Isaiah 51-53:12

(skip to chapter 52)

(skip to chapter 53)

Isaiah 51

The LORD Will Bring Comfort

 1If you want to do right

   and obey the LORD,

   follow Abraham's example.

   He was the rock from which

   you were chipped.

    2God chose Abraham and Sarah

   to be your ancestors.

   The LORD blessed Abraham,

   and from that one man

   came many descendants.

    3Though Zion is in ruins,

   the LORD will bring comfort,

   and the city will be as lovely

   as the garden of Eden

   that he provided.

   Then Zion will celebrate;

   it will be thankful

   and sing joyful songs.

   

The LORD's Victory Will Last

 4The LORD says:

   You are my people and nation!

   So pay attention to me.

   My teaching will cause justice

   to shine like a light

   for every nation.

    5Those who live across the sea

   are eagerly waiting

   for me to rescue them.

   I am strong and ready;

   soon I will come to save

   and to rule all nations.

    6Look closely at the sky!

   Stare at the earth.

   The sky will vanish like smoke;

   the earth will wear out

   like clothes.

   Everyone on this earth

   will die like flies.

   But my victory will last;

   my saving power never ends.

    7If you want to do right

   and to obey my teaching

   with all your heart,

   then pay close attention.

   Don't be discouraged

   when others insult you

   and say hurtful things.

    8They will be eaten away

   like a moth-eaten coat.

   But my victory will last;

   my saving power

   will never end.

   

A Prayer for the LORD's Help

 9Wake up! Do something, LORD.

   Be strong and ready.

   Wake up! Do what you did

   for our people long ago.

   Didn't you chop up

   Rahab the monster? 10Didn't you dry up the deep sea

   and make a road

   for your people

   to follow safely across?

    11Now those you have rescued

   will return to Jerusalem,

   singing on their way.

   They will be crowned

   with great happiness,

   never again to be burdened

   with sadness and sorrow.

   

The LORD Gives Hope

 12I am the LORD, the one

   who encourages you.

   Why are you afraid

   of mere humans?

   They dry up and die like grass.

    13I spread out the heavens

   and laid foundations

   for the earth.

   But you have forgotten me,

   your LORD and Creator.

   All day long you were afraid

   of those who were angry

   and hoped to abuse you.

   Where are they now?

    14Everyone crying out in pain

   will be quickly set free;

   they will be rescued

   from the power of death

   and never go hungry.

    15I will help them

   because I am your God,

   the LORD All-Powerful,

   who makes the ocean roar.

    16I have told you what to say,

   and I will keep you safe

   in the palm of my hand.

   I spread out the heavens

   and laid foundations

   for the earth.

   Now I say, "Jerusalem,

   your people are mine."

   

A Warning to Jerusalem

 17Jerusalem, wake up! Stand up!

   You've drunk too much

   from the cup filled

   with the LORD's anger.

   You have swallowed every drop,

   and you can't walk straight.

    18Not one of your many children

   is there to guide you

   or to offer a helping hand.

    19You have been destroyed

   by war and by famine;

   I cannot comfort you. 20The LORD your God is angry,

   and on every street corner

   your children lie helpless,

   like deer trapped in nets.

    21You are in trouble and drunk,

   but not from wine.

   So pay close attention

    22to the LORD your God,

   who defends you and says,

   "I have taken from your hands

   the cup filled with my anger

   that made you drunk.

   You will never be forced

   to drink it again.

    23Instead I will give it

   to your brutal enemies,

   who treated you like dirt

   and walked all over you."

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Isaiah 52

Jerusalem Can Celebrate

 1Jerusalem, wake up!

   Stand up and be strong.

   Holy city of Zion,

   dress in your best clothes.

   Those foreigners who ruined

   your sacred city

   won't bother you again.

    2Zion, rise from the dirt!

   Free yourself from the rope

   around your neck.

   

Suffering Will End

 3The LORD says:

   My people, you were sold,

   but not for money;

   now you will be set free,

   but not for a payment.

    4Long ago you went to Egypt

   where you lived

   as foreigners.

   Then Assyria was cruel to you,

    5and now another nation has taken you prisoner

   for no reason at all.

   Your leaders groan with pain, and day after day

   my own name is cursed.

    6My people, you will learn

   who I am and who is speaking

   because I am here.

   

A Message of Hope for Jerusalem

 7What a beautiful sight!

   On the mountains a messenger

   announces to Jerusalem,

   "Good news! You're saved.

   There will be peace.

   Your God is now King."

    8Everyone on guard duty,

   sing and celebrate!

   Look! You can see the LORD

   returning to Zion.

    9Jerusalem, rise from the ruins!

   Join in the singing.

   The LORD has given comfort

   to his people;

   he comes to your rescue.

    10The LORD has shown all nations

   his mighty strength;

   now everyone will see

   the saving power of our God.

   

A Command To Leave Babylon

 11Leave the city of Babylon!

   Don't touch anything filthy.

   Wash yourselves. Be ready

   to carry back everything sacred

   that belongs to the LORD.

    12You won't need to run.

   No one is chasing you.

   The LORD God of Israel

   will lead and protect you

   from enemy attacks.

   

The Suffering Servant

 13The LORD says:

   My servant will succeed!

   He will be given great praise

   and the highest honors.

    14Many were horrified

   at what happened to him. But everyone who saw him

   was even more horrified

   because he suffered until

   he no longer looked human. 15My servant will make

   nations worthy to worship me; kings will be silent

   as they bow in wonder. They will see and think about

   things

   they have never seen

   or thought about before.

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Isaiah 53

What God's Servant Did for Us

 1Has anyone believed us

   or seen the mighty power

   of the LORD in action?

    2Like a young plant or a root

   that sprouts in dry ground,

   the servant grew up

   obeying the LORD.

   He wasn't some handsome king.

   Nothing about the way he looked

   made him attractive to us.

    3He was hated and rejected;

   his life was filled with sorrow

   and terrible suffering.

   No one wanted to look at him.

   We despised him and said,

   "He is a nobody!"

    4He suffered and endured

   great pain for us,

   but we thought his suffering

   was punishment from God.

    5He was wounded and crushed

   because of our sins;

   by taking our punishment,

   he made us completely well.

    6All of us were like sheep

   that had wandered off.

   We had each gone our own way,

   but the LORD gave him

   the punishment we deserved.

    7He was painfully abused,

   but he did not complain.

   He was silent like a lamb

   being led to the butcher,

   as quiet as a sheep

   having its wool cut off.

    8He was condemned to death

   without a fair trial.

   Who could have imagined

   what would happen to him?

   His life was taken away

   because of the sinful things

   my people had done. 9He wasn't dishonest or violent,

   but he was buried in a tomb

   of cruel and rich people. 10The LORD decided his servant

   would suffer as a sacrifice

   to take away the sin

   and guilt of others.

   Now the servant will live

   to see his own descendants. He did everything

   the LORD had planned.

    11By suffering, the servant

   will learn the true meaning

   of obeying the LORD.

   Although he is innocent,

   he will take the punishment

   for the sins of others,

   so that many of them

   will no longer be guilty.

    12The LORD will reward him

   with honor and power

   for sacrificing his life.

   Others thought he was a sinner,

   but he suffered for our sins

   and asked God to forgive us.


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