Isaiah 54 good news bible

Here is Isaiah 54 in the Good News Bible (GNB):

Isaiah 54

God's Love and Forgiveness

1 Sing, you heavens, and rejoice, you earth; break out in singing, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and takes pity on them. 2 In every struggle and trouble he is troubled, and in every suffering he suffers. 3 But as a woman gives birth to a child, so the Lord will give birth to new life for his people. 4 Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such wonders? Shall a woman give birth to a child without pain? Shall a nation be born without labor? 5 But would I not have been concerned for Jerusalem if I had not been its builder and defender? 6 This is what the Lord says: "I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's people and have compassion on the whole earth. For they will be like a woman in childbirth, groaning and gasping for breath. 7 In Jerusalem will I give their reward, and there they will be my glory."

God's Love and Protection

8 Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such wonders? Shall a woman forget her nursing child, or show no pity to the child of her womb? 9 Even if these forget, I will not forget you. See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. 10 Your children will be like the grass, and your enemies will be like the dust of the earth, which is trampled underfoot. 11 You will not be ashamed or disgraced, for you will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

God's Promise of Restoration

12 For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. 13 For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a wife of your youth. 14 For a brief moment he has forsaken you, but with great compassion he will again show you love. 15 In his love, he will have compassion on you; he will swamp your sea in the depths of the sea. 16 In your love, you will have compassion on her; you will say, 'I will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. I will make the desert bloom like the crocus, and the wasteland like a palm tree.'

God's Promise of Restoration and Blessing

17 See, I will do something new; now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will make a pathway through the desert, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland. 18 The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I have given fresh water in the desert, rivers in the dry wasteland, to give drink to my chosen people, 19 the people I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise. 20 The Lord, the King of Israel, says, 'I will not leave you until I have made you into a glorious people, a people who will praise my name.'