[1] This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endures for ever: all they that hold it fastare appointed to life; but such as leave it shall die.
[2] Turn you, O Jacob, and take hold of it: walk towards her shining in the presence of the light thereof.
[3] Give not your glory to another, nor the things that are profitable to you to a strange nation.
[4] O Israel, happy are we: for the things that are pleasing to God are made known to us.
[5] Be of good cheer, my people, the memorial of Israel.
[6] You⌃ were sold to the nations,but not for destruction: because you⌃ moved God to wrath, you⌃ were delivered to your adversaries.
[7] For you⌃ provoked him that made you by sacrificing to demons, and not to God.
[8] You⌃ forgat the everlasting God, that brought you up; you⌃ grieved also Jerusalem, that nursed you.
[9] For she saw the wrath that is come upon you from God, and said, Hearken, you⌃women that dwell about Sion: for God has brought upon me great mourning;
[10] for I have seen the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting has brought upon them.
[11] For with joy did I nourish them; but sent them away with weeping and mourning.
[12] Let no man rejoice over me, a widow, and forsaken of many: for the sins of my children am I left desolate; because they turned aside from the law of God,
[13] and had no regard to his statutes, neither walked they in the ways of God's commandments, nor trod in the paths of discipline in his righteousness.
[14] Let them that dwell about Sion come, and remember you⌃ the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting has brought upon them.
[15] For he has brought a nation upon them from far, a shameless nation, and of a strange language, who neither reverenced old man, nor pitied child.
[16] And they have carried away the dear beloved sons of the widow, and left her that was alone desolate of her daughters.
[17] But I, what can I help you?
[18] For he that brought these plagues upon you will deliver you from the hand of your enemies.
[19] Go your way, O my children, go your way: for I am left desolate.
[20] I have put off the garment of peace, and put upon me the sackcloth of my petition: I will cry to the Everlasting as long as I live.
[21] Be of good cheer, O my children, cry to God, and he shall deliver you from the power and hand of the enemies.
[22] For I have trusted in the Everlasting, that he will save you; and joy is come to me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which shall soon come to you from the Everlasting your Saviour.
[23] For I sent you out with mourning and weeping: but God will give you to me again with joy and gladness for ever.
[24] For like as now they that dwell about Sion have seen your captivity: so shall they see shortly your salvation from our God, which shall come upon you with great glory, and brightness of the Everlasting.
[25] My children, suffer patiently the wrath that is come upon you from God: for your enemy has persecuted you; but shortly you shall see his destruction, and shall tread upon their necks.
[26] My delicate ones have gone rough ways; they were taken away as a flock carried off by the enemies.
[27] Be of good cheer, O my children, and cry to God: for you⌃ shall be remembered of him that has broughtthese things upon you.
[28] For as it was your mind to go astray from God:so, return and seek him ten times more.
[29] For he that brought these plagues upon you shall bring you everlasting joy again with your salvation.
[30] Be of good cheer, O Jerusalem: for he that called you by name will comfort you.
[31] Miserable are they that afflicted you, and rejoiced at your fall.
[32] Miserable are the cities which your children served: miserable is she that received your sons.
[33] For as she rejoiced at your fall, and was glad of your ruin: so shall she be grieved for her own desolation.
[34] And I will take away her exultation in her great multitude, and her boasting shall be turned into mourning.
[35] For fire shall come upon her from the Everlasting, long to endure; and she shall be inhabited of devils for a great time.
[36] O Jerusalem, look about you toward the east, and behold the joy that comes to you from God.
[37] Lo, your sons come, whom you sentest away, they come gathered together from the east to the west at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.