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Updated Bible Version
Isaiah 51
1 Listen to me, you that follow after righteousness, you that seek Yahweh: look to the rock from where you were cut, and to the hole of the pit from where you were dug.2 Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah that bore you; for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him, and made him many.3 For Yahweh has comforted Zion; he has comforted all her waste places, and has made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Yahweh; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
4 Attend to me, O my people; and give ear to me, O my nation: for a law shall go forth from me, and I will establish my justice for a light of the peoples.5 My righteousness is near, my salvation has gone forth, and my arms shall judge the peoples; the isles shall wait for me, and on my arm they shall trust.6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and those that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.7 Listen to me, you that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; don't be afraid of the reproach of common man, neither be dismayed at their revilings.8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation to all generations.
9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Yahweh; awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Is it not you that cut Rahab in pieces, that pierced the monster?10 Is it not you that dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; that made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?11 And the ransomed of Yahweh shall return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy shall be on their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy; [and] sorrow and sighing shall flee away.12 I, even I, am he that comforts you: who are you, that you are afraid of common man that shall die, and of the son of man that shall be made as grass;13 and have forgotten Yahweh your Maker, that stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and fear continually all the day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he makes ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?14 The captive exile shall speedily be loosed; and he shall not die [and go down] into the pit, neither shall his bread fail.15 For I am Yahweh your God, who stirs up the sea, so that the waves thereof roar: Yahweh of hosts is his name.16 And I have put my words in your mouth, and have covered you in the shadow of my hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion, You are my people.
17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, that have drank at the hand of Yahweh the cup of his wrath; you have drank the bowl of the cup of staggering, and drained it.18 There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she has brought forth; neither is there any that takes her by the hand among all the sons that she has brought up.19 These two things have befallen you, who shall bemoan you? desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword; [with] whom shall I comfort you?20 Your sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as an antelope in a net; they are full of the wrath of Yahweh, the rebuke of your God.21 Therefore now hear this, you afflicted, and drunk, but now with wine:22 Thus says your Lord Yahweh, and your God that pleads the cause of his people, Look, I have taken out of your hand the cup of staggering, even the bowl of the cup of my wrath; you shall no more drink it again:23 and I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you and those who oppress you, that have said to your soul, Bow down, that we may go over; and you have laid your back as the ground, and as the street, to those that go over.
Updated Bible Version
Scripture quotations are from the UPDV® Updated Bible Version 1.9, Copyright © 2003-4 by Updated Publishers. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.