians?“ Yes, they can,” the Lord answers.“ Prisoners will be taken away from soldiers. Stolen goods will be taken back from the powerful Babylonians. Zion, I will fight against those who fight against you. And I will save your people.I will make those who treat you badly eat the flesh of others. They will drink blood and get drunk on it as if it were wine. Then everyone on earth will know that I am the one who saves you. I am the Lord. I set you free. I am the Mighty One of Jacob.”

My temple will be among them forever. Then the nations will know that I make Israel holy. I am the Lord.” ’ ”

“ You are the Lord God. You chose Abram. You brought him out of Ur in the land of Babylon. You named him Abraham.You knew that his heart was faithful to you. And you made a covenant with him. You promised to give to his children after him a land of their own. It was the land of the Canaanites, Hittites and Amorites. The Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites also lived there. You have kept your promise. That’s because you always do what is right and fair.

“ Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to his people and purchased their freedom.

Joshua spoke to all the people. He said,“ The Lord is the God of Israel. He says,‘ Long ago your people lived east of the Euphrates River. They worshiped other gods there. Your people included Terah. He was the father of Abraham and Nahor.I took your father Abraham from the land east of the Euphrates. I led him all through Canaan. I gave him many children and grandchildren. I gave him Isaac.To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave the hill country of Seir to Esau. But Jacob and his family went down to Egypt.“‘ Then I sent Moses and Aaron. I made the people of Egypt suffer because of the plagues I sent on them. But I brought you out of Egypt.

He is the Angel who has saved me from all harm. May he bless these boys. May they be called by my name. May they also be called by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. And may the number of them greatly increase on the earth.”

You were set free from an empty way of life. This way of life was handed down to you by your own people of long ago. You know that you were not bought with things that can pass away, like silver or gold.Instead, you were bought with the priceless blood of Christ. He is a perfect lamb. He doesn’t have any flaws at all.

“ 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.I say,‘ What if I had not made my covenant with day and night? What if I had not established the laws of heaven and earth?Only then would I turn my back on the children of Jacob and my servant David. Only then would I not choose one of David’s sons to rule over the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will bless my people with great success again. I will love them with tender love.’ ”

