For behold, the LORD comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, And will no more cover her slain.

For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired [it] for His dwelling place:

"This [is] My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

I will return again to My place Till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me."

In that time a present will be brought to the LORD of hosts From a people tall and smooth [of skin,] And from a people terrible from their beginning onward, A nation powerful and treading down, Whose land the rivers divide -- To the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, To Mount Zion.

Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great [is] the Holy One of Israel in your midst!"

What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, And the poor of His people shall take refuge in it.

He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear, And his princes shall be afraid of the banner," Says the LORD, Whose fire [is] in Zion And whose furnace [is] in Jerusalem.

I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.

"So you shall know that I [am] the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, And no aliens shall ever pass through her again."

And [he shall be] like the light of the morning [when] the sun rises, A morning without clouds, [Like] the tender grass [springing] out of the earth, By clear shining after rain.'

He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers [that] water the earth.