1“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. (Isa 51:7)2Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him. (Eze 33:24)3For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. (Ge 2:8; Ge 13:10; Isa 35:10; Isa 40:1; Isa 52:9; Eze 28:13; Eze 31:9; Joe 2:3)4“Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law[1] will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples. (Ps 78:1; Isa 2:3)5My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait. (Isa 11:11; Isa 46:13)6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner;[2] but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed. (Ps 102:26; Ps 102:27; Isa 40:26; Mt 24:25; 2Pe 3:10; Re 21:1)7“Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. (Ps 37:31; Isa 41:14; Isa 51:1; Mt 10:28)8For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool, but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.” (Isa 50:9; Isa 51:6)9Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon? (Ps 44:1; Ps 74:13; Ps 93:1; Isa 27:1; Isa 30:7; Isa 40:10; Isa 51:17; Isa 52:1; Isa 52:10; Isa 53:1; Eze 29:3; Lu 1:51)10Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over? (Ex 14:21; Ps 106:9; Isa 43:16)11And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isa 35:10)12“I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, (Ps 118:6; Isa 40:1; Isa 40:6; Isa 66:13)13and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy? And where is the wrath of the oppressor? (Isa 14:4; Isa 40:22; Isa 48:13)14He who is bowed down shall speedily be released; he shall not die and go down to the pit, neither shall his bread be lacking. (Isa 45:13; Zec 9:11)15I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord of hosts is his name. (Jer 31:35)16And I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, establishing[3] the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, ‘You are my people.’” (Isa 40:22; Isa 48:13; Isa 49:2; Isa 50:4; Isa 59:21)17Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering. (Job 21:20; Ps 60:3; Isa 51:9; Isa 52:1; Jer 25:15; Zec 12:2; Mt 20:22; Mt 26:39; Mt 26:42; Mr 10:38; Mr 14:36; Lu 22:42; Joh 18:11)18There is none to guide her among all the sons she has borne; there is none to take her by the hand among all the sons she has brought up. (Ps 74:9; Jer 5:31)19These two things have happened to you— who will console you?— devastation and destruction, famine and sword; who will comfort you?[4] (Isa 47:9)20Your sons have fainted; they lie at the head of every street like an antelope in a net; they are full of the wrath of the Lord, the rebuke of your God. (De 14:5; Ps 141:10; La 2:11)21Therefore hear this, you who are afflicted, who are drunk, but not with wine: (Isa 54:11)22Thus says your Lord, the Lord, your God who pleads the cause of his people: “Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering; the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more; (Isa 49:25; Isa 51:17; Jer 50:34)23and I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you, ‘Bow down, that we may pass over’; and you have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to pass over.” (Isa 47:6; Isa 52:2; Jer 25:17; Jer 25:26; Jer 25:28)
Isaiah 51
New International Version
Everlasting salvation for Zion
1‘Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;2look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.3The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.4‘Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: instruction will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations.5My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last for ever, my righteousness will never fail.7‘Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults.8For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last for ever, my salvation through all generations.’9Awake, awake, arm of the Lord, clothe yourself with strength! Awake, as in days gone by, as in generations of old. Was it not you who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced that monster through?10Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea so that the redeemed might cross over?11Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.12‘I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass,13that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretches out the heavens and who lays the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor?14The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread.15For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar – the Lord Almighty is his name.16I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand – I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, “You are my people.” ’
The cup of the Lord’s wrath
17Awake, awake! Rise up, Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, you who have drained to its dregs the goblet that makes people stagger.18Among all the children she bore there was none to guide her; among all the children she brought up there was none to take her by the hand.19These double calamities have come upon you – who can comfort you? – ruin and destruction, famine and sword – who can[1] console you?20Your children have fainted; they lie at every street corner, like antelope caught in a net. They are filled with the wrath of the Lord, with the rebuke of your God.21Therefore hear this, you afflicted one, made drunk, but not with wine.22This is what your Sovereign Lord says, your God, who defends his people: ‘See, I have taken out of your hand the cup that made you stagger; from that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never drink again.23I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, who said to you, “Fall prostrate that we may walk on you.” And you made your back like the ground, like a street to be walked on.’
