Isaiah 49-60

New International Version

⁵ And now the Lord says—
    he who formed me in the womb^(P) to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
    and gather Israel^(Q) to himself,
for I am^[a] honored^(R) in the eyes of the Lord
    and my God has been my strength^(S)—
⁶ he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant^(T)
    to restore the tribes of Jacob
    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.^(U)
I will also make you a light^(V) for the Gentiles,^(W)
    that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”^(X)

⁷ This is what the Lord says—
    the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel^(Y)—
to him who was despised^(Z) and abhorred by the nation,
    to the servant of rulers:
“Kings^(AA) will see you and stand up,
    princes will see and bow down,^(AB)
because of the Lord, who is faithful,^(AC)
    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen^(AD) you.”

“In the time of my favor^(AE) I will answer you,
    and in the day of salvation I will help you;^(AF)
I will keep^(AG) you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people,^(AH)
to restore the land^(AI)
    and to reassign its desolate inheritances,^(AJ)
9 to say to the captives,^(AK) ‘Come out,’
    and to those in darkness,^(AL) ‘Be free!’

“They will feed beside the roads
    and find pasture on every barren hill.^(AM)
10 They will neither hunger nor thirst,^(AN)
    nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them.^(AO)
He who has compassion^(AP) on them will guide^(AQ) them
    and lead them beside springs^(AR) of water.
¹¹ I will turn all my mountains into roads,
    and my highways^(AS) will be raised up.^(AT)
12 See, they will come from afar^(AU)—
    some from the north, some from the west,^(AV)
    some from the region of Aswan.^[b]”

¹³ Shout for joy,^(AW) you heavens;
    rejoice, you earth;^(AX)
    burst into song, you mountains!^(AY)
For the Lord comforts^(AZ) his people
    and will have compassion^(BA) on his afflicted ones.^(BB)

¹⁴ But Zion^(BC) said, “The Lord has forsaken^(BD) me,
    the Lord has forgotten me.”

¹⁵ “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child^(BE) she has borne?
Though she may forget,
    I will not forget you!^(BF)
16 See, I have engraved^(BG) you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls^(BH) are ever before me.
¹⁷ Your children hasten back,
    and those who laid you waste^(BI) depart from you.
¹⁸ Lift up your eyes and look around;
    all your children gather^(BJ) and come to you.
As surely as I live,^(BK)” declares the Lord,
    “you will wear^(BL) them all as ornaments;
    you will put them on, like a bride.

¹⁹ “Though you were ruined and made desolate^(BM)
    and your land laid waste,^(BN)
now you will be too small for your people,^(BO)
    and those who devoured^(BP) you will be far away.
²⁰ The children born during your bereavement
    will yet say in your hearing,
‘This place is too small for us;
    give us more space to live in.’^(BQ)
21 Then you will say in your heart,
    ‘Who bore me these?^(BR)
I was bereaved^(BS) and barren;
    I was exiled and rejected.^(BT)
    Who brought these^(BU) up?
I was left^(BV) all alone,^(BW)
    but these—where have they come from?’”

“See, I will beckon to the nations,
    I will lift up my banner^(BY) to the peoples;
they will bring^(BZ) your sons in their arms
    and carry your daughters on their hips.^(CA)
23 Kings^(CB) will be your foster fathers,
    and their queens your nursing mothers.^(CC)
They will bow down^(CD) before you with their faces to the ground;
    they will lick the dust^(CE) at your feet.
Then you will know that I am the Lord;^(CF)
    those who hope^(CG) in me will not be disappointed.^(CH)”

²⁴ Can plunder be taken from warriors,^(CI)
    or captives be rescued from the fierce^[c]?

