comfort and mercy

Thus says the Lord:

In a time of favor I answer you, 

on the day of salvation I help you; and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, 

to restore the land and allot the desolate heritages, 

saying to the prisoners:

 Come out!

To those in darkness: 

Show yourselves!

Along the ways they shall find pasture,

on every bare height shall their pastures be. They shall not hunger or thirst,

nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them;

for he who pities them leads them and guides them beside springs of water.

I will cut a road through all my mountains, 

and make my highways level.

Sing out, O heavens, and 

rejoice, O earth,

break forth into song, you mountains. For the Lord comforts his people

and shows mercy to his afflicted.

Can a mother forget her infant,

be without tenderness for the child of her womb?

Even should she forget,

I will never forget you.

-  from Isaiah, chapter 49