< Isaiah 52 >
1 Awake, awake, put on your strength, Zion; put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city, for there shall no more enter into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.
Awake, awake, put on your strength, Zion; put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, holy city; for never again will the uncircumcised or the unclean enter you.
2 Shake yourself from the dust. Arise, sit up, Jerusalem. Release yourself from the bonds of your neck, captive daughter of Zion.
Shake yourself off from the dust; arise and sit, Jerusalem; take off the chain from your neck, captive, daughter of Zion.
3 For thus says YHWH, "You were sold for nothing; and you shall be redeemed without money."
For this is what Yahweh says, “You were sold for nothing, and you will be redeemed without money.”
4 For thus says YHWH, "My people went down at the first into Egypt to live there, and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
For this is what the Lord Yahweh says, “In the beginning my people went down to live temporarily in Egypt; and Assyria has oppressed them for no good reason.
5 "Now therefore, what do I do here," says YHWH, "seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them mock," says YHWH. "Because of you, my name is continually all the day blasphemed among the nations.
Now what do I have here—this is Yahweh's declaration—seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them mock—this is Yahweh's declaration—and my name is blasphemed continually all day long.
6 Therefore my people shall know my name; in that day they will know that I am he who speaks; look, it is I."
Therefore my people will know my name; they will know in that day that I am the one who says, “Yes, it is I!”
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of good things, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, who announces peace, who bears good tidings, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8 The voice of your watchmen. They lift up the voice, together do they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when YHWH returns to Zion with compassion.
Listen, your watchmen raise their voices, together they shout for joy, for they will see, every eye of theirs, Yahweh's return to Zion.
9 Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem; for YHWH has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
Break out into joyful singing together, you ruins of Jerusalem; for Yahweh has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 YHWH has made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and every part of the earth has seen the salvation of our God.
Yahweh has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the earth will see the salvation of our God.
11 Depart, depart, go out from there, and touch no unclean thing. Go out from their midst, and be separate, you who bear the vessels of YHWH.
Leave, leave, go out from there; touch nothing unclean; leave from her midst; purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of Yahweh.
12 For you shall not depart in haste, nor shall you leave in flight; for YHWH will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
For you will not go out in a rush, nor will you leave in a panic; for Yahweh will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearguard.
13 Look, my servant shall deal wisely, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.
Look, my servant will act wisely; he will be high and lifted up, and he will be exalted.
14 Just as many were astonished at you (his appearance was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men),
As many were horrified at you— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man, and his form no longer looked like anything human.
15 so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him. For that which was not told about him, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.
Even so, my servant will sprinkle many nations and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For that which they had not been told, they will see, and that which they had not heard, they will understand.