“Yes, captives^(CJ) will be taken from warriors,^(CK)
    and plunder retrieved from the fierce;^(CL)
I will contend with those who contend with you,^(CM)
    and your children I will save.^(CN)
26 I will make your oppressors^(CO) eat^(CP) their own flesh;
    they will be drunk on their own blood,^(CQ) as with wine.
Then all mankind will know^(CR)
    that I, the Lord, am your Savior,^(CS)
    your Redeemer,^(CT) the Mighty One of Jacob.^(CU)”

“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce^(CV)
    with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
    did I sell^(CW) you?
Because of your sins^(CX) you were sold;^(CY)
    because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
² When I came, why was there no one?
    When I called, why was there no one to answer?^(CZ)
Was my arm too short^(DA) to deliver you?
    Do I lack the strength^(DB) to rescue you?
By a mere rebuke^(DC) I dry up the sea,^(DD)
    I turn rivers into a desert;^(DE)
their fish rot for lack of water
    and die of thirst.
³ I clothe the heavens with darkness^(DF)
    and make sackcloth^(DG) its covering.”

⁴ The Sovereign Lord^(DH) has given me a well-instructed tongue,^(DI)
    to know the word that sustains the weary.^(DJ)
He wakens me morning by morning,^(DK)
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.^(DL)
5 The Sovereign Lord^(DM) has opened my ears;^(DN)
    I have not been rebellious,^(DO)
    I have not turned away.
⁶ I offered my back to those who beat^(DP) me,
    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;^(DQ)
I did not hide my face
    from mocking and spitting.^(DR)
7 Because the Sovereign Lord^(DS) helps^(DT) me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,^(DU)
    and I know I will not be put to shame.^(DV)
8 He who vindicates^(DW) me is near.^(DX)
    Who then will bring charges against me?^(DY)
    Let us face each other!^(DZ)
Who is my accuser?
    Let him confront me!
⁹ It is the Sovereign Lord^(EA) who helps^(EB) me.
    Who will condemn^(EC) me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
    the moths^(ED) will eat them up.

¹⁰ Who among you fears^(EE) the Lord
    and obeys^(EF) the word of his servant?^(EG)
Let the one who walks in the dark,
    who has no light,^(EH)
trust^(EI) in the name of the Lord
    and rely on their God.
¹¹ But now, all you who light fires
    and provide yourselves with flaming torches,^(EJ)
go, walk in the light of your fires^(EK)
    and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:^(EL)
    You will lie down in torment.^(EM)

⁴ “Listen to me, my people;^(FA)
    hear me,^(FB) my nation:
Instruction^(FC) will go out from me;
    my justice^(FD) will become a light to the nations.^(FE)
5 My righteousness draws near speedily,
    my salvation^(FF) is on the way,^(FG)
    and my arm^(FH) will bring justice to the nations.
The islands^(FI) will look to me
    and wait in hope^(FJ) for my arm.
⁶ Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
    look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke,^(FK)
    the earth will wear out like a garment^(FL)
    and its inhabitants die like flies.
But my salvation^(FM) will last forever,^(FN)
    my righteousness will never fail.^(FO)

⁷ “Hear me, you who know what is right,^(FP)
    you people who have taken my instruction to heart:^(FQ)
Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals
    or be terrified by their insults.^(FR)
8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment;^(FS)
    the worm^(FT) will devour them like wool.
But my righteousness will last forever,^(FU)
    my salvation through all generations.”

⁹ Awake, awake,^(FV) arm^(FW) of the Lord,
    clothe yourself with strength!^(FX)
Awake, as in days gone by,
    as in generations of old.^(FY)
Was it not you who cut Rahab^(FZ) to pieces,
    who pierced that monster^(GA) through?
¹⁰ Was it not you who dried up the sea,^(GB)
    the waters of the great deep,^(GC)
who made a road in the depths of the sea^(GD)
    so that the redeemed^(GE) might cross over?
¹¹ Those the Lord has rescued^(GF) will return.
    They will enter Zion with singing;^(GG)
    everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy^(GH) will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.^(GI)

