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The Lord's Power To Punish

50 (A) The Lord says, “Children,
I didn't divorce your mother
    or sell you to pay debts;
I divorced her and sold you
    because of your sins.
I came and called out,
    but you didn't answer.
Have I lost my power
    to rescue and save?
At my command oceans and rivers
    turn into deserts;
fish rot and stink
    for lack of water.
I make the sky turn dark
like the sackcloth
    you wear at funerals.”

God's Servant Must Suffer

The Lord God gives me
the right words
    to encourage the weary.
Each morning he awakens me
    eager to learn his teaching;
he made me willing to listen
    and not rebel or run away.

(B) I let them beat my back
    and pull out my beard.
I didn't turn aside
when they insulted me
    and spit in my face.
But the Lord God keeps me
    from being disgraced.
So I refuse to give up,
because I know
    God will never let me down.

(C) My protector is nearby;
no one can stand here
    to accuse me of wrong.
The Lord God will help me
    and prove I am innocent.
My accusers will wear out
    like moth-eaten clothes.

10 None of you respect the Lord
    or obey his servant.
You walk in the dark
    instead of the light;
you don't trust the name
    of the Lord your God.[a]
11 Go ahead and walk in the light
    of the fires you have set.[b]
But with his own hand,
the Lord will punish you
    and make you suffer.

The Lord Will Bring Comfort

51 (D) If you want to do right
and obey the Lord,
    follow Abraham's example.
He was the rock from which
    you were chipped.
God chose Abraham and Sarah
    to be your ancestors.
The Lord blessed Abraham,
and from that one man
    came many descendants.

Though 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

The 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.
Those 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.

Look 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.

If you want to do right
    and obey my teaching
with all your heart,
    then pay close attention.
Don't be discouraged
when others insult you
    and say hurtful things.
They 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

Wake 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[c] the monster?
10 Didn't you dry up the deep sea
and make a road for your people
    to follow safely across?
11 Now 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

12 I am the Lord, the one
    who encourages you.
Why are you afraid
    of mere humans?
They dry up and die like grass.

13 I 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 oppress you.
Where are they now?

14 Everyone crying out in pain
    will be quickly set free;
they will be rescued
from the power of death
    and never go hungry.
15 I will help them
    because I am your God,
the Lord All-Powerful,
    who makes the ocean roar.

16 I 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

17 (E) Jerusalem, 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.
18 Not one of your many children
is there to guide you
    or to offer a helping hand.
19 You have been destroyed
by war and by famine;
    I cannot comfort you.[d]
20 The Lord your God is angry,
    and on every street corner
your children lie helpless,
    like deer trapped in nets.

21 You are in trouble and drunk,
    but not from wine.
So pay close attention
22 to 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.
23 Instead I will give it
    to your brutal enemies,
who treated you like dirt
    and walked all over you.”

Jerusalem Can Celebrate

52 (F) Jerusalem, 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.
Zion, rise from the dirt!
Free yourself from the rope
    around your neck.

Suffering Will End

The Lord says:
My people, you were sold,
    but not for money;
now you will be set free,
    but not for a payment.
Long ago you went to Egypt
where you lived
    as foreigners.
Then Assyria was cruel to you,
    (G) and now another nation[e]
has taken you prisoner
    for no reason at all.
Your leaders groan with pain,[f]
and day after day
    my own name is cursed.
My people, you will learn
who I am and who is speaking
    because I am here.

A Message of Hope for Jerusalem

(H) What 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.”
Everyone on guard duty,
    sing and celebrate!
Look! You can see the Lord
    returning to Zion.
Jerusalem, rise from the ruins!
    Join in the singing.
The Lord has given comfort
to his people;
    he comes to your rescue.
10 The Lord has shown all nations
    his mighty strength;
now everyone will see
    the saving power of our God.

A Command To Leave Babylon

11 (I) Leave the city of Babylon!
    Don't touch anything filthy.
Wash yourselves. Be ready
to carry back everything sacred
    that belongs to the Lord.
12 You 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

13 The Lord says:
    My servant will succeed!
He will be given great praise
    and the highest honors.
14 Many were horrified
    at what happened to him.[g]
But everyone who saw him
    was even more horrified
because he suffered until
    he no longer looked human.[h]
15 (J) My servant will make
nations worthy to worship me;[i]
    kings will be silent
    as they bow in wonder.[j]
They will see and think about
things they have never seen
    or thought about before.

Footnotes

  1. 50.10 God: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 10.
  2. 50.11 Go … set: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  3. 51.9 Rahab: This may refer to Egypt at the time of the exodus.
  4. 51.19 I … you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  5. 52.5 another nation: Babylonia.
  6. 52.5 groan with pain: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  7. 52.14 him: One ancient translation; Hebrew “you.”
  8. 52.14 human: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 14.
  9. 52.15 My … me: Hebrew; one ancient translation “The nations will be amazed at him.”
  10. 52.15 kings … wonder: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

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