6"When that day comes," declares the LORD, "I will gather those who are lame. I will bring together those who are scattered and those whom I have injured. 7I will change those who are lame into a faithful people. I will change those who are forced away into a strong nation." The LORD will rule them on Mount Zion now and forever. 8You, Jerusalem, watchtower of the flock, stronghold of the people of Zion, your former government will come back to you. The kingdom will return to the people of Jerusalem. 9Now why are you crying so loudly? Don't you have a king? Has your counselor died? Pain grips you like a woman in labor. 10Daughter of Zion, writhe in pain and groan like a woman in labor. Now you will leave the city, live in the open fields, and go to Babylon. There you will be rescued. There the LORD will reclaim you from your enemies. 11But now many nations gather against you. They say, "Let's dishonor Zion and gloat over it." 12They don't know the thoughts of the LORD or understand his plan. He will bring them together like cut grain on the threshing floor. 13Get up and thresh, people of Zion. I will make your horns as hard as iron and your hoofs as hard as bronze. You will smash many nations into small pieces. You will claim their loot for the LORD, their wealth for the Lord of the whole earth.
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