¹² “I, even I, am he who comforts^(GJ) you.
    Who are you that you fear^(GK) mere mortals,^(GL)
    human beings who are but grass,^(GM)
13 that you forget^(GN) the Lord your Maker,^(GO)
    who stretches out the heavens^(GP)
    and who lays the foundations of the earth,
that you live in constant terror^(GQ) every day
    because of the wrath of the oppressor,
    who is bent on destruction?
For where is the wrath of the oppressor?^(GR)
14     The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;^(GS)
they will not die in their dungeon,
    nor will they lack bread.^(GT)
15 For I am the Lord your God,
    who stirs up the sea^(GU) so that its waves roar^(GV)—
    the Lord Almighty^(GW) is his name.
¹⁶ I have put my words in your mouth^(GX)
    and covered you with the shadow of my hand^(GY)—
I who set the heavens in place,
    who laid the foundations of the earth,^(GZ)
    and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.^(HA)’”

²¹ Therefore hear this, you afflicted^(HS) one,
    made drunk,^(HT) but not with wine.
²² This is what your Sovereign Lord says,
    your God, who defends^(HU) his people:
“See, I have taken out of your hand
    the cup^(HV) that made you stagger;
from that cup, the goblet of my wrath,
    you will never drink again.
²³ I will put it into the hands of your tormentors,^(HW)
    who said to you,
    ‘Fall prostrate^(HX) that we may walk^(HY) on you.’
And you made your back like the ground,
    like a street to be walked on.”^(HZ)

52 Awake, awake,^(IA) Zion,
    clothe yourself with strength!^(IB)
Put on your garments of splendor,^(IC)
    Jerusalem, the holy city.^(ID)
The uncircumcised^(IE) and defiled^(IF)
    will not enter you again.^(IG)
2 Shake off your dust;^(IH)
    rise up,^(II) sit enthroned, Jerusalem.
Free yourself from the chains on your neck,^(IJ)
    Daughter Zion,^(IK) now a captive.

“You were sold for nothing,^(IL)
    and without money^(IM) you will be redeemed.^(IN)”

“At first my people went down to Egypt^(IO) to live;
    lately, Assyria^(IP) has oppressed them.

“For my people have been taken away for nothing,
    and those who rule them mock,^[e]”
declares the Lord.
“And all day long
    my name is constantly blasphemed.^(IQ)
6 Therefore my people will know^(IR) my name;^(IS)
    therefore in that day^(IT) they will know
that it is I who foretold^(IU) it.
    Yes, it is I.”

⁷ How beautiful on the mountains^(IV)
    are the feet of those who bring good news,^(IW)
who proclaim peace,^(IX)
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!”^(IY)
8 Listen! Your watchmen^(IZ) lift up their voices;^(JA)
    together they shout for joy.^(JB)
When the Lord returns^(JC) to Zion,^(JD)
    they will see it with their own eyes.
⁹ Burst into songs of joy^(JE) together,
    you ruins^(JF) of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted^(JG) his people,
    he has redeemed Jerusalem.^(JH)
10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm^(JI)
    in the sight of all the nations,^(JJ)
and all the ends of the earth^(JK) will see
    the salvation^(JL) of our God.

¹¹ Depart,^(JM) depart, go out from there!
    Touch no unclean thing!^(JN)
Come out from it and be pure,^(JO)
    you who carry the articles^(JP) of the Lord’s house.
¹² But you will not leave in haste^(JQ)
    or go in flight;
for the Lord will go before you,^(JR)
    the God of Israel will be your rear guard.^(JS)

53 Who has believed our message^(KC)
    and to whom has the arm^(KD) of the Lord been revealed?^(KE)
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,^(KF)
    and like a root^(KG) out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance^(KH) that we should desire him.
³ He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering,^(KI) and familiar with pain.^(KJ)
Like one from whom people hide^(KK) their faces
    he was despised,^(KL) and we held him in low esteem.

