Cheer for Downtrodden Zion
1 Awake, awake,
Put on your strength, O Zion;
Put on your beautiful garments,
O Jerusalem, the holy city;
For the uncircumcised and the unclean
Will no longer come into you.
2 Shake yourself from the dust, arise,
O captive Jerusalem;
Rid yourself of the chains around your neck,
O captive Daughter of Zion.
3 For the Lordsays this, “You were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed, but not with money.”
4 For the Lord Godsays this, “My people went down at the first into Egypt to live there; and [many years later Sennacherib] the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
5 But now, what do I have here,” declares the Lord, “seeing that My people have been taken away without reason? Those who rule over them howl [with taunting and mockery of salvation],” declares the Lord, “and My name is continually blasphemed all day long.
6 Therefore My people shall know My Nameandwhat it means. Therefore in that day I am the One who is speaking, ‘Here I am.’”
7 How beautifulanddelightful on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace,
Who brings good news of good [things],
Who announces salvation,
Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,
Together they shout for joy;
For they will see face to face
The return of the Lordto Zion.
9 Break forth, shout joyfully together,
You ruins of Jerusalem;
For the Lordhas comforted His people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lordhas bared His holy arm (His infinite power)
Before the eyes of all the nations [revealing Himself as the One by Whom Israel is redeemed from captivity],
That all the ends of the earth may see
The salvation of our God.
11 Depart, depart, go out from there (the lands of exile),
Touch no unclean thing;
Go out of the midst of her (Babylon), purify yourselves,
You who carry the articles of the Lord[on your journey from there].
12 For you will not go out in a hurry [as when you left Egypt],
Nor will you go in flight [fleeing, as you did from the Egyptians];
For the Lordwill go before you,
And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
The Exalted Servant
13 Indeed, My Servant (the Messiah) will act wiselyandprosper;
He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted.
14 Just as many were astonishedandappalled at you,My people,
So His appearance was marred more than any man
And His form [marred] more than the sons of men.
15 So He will sprinkle many nations [with His blood, providing salvation],
Kings will shut their mouths because of Him;
For what they had not been told they will see,
And what they had not heard they will understand.