King James Bible
"O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!"
Jerusalem/Zion is personified as a herald commanded to ascend to an elevated position for maximum visibility and audibility. The "good tidings" refer to the announcement of God's coming deliverance from Babylonian exile, marking a pivotal moment of hope after judgment. The parallel address intensifies the call with specific instructions: proclaim boldly and fearlessly. The command "be not afraid" acknowledges the natural hesitation to declare such momentous news after decades of silence and suffering. The actual message is strikingly simple yet profound—God himself is coming. This declaration announces not just deliverance but God's personal presence returning to his people, fulfilling covenant promises and inaugurating restoration.