⁴ Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,^(KM)
yet we considered him punished by God,^(KN)
    stricken by him, and afflicted.^(KO)
5 But he was pierced^(KP) for our transgressions,^(KQ)
    he was crushed^(KR) for our iniquities;
the punishment^(KS) that brought us peace^(KT) was on him,
    and by his wounds^(KU) we are healed.^(KV)
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,^(KW)
    each of us has turned to our own way;^(KX)
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity^(KY) of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed^(KZ) and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;^(LA)
he was led like a lamb^(LB) to the slaughter,^(LC)
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
⁸ By oppression^[i] and judgment^(LD) he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;^(LE)
    for the transgression^(LF) of my people he was punished.^[j]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,^(LG)
    and with the rich^(LH) in his death,
though he had done no violence,^(LI)
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.^(LJ)

¹⁰ Yet it was the Lord’s will^(LK) to crush^(LL) him and cause him to suffer,^(LM)
    and though the Lord makes^[k] his life an offering for sin,^(LN)
he will see his offspring^(LO) and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper^(LP) in his hand.
¹¹ After he has suffered,^(LQ)
    he will see the light^(LR) of life^[l] and be satisfied^[m];
by his knowledge^[n] my righteous servant^(LS) will justify^(LT) many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.^(LU)
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,^[o](LV)
    and he will divide the spoils^(LW) with the strong,^[p]
because he poured out his life unto death,^(LX)
    and was numbered with the transgressors.^(LY)
For he bore^(LZ) the sin of many,^(MA)
    and made intercession^(MB) for the transgressors.

⁴ “Do not be afraid;^(MN) you will not be put to shame.^(MO)
    Do not fear disgrace;^(MP) you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth^(MQ)
    and remember no more the reproach^(MR) of your widowhood.^(MS)
5 For your Maker^(MT) is your husband^(MU)—
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One^(MV) of Israel is your Redeemer;^(MW)
    he is called the God of all the earth.^(MX)
6 The Lord will call you back^(MY)
    as if you were a wife deserted^(MZ) and distressed in spirit—
a wife who married young,^(NA)
    only to be rejected,” says your God.
⁷ “For a brief moment^(NB) I abandoned^(NC) you,
    but with deep compassion^(ND) I will bring you back.^(NE)
8 In a surge of anger^(NF)
    I hid^(NG) my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness^(NH)
    I will have compassion^(NI) on you,”
    says the Lord your Redeemer.^(NJ)

⁹ “To me this is like the days of Noah,
    when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.^(NK)
So now I have sworn^(NL) not to be angry^(NM) with you,
    never to rebuke^(NN) you again.
¹⁰ Though the mountains be shaken^(NO)
    and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love^(NP) for you will not be shaken^(NQ)
    nor my covenant^(NR) of peace^(NS) be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion^(NT) on you.

¹¹ “Afflicted^(NU) city, lashed by storms^(NV) and not comforted,^(NW)
    I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise,^[q](NX)
    your foundations^(NY) with lapis lazuli.^(NZ)
12 I will make your battlements of rubies,
    your gates^(OA) of sparkling jewels,
    and all your walls of precious stones.
¹³ All your children will be taught by the Lord,^(OB)
    and great will be their peace.^(OC)
14 In righteousness^(OD) you will be established:^(OE)
Tyranny^(OF) will be far from you;
    you will have nothing to fear.^(OG)
Terror^(OH) will be far removed;
    it will not come near you.
¹⁵ If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;
    whoever attacks you will surrender^(OI) to you.

¹⁶ “See, it is I who created the blacksmith^(OJ)
    who fans the coals into flame
    and forges a weapon^(OK) fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer^(OL) to wreak havoc;
¹⁷     no weapon forged against you will prevail,^(OM)
    and you will refute^(ON) every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants^(OO) of the Lord,
    and this is their vindication^(OP) from me,”
declares the Lord.

