Isaiah 52

1 Awake, awake, O Zion,
clothe yourself with strength.
Put on your garments of splendor,
O Jerusalem, the holy city.
The uncircumcised and defiled
will not enter you again.

2 Shake off your dust;
rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem.
Free yourself from the chains on your neck,
O captive Daughter of Zion.

3 For this is what the Lord says:
“You were sold for nothing,
and without money you will be redeemed.”

4 For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“At first my people went down to Egypt to live;
lately, Assyria has oppressed them.

5 “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,”
declares the Lord.
“And all day long
my name is constantly blasphemed.

6 Therefore my people will know my name;
therefore in that day they will know
that it is I who foretold it.
Yes, it is I.”

7 How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”

8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.

9 Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.

10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.

11 Depart, depart, go out from there!
Touch no unclean thing!
Come out from it and be pure,
you who carry the vessels of the Lord.

12 But you will not leave in haste
or go in flight;
for the Lord will go before you,
the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

The Suffering and Glory of the Servant

13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness—

15 so will he sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.

ISAIAH 52

Jerusalem Can Celebrate

1  t 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.

2 Zion, rise from the dirt!
Free yourself from the rope
around your neck.

Suffering Will End

3 The [Lord] says:
My people, you were sold,
but not for money;
now you will be set free,
but not for a payment.

4 Long ago you went to Egypt
where you lived
as foreigners.
Then Assyria was cruel to you,

5  t and now another nationt
has taken you prisoner
for no reason at all.
Your leaders groan with pain, t
and day after day
my own name is cursed.

6 My people, you will learn
who I am and who is speaking
because I am here.

A Message of Hope //for Jerusalem

7  t 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.”

8 Everyone on guard duty,
sing and celebrate!
Look! You can see the [Lord]
returning to Zion.

9 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  t 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.t
But everyone who saw him
was even more horrified
because he suffered until
he no longer looked human.t

15  t My servant will make
nations worthy to worship me;t
kings will be silent
as they bow in wonder.t
They will see and think about
things they have never seen
or thought about before.