1“Get up and shine; for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh has risen on you.”
2“Indeed, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness will cover the people; but Yahweh will rise upon you, and his glory will be seen on you.”
3“Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
4“Look around you and see: they all gather together. They come to you. Your sons will come from far away, and your daughters will be carried in their arms.”
5Then you will see this and be filled with joy. Your heart will beat with excitement and expand, because all the riches of the sea will come to you. The wealth of other nations will be brought to you.
6Many camels will cover your land, including the dromedary camels from Midian and Ephah. People from Sheba will all come, bringing gold and frankincense. They will announce the praises of Yahweh.
7All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered for you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be accepted as offerings on my altar, and I will make my glorious house beautiful.
8“Who are these people flying like a cloud, like doves returning to their nests?
9Surely distant lands will wait for me, and the ships from Tarshish will be the first to arrive. They will bring your children from far away, along with their silver and gold, all for the honor of Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, because he has honored you.”
10Foreigners will build your walls, and their kings will serve you. For I struck you in my anger, but now I have shown you mercy.
11Your city gates will always be open; they will never be shut day or night. This is so people can bring you the wealth of nations, with their kings led as captives.
12Any nation or kingdom that refuses to serve you will be destroyed; those nations will be completely wiped out.
13The finest trees from Lebanon—the cypress, pine, and box trees—will come to you, making my temple beautiful. I will make the place where I rest my feet glorious.
14The descendants of those who oppressed you will come bowing down to you. All those who once looked down on you will bow at your feet. They will call you the City of Yahweh, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15Although you were abandoned and hated, with no one passing through you, I will make you a source of eternal pride and a joy for many generations.
16You will drink the milk of nations and nurse at the breasts of royalty. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold; instead of iron, I will bring silver; instead of wood, bronze; and instead of stones, iron. I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler.
18Violence will no longer be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders. Instead, you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.
19The sun will no longer be your light by day, nor will the bright moon give light to you. Instead, Yahweh will be your eternal light, and your God will be your glory.
20Your sun will never set again, nor will your moon disappear. For Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning will end.
21Then all your people will be righteous. They will own the land forever, like a branch I planted, the work of my hands, so that I may be glorified.
22The smallest family will grow into a thousand, and the weakest group into a strong nation. I, Yahweh, will make this happen quickly in its proper time.