⁶ Seek^(PJ) the Lord while he may be found;^(PK)
    call^(PL) on him while he is near.
⁷ Let the wicked forsake^(PM) their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.^(PN)
Let them turn^(PO) to the Lord, and he will have mercy^(PP) on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.^(PQ)

⁸ “For my thoughts^(PR) are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”^(PS)
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,^(PT)
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.^(PU)
10 As the rain^(PV) and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,^(PW)
    so that it yields seed^(PX) for the sower and bread for the eater,^(PY)
11 so is my word^(PZ) that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,^(QA)
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose^(QB) for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy^(QC)
    and be led forth in peace;^(QD)
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song^(QE) before you,
and all the trees^(QF) of the field
    will clap their hands.^(QG)
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers^(QH) the myrtle^(QI) will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,^(QJ)
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”

“Maintain justice^(QK)
    and do what is right,^(QL)
for my salvation^(QM) is close at hand
    and my righteousness^(QN) will soon be revealed.
² Blessed^(QO) is the one who does this—
    the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath^(QP) without desecrating it,
    and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”

³ Let no foreigner^(QQ) who is bound to the Lord say,
    “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”^(QR)
And let no eunuch^(QS) complain,
    “I am only a dry tree.”

“To the eunuchs^(QT) who keep my Sabbaths,
    who choose what pleases me
    and hold fast to my covenant^(QU)—
⁵ to them I will give within my temple and its walls^(QV)
    a memorial^(QW) and a name
    better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name^(QX)
    that will endure forever.^(QY)
6 And foreigners^(QZ) who bind themselves to the Lord
    to minister^(RA) to him,
to love the name^(RB) of the Lord,
    and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath^(RC) without desecrating it
    and who hold fast to my covenant—
⁷ these I will bring to my holy mountain^(RD)
    and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices^(RE)
    will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
    a house of prayer for all nations.^(RF)”^(RG)
8 The Sovereign Lord declares—
    he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather^(RH) still others to them
    besides those already gathered.”

57 The righteous perish,^(RS)
    and no one takes it to heart;^(RT)
the devout are taken away,
    and no one understands
that the righteous are taken away
    to be spared from evil.^(RU)
2 Those who walk uprightly^(RV)
    enter into peace;
    they find rest^(RW) as they lie in death.

³ “But you—come here, you children of a sorceress,^(RX)
    you offspring of adulterers^(RY) and prostitutes!^(RZ)
4 Who are you mocking?
    At whom do you sneer
    and stick out your tongue?
Are you not a brood of rebels,^(SA)
    the offspring of liars?
⁵ You burn with lust among the oaks^(SB)
    and under every spreading tree;^(SC)
you sacrifice your children^(SD) in the ravines
    and under the overhanging crags.
⁶ The idols^(SE) among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;
    indeed, they are your lot.
Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings^(SF)
    and offered grain offerings.
    In view of all this, should I relent?^(SG)
7 You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;^(SH)
    there you went up to offer your sacrifices.^(SI)
8 Behind your doors and your doorposts
    you have put your pagan symbols.
Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed,
    you climbed into it and opened it wide;
you made a pact with those whose beds you love,^(SJ)
    and you looked with lust on their naked bodies.^(SK)
9 You went to Molek^[r](SL) with olive oil
    and increased your perfumes.^(SM)
You sent your ambassadors^[s](SN) far away;
    you descended to the very realm of the dead!^(SO)
10 You wearied^(SP) yourself by such going about,
    but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’^(SQ)
You found renewal of your strength,^(SR)
    and so you did not faint.

¹¹ “Whom have you so dreaded and feared^(SS)
    that you have not been true to me,
and have neither remembered^(ST) me
    nor taken this to heart?^(SU)
Is it not because I have long been silent^(SV)
    that you do not fear me?
¹² I will expose your righteousness and your works,^(SW)
    and they will not benefit you.
¹³ When you cry out^(SX) for help,
    let your collection of idols save^(SY) you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
    a mere breath will blow^(SZ) them away.
But whoever takes refuge^(TA) in me
    will inherit the land^(TB)
    and possess my holy mountain.”^(TC)

