Isaiah 62

1 Because I am very concerned about [the people of] Jerusalem [DOU], I will do something to help them. I will not stop praying for them until they are rescued/freed [from their oppressors], until that becomes as apparent to everyone as the dawn [every morning], until people can see it as clearly as [SIM] they see a torch shining brightly [at night].

For Zion’s sake I am not silent, And for Jerusalem’s sake I do not rest, Until her righteousness goes out as brightness, And her salvation burns as a torch.

2 [Some day] the [people of many] nations will know that Yahweh has rescued you, [his people]. Their kings will see that your city is [very] great/glorious. And Yahweh [MTY] will give your [city] a new name.

And nations have seen your righteousness, And all kings your glory, And He is giving a new name to you, That the mouth of YHWH defines.

3 [It will be as though] Yahweh will hold you up in his hands in order that everyone can see you. Under his authority [MTY], you will be [like] a glorious headband/turban worn by a king.

And you have been a crown of beauty in the hand of YHWH, And a turban of royalty in the hand of your God,

4 Your [city] will never again be called “the deserted/abandoned city” and your country will never again be called “the desolate land”; it will be called “the land that Yahweh delights in”, and [it will also be called] “married to Yahweh”. It will be called that because Yahweh will be delighted with you, [and it will be as though] you are his bride [MET].

It is not said of you anymore, “Forsaken!” And of your land it is not said anymore, “Desolate,” For to you is cried, “My delight [is] in her,” And to your land, “Married,” For YHWH has delighted in you, And your land is married.

5 You people will live in all the country of Judah like [SIM] a young man lives with his bride. And our God will be happy that you [belong to] him like [SIM] a bridegroom is happy that his bride [belongs to him].

For a young man marries a virgin, Your builders marry you, With the joy of a bridegroom over a bride, Your God rejoices over you.

6 [You people of] Jerusalem, I have placed watchmen on your walls; they will [LIT] earnestly pray to Yahweh day and night. You watchmen, you must not stop [praying] [and] reminding Yahweh [about what he has promised to do]!

“On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen, All the day and all the night, Continually, they are not silent.” O you remembering YHWH, do not keep silence for yourselves,

7 And tell Yahweh that he should not rest until he causes Jerusalem to be [a city that is] famous throughout the world.

And do not give silence to Him, Until He establishes, and until He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

8 Yahweh has raised his right hand to solemnly promise [to the people of Jerusalem], “I will use my power [MTY] and never again allow your enemies to defeat you; [soldiers from other nations will never come again] to take away your grain and the wine that you worked hard [to produce].

YHWH has sworn by His right hand, Even by the arm of His strength: “I do not give your grain anymore [as] food for your enemies, Nor do sons of a stranger drink your new wine, For which you have labored.

9 You yourselves grew the grain, and you will be the ones who will praise [me], Yahweh, while you eat [the bread made from] that grain. Inside the courtyards of my temple you yourselves will drink the wine made from the grapes [that you harvested].”

For those gathering it eat it, and have praised YHWH, And those collecting it drink it in My holy courts.”

10 Go out through the [city] gates! Prepare the highway on which people [will return from other countries]! Cause the road to become smooth; clear off [all] the stones; set up signal flags to help the people-groups to see [where the road to Jerusalem is].

Pass on, pass on through the gates, Prepare the way of the people, Raise up, raise up the highway, clear it from stones, Lift up an ensign over the peoples.

11 This is the message that Yahweh has sent to [the people of] every nation: “Tell the people of Israel, ‘The one who will rescue/save you is coming! Look! He will be bringing to you (your reward/what you deserve [for the good things that you have done]); those whom he is setting free will be going ahead of him.’”

Behold, YHWH has proclaimed to the end of the earth: “Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation has come, Behold, His hire [is] with Him, And His wage before Him.”

12 They will be called “Yahweh’s own people, the ones whom he rescued”. And Jerusalem will be known as the city that [Yahweh] loves, the city that is no [longer] abandoned.

And they have cried to them, “The People of the Holy One! The Redeemed of YHWH!” Indeed, to you is called, “The sought out one, a city not forsaken!”