Isaiah 52

1 Wake up, wake up, Zion! Be strong! Put on your best clothes, Jerusalem, the holy city. Heathen foreigners won't ever enter you again.

Awake, awake, Sion; put on your strength, O Sion; and o you put on your glory, Jerusalem the holy city: there shall no more pass through you, the uncircumcised and unclean.

2 Shake yourself free from the dust and get up. Sit on your throne, Jerusalem. Throw off the chains around your neck, captive daughter of Zion.

Shake off the dust and arise; sit down, Jerusalem: put off the band of your neck, captive daughter of Sion.

3 This is what the Lord says: You were sold for nothing, and you will be bought back without money.

For thus says the Lord, You have been sold for nothing; and you shall not be ransomed with silver.

4 This is what the Lord God says: First of all, my people went to live in Egypt, then Assyria conquered them for no reason.

Thus says the Lord, My people went down before to Egypt to sojourn there; and were carried away forcibly to the Assyrians.

5 What do have I to do now? asks the Lord. My people have been taken into captivity for no reason. Those who rule them mock them, and I'm treated with contempt that whole time, says the Lord.

And now why are you here? Thus says the Lord, Because my people was taken for nothing, wonder you and howl. Thus says the Lord, On account of you my name is continually blasphemed amongst the Gentiles.

6 So I'm going to make sure my people know me; at that time they will know that I am the one who means what he says. Yes, it's me!

Therefore shall my people know my name in that day, for I am he that speaks: I am present,

7 What a wonderful sight in the mountains is the one running to bring good news, announcing peace and good news, announcing salvation, telling Zion, “Your God reigns!”

as a season of beauty upon the mountains, as the feet of one preaching glad tidings of peace, as one preaching good news: for I will publish your salvation, saying, O Sion, your God shall reign.

8 The city watchmen shout loudly and sing for joy together; they all see the Lord returning to Jerusalem.

For the voice of them that guard you is exalted, and with the voice together they shall rejoice: for eyes shall look to eyes, when the Lord shall have mercy upon Sion.

9 Let Jerusalem's ruins all sing for joy for the Lord has come to care for his people; he has set Jerusalem free.

Let the waste places of Jerusalem break forth [in] joy together, because the Lord has had mercy upon her, and has delivered Jerusalem.

10 The Lord has demonstrated his holy power to all the nations; the whole world will see our God's salvation.

And the Lord shall reveal his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation that [comes] from our God.

11 Leave, leave, get out of there! Don't bring anything pagan; come out and leave it all behind. Those of you who carry the Lord's sacred articles are to purify yourselves.

Depart you, depart, go out from thence, and touch not the unclean thing; go you out from the midst of her; separate yourselves, you that bear the vessels of the Lord.

12 But don't leave in a hurry, don't be in a rush as if you're running away, for the Lord will go ahead of you, and he will also protect those at the back.

For you shall not go forth with tumult, neither go by flight: for the Lord shall go first in advance of you; and the God of Israel shall be he that brings up your rear.

13 Look: my servant will act wisely; he will be praised highly, he will be elevated in position, and seen as someone people look up to.

Behold, my servant shall understand, and be exalted, and glorified exceedingly.

14 But many were horrified by him, so disfigured in appearance, no longer looking like a man, so unlike anyone human.

As many shall be amazed at you, so shall your face be without glory from men, and your glory [shall not be honoured] by the sons of men.

15 He will surprise many nations, and kings will keep quiet because of him—for they'll see what they haven't been told, and they'll understand what they hadn't heard.

Thus shall many nations wonder at him; and kings shall keep their mouths shut: for they to whom no report was brought concerning him, shall see; and they who have not heard, shall consider.