“Build up, build up, prepare the road!^(TD)
    Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”^(TE)
15 For this is what the high and exalted^(TF) One says—
    he who lives forever,^(TG) whose name is holy:
“I live in a high^(TH) and holy place,
    but also with the one who is contrite^(TI) and lowly in spirit,^(TJ)
to revive the spirit of the lowly
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.^(TK)
16 I will not accuse^(TL) them forever,
    nor will I always be angry,^(TM)
for then they would faint away because of me—
    the very people^(TN) I have created.
¹⁷ I was enraged by their sinful greed;^(TO)
    I punished them, and hid^(TP) my face in anger,
    yet they kept on in their willful ways.^(TQ)
18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal^(TR) them;
    I will guide^(TS) them and restore comfort^(TT) to Israel’s mourners,
¹⁹     creating praise on their lips.^(TU)
Peace, peace,^(TV) to those far and near,”^(TW)
    says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”
²⁰ But the wicked^(TX) are like the tossing sea,^(TY)
    which cannot rest,
    whose waves cast up mire^(TZ) and mud.
²¹ “There is no peace,”^(UA) says my God, “for the wicked.”^(UB)

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please^(UM)
    and exploit all your workers.
⁴ Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,^(UN)
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard^(UO) on high.
⁵ Is this the kind of fast^(UP) I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble^(UQ) themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed^(UR)
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?^(US)
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting^(UT) I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice^(UU)
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed^(UV) free
    and break every yoke?^(UW)
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry^(UX)
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter^(UY)—
when you see the naked, to clothe^(UZ) them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?^(VA)
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,^(VB)
    and your healing^(VC) will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[t](VD) will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.^(VE)
9 Then you will call,^(VF) and the Lord will answer;^(VG)
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger^(VH) and malicious talk,^(VI)
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,^(VJ)
then your light^(VK) will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.^(VL)
11 The Lord will guide^(VM) you always;
    he will satisfy your needs^(VN) in a sun-scorched land^(VO)
    and will strengthen^(VP) your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,^(VQ)
    like a spring^(VR) whose waters never fail.
¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins^(VS)
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;^(VT)
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,^(VU)
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

¹³ “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath^(VV)
    and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight^(VW)
    and the Lord’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
    and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,^(VX)
14 then you will find your joy^(VY) in the Lord,
    and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights^(VZ) of the land
    and to feast on the inheritance^(WA) of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^(WB)

⁹ So justice is far from us,
    and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness;^(WY)
    for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
¹⁰ Like the blind^(WZ) we grope along the wall,
    feeling our way like people without eyes.
At midday we stumble^(XA) as if it were twilight;
    among the strong, we are like the dead.^(XB)
11 We all growl like bears;
    we moan mournfully like doves.^(XC)
We look for justice, but find none;
    for deliverance, but it is far away.

¹² For our offenses^(XD) are many in your sight,
    and our sins testify^(XE) against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
    and we acknowledge our iniquities:^(XF)
13 rebellion^(XG) and treachery against the Lord,
    turning our backs^(XH) on our God,
inciting revolt and oppression,^(XI)
    uttering lies^(XJ) our hearts have conceived.
¹⁴ So justice^(XK) is driven back,
    and righteousness^(XL) stands at a distance;
truth^(XM) has stumbled in the streets,
    honesty cannot enter.
¹⁵ Truth^(XN) is nowhere to be found,
    and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The Lord looked and was displeased
    that there was no justice.^(XO)
16 He saw that there was no one,^(XP)
    he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;^(XQ)
so his own arm achieved salvation^(XR) for him,
    and his own righteousness^(XS) sustained him.
¹⁷ He put on righteousness as his breastplate,^(XT)
    and the helmet^(XU) of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments^(XV) of vengeance^(XW)
    and wrapped himself in zeal^(XX) as in a cloak.
¹⁸ According to what they have done,
    so will he repay^(XY)
wrath to his enemies
    and retribution to his foes;
    he will repay the islands^(XZ) their due.
¹⁹ From the west,^(YA) people will fear the name of the Lord,
    and from the rising of the sun,^(YB) they will revere his glory.^(YC)
For he will come like a pent-up flood
    that the breath^(YD) of the Lord drives along.^[u]

²⁰ “The Redeemer^(YE) will come to Zion,^(YF)
    to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”^(YG)
declares the Lord.

