Isaiah 51
1HEARKEN to me, ye who are in pursuit of righteousness and who are seeking the Lord. Look at that hard rock which you have been hewing, and into that deep pit which you have digged.
2Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who brought you forth. For he was an individual when I called him; and I blessed him and loved him and multiplied him.
3And now O Sion, I will comfort thee. I have indeed comforted all her desolations, and I will make her waste places like a garden; and those west of her like the garden of the Lord. In her shall be found joy and gladness, thanksgiving and the sound of praise.
4Hear Me; hear Me, O My people, and ye kings; listen to Me; for from Me shall proceed a law; and My judgment shall be for the light of nations.
5My deliverance is approaching speedily, and My salvation shall go forth as light; and on Mine arm nations will rely. The islands will expect Me and on Mine arm they will rely.
6Turn up your eyes to heaven; then look down on the earth below! for the heaven is like smoke condensed, and the earth shall grow old like a garment, and like those things the inhabitants shall perish: but My salvation shall endure forever, and My saving mercy shall never fail.
7Hearken to Me, ye who know judgment; ye people, in whose heart is My law. Fear not the reproach of men, nor be overcome by their contempt.
8For they are like a garment which shall be worn out by time, and like woollens which shall be devoured by a moth; but My saving mercy shall endure forever, and My salvation to generations of generations.
9Awake, awake, O Jerusalem! and clothe thyself with the strength of thine arm. Awake as at the beginning of day.
10Art thou not as the generation of old, which dried up the sea—the swelling water of the deep? Which made the depths of the sea a road for the delivered and redeemed to pass?
11For under the guidance of the Lord they shall be brought back, and shall come to Sion with joy and everlasting gladness; for praise shall crown their head and joy shall overtake them. Grief and sorrow and sighing are fled.
12I The I Am am He Who comforteth thee. Recollect what thou wast when terrified at a mortal man, and at a son of man who are withered like grass;
13and forgottest the God Who made thee—Him Who made the heaven and founded the earth; and wast every day in continual dread of the furious countenance of thine oppressor. For how did he consult to carry thee away! But where now is the fury of thine oppressor?
14For when thou art saved he shall not stand; nor long continue.
15Because I thy God am He Who tempesteth the sea and causeth the billows thereof to roar; the Lord of Hosts is My name;
16I will put My words in thy mouth, and cover thee under the shelter of My hand with which I made the heaven and founded the earth; and say to Sion, Thou art My people.
17Awake, awake! stand up, O Jerusalem, who hast drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of His indignation. For thou hast drunk the cup of horror—the great cup of His wrath; and drained it.
18And of all thy children which thou didst bring forth there was not one who comforted thee, nor was there one who took hold of thy hand: no, not of all the sons whom thou didst raise.
19Because these things have befallen thee, who will condole with thee? Desolation and destruction, famine and the sword; who will comfort thee?
20Thy sons? Some are astounded; some asleep at the head of every street, like a parboiled beet; some are full of the indignation of the Lord, enervated by the Lord God.
21Therefore hear, thou who hast been humbled, and who art drunk, but not with wine.
22Thus saith the Lord, the God Who judgeth His people, Behold I have taken out of thy hand the cup of horror—the great cup of Mine indignation; and thou shalt no more drink it again.
23And I will put it into the hands of them who have injured thee and oppressed thee—who have said to thy soul, Crouch down that we may walk over thee; when thou hadst bent thy body down level with the earth in the street, to them passing along.