The Lord and King says,“ I will now cause the people of Jacob to recover from my judgment. I will show my tender love for all the people of Israel. I will make sure that my name is kept holy.My people will forget the shameful things they have done. They will not remember all the ways they were unfaithful to me. They used to live in safety in their land. At that time no one made them afraid.So I will bring them back from the nations. I will gather them from the countries of their enemies. And I will use them to prove to many nations how holy I am.Then they will know that I am the Lord their God. I let the nations take my people away as prisoners. But now I will bring them back to their own land. I will not leave anyone behind.I will no longer turn my face away from the people of Israel. I will pour out my Spirit on them,” announces the Lord and King.It was the 14th year after Jerusalem had been captured. We had been brought to Babylon as prisoners. It was the tenth day of a month near the beginning of the 25th year after that. On that day the power of the Lord came on me. He took me back to my land.In visions God gave me, he brought me to the land of Israel. He set me on a very high mountain. Some buildings were on the south side of it. They looked like a city.He took me there. I saw a man who appeared to be made out of bronze. He was standing at the gate of the outer courtyard. He was holding a linen measuring tape and a measuring rod.The man said to me,“ Son of man, look carefully and listen closely. Pay attention to everything I show you. That is why the Lord brought you here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.”I saw a wall that completely surrounded the temple area. The measuring rod in the man’s hand was 11 feet long. He measured the wall with it. The wall was as thick and as high as one measuring rod.Then the man went to the east gate. He climbed its steps. He measured the gateway. It was one rod wide.The rooms where the guards stood were one rod long and one rod wide. The walls between the rooms were almost nine feet thick. The gateway next to the porch was one rod wide. The porch faced the front of the temple.Then the man measured the porch of the gateway.It was 14 feet wide. Each of its doorposts was three and a half feet thick. The porch of the gateway faced the front of the temple.Inside the east gate were three rooms on each side. All the rooms were the same size. The walls on each side of the rooms had the same thickness.Then the man measured the entrance of the gateway. It was 18 feet wide and 23 feet long.In front of each room was a wall. It was 21 inches high. The rooms measured 11 feet on each side.Then he measured the gateway from the back wall of one room to the back wall of the room across from it. It was 44 feet from the top of one wall to the top of the other.He measured along the front of the side walls all around the inside of the gateway. The total was 105 feet. That didn’t include the porch that faced the courtyard.It was 88 feet from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its porch.The rooms and their side walls inside the gateway had narrow openings on top of them. So did the porch. All the openings faced the inside. The front of each side wall was decorated with a palm tree.Then the man brought me into the outer courtyard. There I saw some rooms and a sidewalk. They had been built all around the courtyard. Along the sidewalk were 30 rooms.The sidewalk went all the way up to the sides of the gateways. It was as wide as they were long. This was the lower sidewalk.Then he measured from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner courtyard. The east side measured 175 feet. So did the north side.Then the man measured the north gate. He wanted to show me how long and wide it was. The gate led into the outer courtyard.It had three rooms on each side. Their side walls and porch measured the same as the ones at the first gateway. They measured 88 feet long and 44 feet wide.Its openings, porch and palm tree decorations measured the same as the ones at the east gate. Seven steps led up to the north gate. Its porch was across from them.The inner courtyard had a gate. It faced the gate on the north. It was just like the east gate. He measured from one gate to the one across from it. The total was 175 feet.Then the man led me to the south side of the courtyard. There I saw the south gate. He measured its doorposts and porch. They measured the same as the others.The gateway and its porch had narrow openings all around. The openings were the same as the others had. The side walls and porch measured 88 feet long and 44 feet wide.Seven steps led up to it. Its porch was across from them. The front of each side wall was decorated with a palm tree.The inner courtyard also had a gate that faced south. The man measured from this gate to the outer gate on the south side. The total was 175 feet.Then the man brought me into the inner courtyard. We went through the south gate. He measured it. It was the same size as the others.Its rooms, side walls and porch measured the same as the ones at the other gateways. The gateway and its porch had openings all around. The side walls and porch measured 88 feet long and 44 feet wide.The porches of the gateways around the inner courtyard were 44 feet wide and nine feet long.Its porch faced the outer courtyard. Palm trees decorated its doorposts. Eight steps led up to it.Then the man brought me to the east side of the inner courtyard. There he measured the gateway. It was the same size as the others.Its rooms, side walls and porch measured the same as the ones at the other gateways. The gateway and its porch had openings all around. The side walls and porch measured 88 feet long and 44 feet wide.Its porch faced the outer courtyard. Each doorpost was decorated with a palm tree. Eight steps led up to the porch.Then the man brought me to the north gate. He measured it. It was the same size as the others.Its rooms, side walls and porch measured the same as the ones at the other gateways. It had openings all around. The side walls and the porch measured 88 feet long and 44 feet wide.The porch faced the outer courtyard. Each doorpost was decorated with a palm tree. Eight steps led up to the porch.A room with a doorway was by the porch of each inner gateway. The burnt offerings were washed there.On each side of the porch of the gateway were two tables. The burnt offerings were killed on them. So were the sin offerings and guilt offerings.Two more tables were by the outer wall of the gateway porch. They were near the steps at the entrance of the north gateway. Two more tables were on the other side of the steps.So there were four tables on each side of the gateway. The total number of tables was eight. Animals for sacrifice were killed on all of them.There were also four other tables for the burnt offerings. They were made out of blocks of stone. Each table was two and a half feet long and two and a half feet wide. And each was almost two feet high. The tools for killing the burnt offerings and other sacrifices were placed on them.Large hooks hung on the walls all around. Each was three inches long. The meat of the offerings was placed on the tables.Near the inner gates were two rooms. They were in the inner courtyard. One room was next to the north gate. It faced south. The other one was next to the south gate. It faced north.The man said to me,“ The room that faces south is for the priests who guard the temple.The one that faces north is for the priests who guard the altar. All these priests are the sons of Zadok. They are the only Levites who can approach the Lord to serve him.”Then the man measured the courtyard. It was square. It measured 175 feet long and 175 feet wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.The man brought me to the porch of the temple. He measured the doorposts of the porch. Each of them was almost nine feet wide. The entrance was 24 and a half feet wide. Each of the side walls was a little over five feet wide.