⁴ “Lift up your eyes and look about you:
    All assemble^(YT) and come to you;
your sons come from afar,^(YU)
    and your daughters^(YV) are carried on the hip.^(YW)
5 Then you will look and be radiant,^(YX)
    your heart will throb and swell with joy;^(YY)
the wealth^(YZ) on the seas will be brought to you,
    to you the riches of the nations will come.
⁶ Herds of camels^(ZA) will cover your land,
    young camels of Midian^(ZB) and Ephah.^(ZC)
And all from Sheba^(ZD) will come,
    bearing gold and incense^(ZE)
    and proclaiming the praise^(ZF) of the Lord.
⁷ All Kedar’s^(ZG) flocks will be gathered to you,
    the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
they will be accepted as offerings^(ZH) on my altar,^(ZI)
    and I will adorn my glorious temple.^(ZJ)

⁸ “Who are these^(ZK) that fly along like clouds,^(ZL)
    like doves to their nests?
⁹ Surely the islands^(ZM) look to me;
    in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,^[v](ZN)
bringing^(ZO) your children from afar,
    with their silver and gold,^(ZP)
to the honor^(ZQ) of the Lord your God,
    the Holy One^(ZR) of Israel,
    for he has endowed you with splendor.^(ZS)

¹⁰ “Foreigners^(ZT) will rebuild your walls,
    and their kings^(ZU) will serve you.
Though in anger I struck you,
    in favor^(ZV) I will show you compassion.^(ZW)
11 Your gates^(ZX) will always stand open,
    they will never be shut, day or night,
so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations^(ZY)—
    their kings^(ZZ) led in triumphal procession.
¹² For the nation or kingdom that will not serve^(AAA) you will perish;
    it will be utterly ruined.^(AAB)

¹³ “The glory of Lebanon^(AAC) will come to you,
    the juniper, the fir and the cypress together,^(AAD)
to adorn my sanctuary;^(AAE)
    and I will glorify the place for my feet.^(AAF)
14 The children of your oppressors^(AAG) will come bowing before you;
    all who despise you will bow down^(AAH) at your feet
and will call you the City^(AAI) of the Lord,
    Zion^(AAJ) of the Holy One^(AAK) of Israel.

¹⁵ “Although you have been forsaken^(AAL) and hated,
    with no one traveling^(AAM) through,
I will make you the everlasting pride^(AAN)
    and the joy^(AAO) of all generations.
¹⁶ You will drink the milk of nations
    and be nursed^(AAP) at royal breasts.
Then you will know^(AAQ) that I, the Lord, am your Savior,^(AAR)
    your Redeemer,^(AAS) the Mighty One of Jacob.^(AAT)
17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,^(AAU)
    and silver in place of iron.
Instead of wood I will bring you bronze,
    and iron in place of stones.
I will make peace^(AAV) your governor
    and well-being your ruler.^(AAW)
18 No longer will violence^(AAX) be heard in your land,
    nor ruin or destruction^(AAY) within your borders,
but you will call your walls Salvation^(AAZ)
    and your gates Praise.^(ABA)
19 The sun will no more be your light by day,
    nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,^(ABB)
    and your God will be your glory.^(ABC)
20 Your sun^(ABD) will never set again,
    and your moon will wane no more;
the Lord will be your everlasting light,
    and your days of sorrow^(ABE) will end.
²¹ Then all your people will be righteous^(ABF)
    and they will possess^(ABG) the land forever.
They are the shoot I have planted,^(ABH)
    the work of my hands,^(ABI)
    for the display of my splendor.^(ABJ)
22 The least of you will become a thousand,
    the smallest a mighty nation.^(ABK)
I am the Lord;
    in its time I will do this swiftly.”^(ABL)