Isaiah 49:14-21

Jerusalem shall be Forthwith Rebuilt and Repeopled. Zion has believed herself forgotten of Yahweh. But though a mother should forget her babe He will not forget Zion. His plan for rebuilding it He has cut upon the palms of His hands that it may be ever before Him. Zion's builders (mg.) shall speedily get to work, while her destroyers shall haste out of the city. From all sides the dispersed people return; they shall be to the newly-built city as ornaments to a new-made wife. Though all the waste places be made habitable (?) still the people shall more than fill them. Oppressors shall be far away. Those born while the city lay desolate are so many as on their return to strive in Zion's hearing for room. And Zion shall ask herself in bewilderment, Who hath borne and reared me these when I was childless? (cf. Genesis 16:2).

Isaiah 49:18. Cf. Jeremiah 2:32.

Isaiah 49:19. There is a considerable gap in the text after destroyed.

Isaiah 49:21. Read mg. an exile and wandering to and fro: omit with LXX this clause, which spoils the picture. In the last clause read, And these, whence are they?