Speak tenderly(A) to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service(B) has been completed,(C)
    that her sin has been paid for,(D)
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double(E) for all her sins.

Read full chapter

14     The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;(A)
they will not die in their dungeon,
    nor will they lack bread.(B)
15 For I am the Lord your God,
    who stirs up the sea(C) so that its waves roar(D)
    the Lord Almighty(E) is his name.
16 I have put my words in your mouth(F)
    and covered you with the shadow of my hand(G)
I who set the heavens in place,
    who laid the foundations of the earth,(H)
    and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.(I)’”

The Cup of the Lord’s Wrath

17 Awake, awake!(J)
    Rise up, Jerusalem,
you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord
    the cup(K) of his wrath,(L)
you who have drained to its dregs(M)
    the goblet that makes people stagger.(N)
18 Among all the children(O) she bore
    there was none to guide her;(P)
among all the children she reared
    there was none to take her by the hand.(Q)
19 These double calamities(R) have come upon you—
    who can comfort you?(S)
ruin and destruction,(T) famine(U) and sword(V)
    who can[a] console you?
20 Your children have fainted;
    they lie at every street corner,(W)
    like antelope caught in a net.(X)
They are filled with the wrath(Y) of the Lord,
    with the rebuke(Z) of your God.

21 Therefore hear this, you afflicted(AA) one,
    made drunk,(AB) but not with wine.
22 This is what your Sovereign Lord says,
    your God, who defends(AC) his people:
“See, I have taken out of your hand
    the cup(AD) 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,(AE)
    who said to you,
    ‘Fall prostrate(AF) that we may walk(AG) on you.’
And you made your back like the ground,
    like a street to be walked on.”(AH)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 51:19 Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Masoretic Text / how can I

52 Awake, awake,(A) Zion,
    clothe yourself with strength!(B)
Put on your garments of splendor,(C)
    Jerusalem, the holy city.(D)
The uncircumcised(E) and defiled(F)
    will not enter you again.(G)
Shake off your dust;(H)
    rise up,(I) sit enthroned, Jerusalem.
Free yourself from the chains on your neck,(J)
    Daughter Zion,(K) now a captive.

For this is what the Lord says:

“You were sold for nothing,(L)
    and without money(M) you will be redeemed.(N)

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

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

“And now what do I have here?” declares the Lord.

“For my people have been taken away for nothing,
    and those who rule them mock,[a]
declares the Lord.
“And all day long
    my name is constantly blasphemed.(Q)
Therefore my people will know(R) my name;(S)
    therefore in that day(T) they will know
that it is I who foretold(U) it.
    Yes, it is I.”

How beautiful on the mountains(V)
    are the feet of those who bring good news,(W)
who proclaim peace,(X)
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!”(Y)
Listen! Your watchmen(Z) lift up their voices;(AA)
    together they shout for joy.(AB)
When the Lord returns(AC) to Zion,(AD)
    they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy(AE) together,
    you ruins(AF) of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted(AG) his people,
    he has redeemed Jerusalem.(AH)
10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm(AI)
    in the sight of all the nations,(AJ)
and all the ends of the earth(AK) will see
    the salvation(AL) of our God.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 52:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Vulgate; Masoretic Text wail

“Before she goes into labor,(A)
    she gives birth;
before the pains come upon her,
    she delivers a son.(B)
Who has ever heard of such things?
    Who has ever seen(C) things like this?
Can a country be born in a day(D)
    or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
Yet no sooner is Zion in labor
    than she gives birth to her children.(E)
Do I bring to the moment of birth(F)
    and not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Do I close up the womb
    when I bring to delivery?” says your God.
10 “Rejoice(G) with Jerusalem and be glad for her,
    all you who love(H) her;
rejoice greatly with her,
    all you who mourn(I) over her.
11 For you will nurse(J) and be satisfied
    at her comforting breasts;(K)
you will drink deeply
    and delight in her overflowing abundance.”(L)

12 For this is what the Lord says:

“I will extend peace(M) to her like a river,(N)
    and the wealth(O) of nations like a flooding stream;
you will nurse and be carried(P) on her arm
    and dandled on her knees.
13 As a mother comforts her child,(Q)
    so will I comfort(R) you;
    and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

14 When you see this, your heart will rejoice(S)
    and you will flourish(T) like grass;
the hand(U) of the Lord will be made known to his servants,(V)
    but his fury(W) will be shown to his foes.

Read full chapter

13 Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse[a](A) among the nations, so I will save(B) you, and you will be a blessing.[b](C) Do not be afraid,(D) but let your hands be strong.(E)

14 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster(F) on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, 15 “so now I have determined to do good(G) again to Jerusalem and Judah.(H) Do not be afraid. 16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth(I) to each other, and render true and sound judgment(J) in your courts;(K) 17 do not plot evil(L) against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.(M) I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

18 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

19 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth,(N) fifth,(O) seventh(P) and tenth(Q) months will become joyful(R) and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth(S) and peace.”

20 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat(T) the Lord and seek(U) the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”(V)

23 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”(W)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 8:13 That is, your name has been used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, you have been regarded as under a curse.
  2. Zechariah 8:13 Or and your name will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or and you will be seen as blessed

Bible Gateway Recommends