Chapter 51
1 " Listen to me , you who follow after righteousness , you who seek the LORD . Look to the rock you were cut from , and to the quarry you were dug from .
2 Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you ; for when he was but one I called him , I blessed him , and made him many .
3 For the LORD has comforted Zion . He has comforted all her waste places , and has made her wilderness like Eden , and her desert like the garden of the LORD . Joy and gladness will be found in them , thanksgiving , and the voice of melody .
4 " Listen to me , my people ; and hear me , my nation , for a law will go out from me , and I will establish my justice for a light to the peoples .
5 My righteousness is near . My salvation has gone out , and my arms will judge the peoples . The islands will wait for me , and they will trust my arm .
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens , and look at the earth beneath ; for the heavens will vanish away like smoke , and the earth will wear out like a garment. Its inhabitants will die in the same way , but my salvation will be forever , and my righteousness will not be abolished .
7 " Listen to me , you who know righteousness , the people in whose heart is my law . Don’t fear the reproach of men , and don’t be dismayed at their insults .
8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool ; but my righteousness will be forever , and my salvation to all generations ."
9 Awake , awake , put on strength , arm of the LORD ! Awake , as in the days of old , the generations of ancient times . Isn’t it you who cut Rahab in pieces , who pierced the monster ?
10 Isn’t it you who dried up the sea , the waters of the great deep ; who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over ?
11 Those ransomed by the LORD will return , and come with singing to Zion . Everlasting joy shall be on their heads . They will obtain gladness and joy . Sorrow and sighing shall flee away .
12 " I , even I , am he who comforts you . Who are you , that you are afraid of man who shall die , and of the son of man who will be made as grass ?
13 Have you forgotten the LORD your Maker , who stretched out the heavens , and laid the foundations of the earth ? Do you live in fear continually all day because of the fury of the oppressor , when he prepares to destroy ? Where is the fury of the oppressor ?
14 The captive exile will speedily be freed. He will not die and go down into the pit . His bread won’t fail .
15 For I am the LORD your God , who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar . the LORD of Armies is his name .
16 I have put my words in your mouth and have covered you in the shadow of my hand , that I may plant the heavens , and lay the foundations of the earth , and tell Zion , ‘ You are my people .’"
17 Awake , awake ! Stand up , Jerusalem , you who have drunk from the LORD ’s hand the cup of his wrath . You have drunken the bowl of the cup of staggering, and drained it .
18 There is no one to guide her amongst all the sons to whom she has given birth ; and there is no one who takes her by the hand amongst all the sons whom she has brought up .
19 These two things have happened to you — who will grieve with you ?— desolation and destruction , and famine and the sword . How can I comfort you ?
20 Your sons have fainted . They lie at the head of all the streets , like an antelope in a net . They are full of the LORD ’s wrath , the rebuke of your God .
21 Therefore now hear this , you afflicted , and drunken , but not with wine :
22 Your Lord GOD , your God who pleads the cause of his people , says , " Behold , I have taken out of your hand the cup of staggering, even the bowl of the cup of my wrath . You will not drink it any more .
23 I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you , who have said to your soul , ‘ Bow down , that we may walk over you ;’ and you have laid your back as the ground, like a street to those who walk over ."