Again, here is what I ask. The Israelites didn’t trip and fall once and for all time, did they? Not at all! Because Israel sinned, the Gentiles can be saved. That will make Israel jealous of them.Israel’s sin brought riches to the world. Their loss brings riches to the Gentiles. So then what greater riches will come when all Israel turns to God!I am talking to you who are not Jews. I am the apostle to the Gentiles. So I take pride in the work I do for God and others.I hope somehow to stir up my own people to want what you have. Perhaps I can save some of them.When they were not accepted, it became possible for the whole world to be brought back to God. So what will happen when they are accepted? It will be like life from the dead.The first handful of dough that is offered is holy. This makes all of the dough holy. If the root is holy, so are the branches.Some of the natural branches have been broken off. You are a wild olive branch. But you have been joined to the tree with the other branches. Now you enjoy the life- giving sap of the olive tree root.So don’t think you are better than the other branches. Remember, you don’t give life to the root. The root gives life to you.You will say,“ Some branches were broken off so that I could be joined to the tree.”That’s true. But they were broken off because they didn’t believe. You stand only because you do believe. So don’t be proud, but tremble.God didn’t spare the natural branches. He won’t spare you either.Think about how kind God is! Also think about how firm he is! He was hard on those who stopped following him. But he is kind to you. So you must continue to live in his kindness. If you don’t, you also will be cut off.If the people of Israel do not continue in their unbelief, they will again be joined to the tree. God is able to join them to the tree again.After all, weren’t you cut from a wild olive tree? Weren’t you joined to an olive tree that was taken care of? And wasn’t that the opposite of how things should be done? How much more easily will the natural branches be joined to their own olive tree!

The Lord says,“ Family of Jacob, remember these things. People of Israel, you are my servant. I have made you. You are my servant. Israel, I will not forget you.I will sweep your sins away as if they were a cloud. I will blow them away as if they were the morning mist. Return to me. Then I will set you free.”Sing for joy, you heavens! The Lord does wonderful things. Shout out loud, you earth! Burst into song, you mountains! Sing, you forests and all your trees! The Lord sets the family of Jacob free. He shows his glory in Israel.The Lord says,“ People of Israel, I set you free. I formed you when you were born as a nation.“ I am the Lord. I am the Maker of everything. I alone stretch out the heavens. I spread out the earth by myself.“ Some prophets are not really prophets at all. I show that their signs are fake. I make those who practice evil magic look foolish. I destroy the learning of those who think they are wise. Their knowledge does not make any sense at all.I make the words of my servants the prophets come true. I carry out what my messengers say will happen.“ I say about Jerusalem,‘ My people will live there again.’ I say about the towns of Judah,‘ They will be rebuilt.’ I say about their broken- down buildings,‘ I will make them like new again.’

The Lord says,“ Family of Jacob, listen to me. Pay attention, you people of Israel who are left alive. I have taken good care of you since your life began. I have carried you since you were born as a nation.I will continue to carry you even when you are old. I will take good care of you even when your hair is gray. I have made you, and I will carry you. I will take care of you, and I will save you. I am the Lord.

Family of Jacob, you are as weak as a worm. But do not be afraid. People of Israel, there are only a few of you. But do not be afraid. I myself will help you,” announces the Lord. He is the one who sets his people free. He is the Holy One of Israel.

“ I am the Lord. I say,“‘ Cries of fear are heard. There is terror. There isn’t any peace.Ask and see. Can a man give birth to children? Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach? Each of them is acting like a woman having a baby. Every face is as pale as death.How awful that day will be! No other day will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for the people of Jacob. But they will be saved out of it.

The Lord says,“ People of Israel, you are my servants. Family of Jacob, I have chosen you. You are the children of my friend Abraham.I gathered you from one end of the earth to the other. From the farthest places on earth I brought you together. I said,‘ You are my servants.’ I have chosen you. I have not turned my back on you.

“ Listen to my message, you nations. Announce it on shores far away. Say,‘ He who scattered Israel will gather them. He will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’I will set the people of Jacob free. I will save them from those who are stronger than they are.They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion. They will be joyful because of everything I give them. I give them grain, olive oil and fresh wine. I give them the young animals in their flocks and herds. Israel will be like a garden that has plenty of water. And they will not be sad anymore.