Isaiah 51
King James Version
1Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.2Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.3For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.4Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.5My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.7Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.8For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.9Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?10Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?11Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.12I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;13And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?14The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.15But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name.16And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.17Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.18There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.19These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?20Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.21Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:22Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:23But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.
Isaiah 51
New International Reader’s Version
The Lord’s saving power for Zion lasts for ever
1The LORD says, ‘Listen to me, you who want to do what is right. Pay attention, you who look to me. Consider the rock you were cut out of. Think about the rock pit you were dug from.2Consider Abraham. He is the father of your people. Think about Sarah. She is your mother. When I chose Abraham, he did not have any children. But I blessed him and gave him many of them.3You can be sure that I will comfort Zion’s people. I will look with loving concern on all their destroyed buildings. I will make their deserts like Eden. I will make their dry and empty land like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be there. People will sing and give thanks to me.4‘Listen to me, my people. Pay attention, my nation. My instruction will go out to the nations. I make everything right. That will be a guiding light for them.5The time for me to set you free is near. I will soon save you. My powerful arm will make everything right among the nations. The islands will put their hope in me. They will wait for my powerful arm to act.6Look up towards the heavens. Then look at the earth. The heavens will vanish like smoke. The earth will wear out like clothes. Those who live there will die like flies. But I will save you for ever. My saving power will never end.7‘Listen to me, you who know what is right. Pay attention, you who have taken my instruction to heart. Do not be afraid when mere human beings make fun of you. Do not be terrified when they laugh at you.8They will be like clothes that moths have eaten up. They will be like wool that worms have chewed up. But my saving power will last for ever. I will save you for all time to come.’9Wake up, arm of the LORD! Wake up! Dress yourself with strength as if it were your clothes! Wake up, just as you did in the past. Wake up, as you did long ago. Didn’t you cut Rahab to pieces? Didn’t you stab that sea monster to death?10Didn’t you dry up the Red Sea? Didn’t you dry up those deep waters? You made a road on the bottom of that sea. Then those who were set free went across.11Those the LORD has saved will return to their land. They will sing as they enter the city of Zion. Joy that lasts for ever will be like beautiful crowns on their heads. They will be filled with gladness and joy. Sorrow and sighing will be gone.12The LORD says to his people, ‘I comfort you because of who I am. Why are you afraid of mere human beings? They are like grass that dries up.13How can you forget me? I made you. I stretch out the heavens. I lay the foundations of the earth. Why are you terrified every day? Is it because those who are angry with you are crushing you? Is it because they are trying to destroy you? Their anger can’t harm you anymore.14You prisoners who are so afraid will soon be set free. You will not die in your prison cells. You will not go without food.15I am the LORD your God. I stir up the ocean. I make its waves roar. My name is the LORD Who Rules Over All.16I have put my words in your mouth. I have kept you safe in the palm of my hand. I set the heavens in place. I laid the foundations of the earth. I say to Zion, “You are my people.” ’
The cup of the Lord’s great anger
17Wake up, Jerusalem! Wake up! Get up! The LORD has handed you the cup of his great anger. And you have drunk from it. That cup makes people unsteady on their feet. And you have drunk from it to the very last drop.18Among all the children who were born to you there was none to guide you. Among all the children you brought up there was none to lead you by the hand.19Nothing but trouble has come to you. You have been wiped out and destroyed. And you have suffered hunger and war. No one feels sorry for you. No one can comfort you.20Your children have fainted. They lie helpless at every street corner. They are like antelope that have been caught in a net. They have felt the full force of the LORD’s great anger. Jerusalem, your God had to warn them strongly.21So listen to me, you suffering people of Jerusalem. You have been made drunk, but not by drinking wine.22Your LORD and King speaks. He is your God. He stands up for his people. He says, ‘I have taken from you the cup of my great anger. It made you unsteady on your feet. But you will never drink from that cup again.23Instead, I will give it to those who made you suffer. They said to you, “Fall down flat on the ground. Then we can walk all over you.” And that is exactly what you did. You made your back like a street to be walked on.’