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Isaiah 49
13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
17 Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.
(8,6,8,6)
Ye heav’ns send forth your song of praise!
earth, raise your voice below!
Let hills and mountains join the hymn,
and joy through nature flow.
Behold how gracious is our God!
hear the consoling strains,
In which he cheers our drooping hearts,
and mitigates our pains.
Cease ye, when days of darkness come,
in sad dismay to mourn,
As if the Lord could leave his saints
forsaken or forlorn.
Can the fond mother e’er forget
the infant whom she bore?
And can its plaintive cries be heard,
nor move compassion more?
She may forget: nature may fail
a parent’s heart to move;
But Sion on my heart shall dwell
in everlasting love.
Full in my sight, upon my hands
I have engraved her name:
My hands shall build her ruined walls,
and raise her broken frame.
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