Read the Bible

¹ Jerusalem, wake up!
    Stand up and be strong.
Holy city of Zion,
    dress in your best clothes.
Those foreigners who ruined
your sacred city
    won't bother you again.
² Zion, rise from the dirt!
Free yourself from the rope
    around your neck.

³ The Lord says:
My people, you were sold,
    but not for money;
now you will be set free,
    but not for a payment.
⁴ Long ago you went to Egypt
where you lived
    as foreigners.
Then Assyria was cruel to you,
⁵     and now another nation^[a]
has taken you prisoner
    for no reason at all.
Your leaders groan with pain,^[b]
and day after day
    my own name is cursed.
⁶ My people, you will learn
who I am and who is speaking
    because I am here.

⁷ What a beautiful sight!
On the mountains a messenger
    announces to Jerusalem,
"Good news! You're saved.
There will be peace.
    Your God is now King."
⁸ Everyone on guard duty,
    sing and celebrate!
Look! You can see the Lord
    returning to Zion.
⁹ Jerusalem, rise from the ruins!
    Join in the singing.
The Lord has given comfort
to his people;
    he comes to your rescue.
¹⁰ The Lord has shown all nations
    his mighty strength;
now everyone will see
    the saving power of our God.

¹¹ Leave the city of Babylon!
    Don't touch anything filthy.
Wash yourselves. Be ready
to carry back everything sacred
    that belongs to the Lord.
¹² You won't need to run.
    No one is chasing you.
The Lord God of Israel
will lead and protect you
    from enemy attacks.

¹³ The Lord says:
    My servant will succeed!
He will be given great praise
    and the highest honors.
¹⁴ Many were horrified
    at what happened to him.^[c]
But everyone who saw him
    was even more horrified
because he suffered until
    he no longer looked human.^[d]
15 My servant will make
nations worthy to worship me;^[e]
    kings will be silent
    as they bow in wonder.^[f]
They will see and think about
things
they have never seen
    or thought about before.