Study Desk

Listen^(a) to me, you islands;^(b) hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born^(c) the Lord called^(d) me; from my mother's womb he has spoken my name.^(e)

He made my mouth^(f) like a sharpened sword,^(g) in the shadow of his hand^(h) he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow⁽ⁱ⁾ and concealed me in his quiver.

He said to me, "You are my servant,^(j) Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.^(k)"

But I said, "I have labored in vain;^(l) I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord 's hand,^(m) and my reward⁽ⁿ⁾ is with my God."^(o)

And now the Lord says— he who formed me in the womb^(p) to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel^(q) to himself, for I am^[a] honored^(r) in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength^(s)—

he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant^(t) to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept.^(u) I will also make you a light^(v) for the Gentiles,^(w) that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."^(x)

This is what the Lord says— the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel^(y)— to him who was despised^(z) and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: "Kings^(aa) will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down,^(ab) because of the Lord , who is faithful,^(ac) the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen^(ad) you."

This is what the Lord says: "In the time of my favor^(ae) I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you;^(af) I will keep^(ag) you and will make you to be a covenant for the people,^(ah) to restore the land^(ai) and to reassign its desolate inheritances,^(aj)

to say to the captives,^(ak) ‘Come out,' and to those in darkness,^(al) ‘Be free!' "They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill.^(am)

They will neither hunger nor thirst,^(an) nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them.^(ao) He who has compassion^(ap) on them will guide^(aq) them and lead them beside springs^(ar) of water.

I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways^(as) will be raised up.^(at)

See, they will come from afar^(au)— some from the north, some from the west,^(av) some from the region of Aswan.^[b]"

Shout for joy,^(aw) you heavens; rejoice, you earth;^(ax) burst into song, you mountains!^(ay) For the Lord comforts^(az) his people and will have compassion^(ba) on his afflicted ones.^(bb)

But Zion^(bc) said, "The Lord has forsaken^(bd) me, the Lord has forgotten me."

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child^(be) she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!^(bf)

See, I have engraved^(bg) you on the palms of my hands; your walls^(bh) are ever before me.

Your children hasten back, and those who laid you waste^(bi) depart from you.

Lift up your eyes and look around; all your children gather^(bj) and come to you. As surely as I live,^(bk)" declares the Lord , "you will wear^(bl) them all as ornaments; you will put them on, like a bride.

"Though you were ruined and made desolate^(bm) and your land laid waste,^(bn) now you will be too small for your people,^(bo) and those who devoured^(bp) you will be far away.

The children born during your bereavement will yet say in your hearing, ‘This place is too small for us; give us more space to live in.'^(bq)

Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who bore me these?^(br) I was bereaved^(bs) and barren; I was exiled and rejected.^(bt) Who brought these^(bu) up? I was left^(bv) all alone,^(bw) but these—where have they come from?'"

This is what the Sovereign Lord ^(bx) says: "See, I will beckon to the nations, I will lift up my banner^(by) to the peoples; they will bring^(bz) your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their hips.^(ca)

Kings^(cb) will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers.^(cc) They will bow down^(cd) before you with their faces to the ground; they will lick the dust^(ce) at your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord ;^(cf) those who hope^(cg) in me will not be disappointed.^(ch)"

Can plunder be taken from warriors,^(ci) or captives be rescued from the fierce^[c]?

But this is what the Lord says: "Yes, captives^(cj) will be taken from warriors,^(ck) and plunder retrieved from the fierce;^(cl) I will contend with those who contend with you,^(cm) and your children I will save.^(cn)

I will make your oppressors^(co) eat^(cp) their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood,^(cq) as with wine. Then all mankind will know^(cr) that I, the Lord , am your Savior,^(cs) your Redeemer,^(ct) the Mighty One of Jacob.^(cu)"

This is what the Lord says: "Where is your mother's certificate of divorce^(a) with which I sent her away? Or to which of my creditors did I sell^(b) you? Because of your sins^(c) you were sold;^(d) because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.

When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer?^(e) Was my arm too short^(f) to deliver you? Do I lack the strength^(g) to rescue you? By a mere rebuke^(h) I dry up the sea,⁽ⁱ⁾ I turn rivers into a desert;^(j) their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.

I clothe the heavens with darkness^(k) and make sackcloth^(l) its covering."

The Sovereign Lord ^(m) has given me a well-instructed tongue,⁽ⁿ⁾ to know the word that sustains the weary.^(o) He wakens me morning by morning,^(p) wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.^(q)

The Sovereign Lord ^(r) has opened my ears;^(s) I have not been rebellious,^(t) I have not turned away.

I offered my back to those who beat^(u) me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;^(v) I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.^(w)

Because the Sovereign Lord ^(x) helps^(y) me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint,^(z) and I know I will not be put to shame.^(aa)

He who vindicates^(ab) me is near.^(ac) Who then will bring charges against me?^(ad) Let us face each other!^(ae) Who is my accuser? Let him confront me!

It is the Sovereign Lord ^(af) who helps^(ag) me. Who will condemn^(ah) me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths^(ai) will eat them up.

Who among you fears^(aj) the Lord and obeys^(ak) the word of his servant?^(al) Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light,^(am) trust^(an) in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.

But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches,^(ao) go, walk in the light of your fires^(ap) and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand:^(aq) You will lie down in torment.^(ar)

"Listen^(a) to me, you who pursue righteousness^(b) and who seek^(c) the Lord : Look to the rock^(d) from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;

look to Abraham,^(e) 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.^(f)

The Lord will surely comfort^(g) Zion^(h) and will look with compassion on all her ruins;⁽ⁱ⁾ he will make her deserts like Eden,^(j) her wastelands^(k) like the garden of the Lord . Joy and gladness^(l) will be found in her, thanksgiving^(m) and the sound of singing.

"Listen to me, my people;⁽ⁿ⁾ hear me,^(o) my nation: Instruction^(p) will go out from me; my justice^(q) will become a light to the nations.^(r)

My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation^(s) is on the way,^(t) and my arm^(u) will bring justice to the nations. The islands^(v) will look to me and wait in hope^(w) for my arm.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke,^(x) the earth will wear out like a garment^(y) and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation^(z) will last forever,^(aa) my righteousness will never fail.^(ab)

"Hear me, you who know what is right,^(ac) you people who have taken my instruction to heart:^(ad) Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults.^(ae)

For the moth will eat them up like a garment;^(af) the worm^(ag) will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever,^(ah) my salvation through all generations."

Awake, awake,^(ai) arm^(aj) of the Lord , clothe yourself with strength!^(ak) Awake, as in days gone by, as in generations of old.^(al) Was it not you who cut Rahab^(am) to pieces, who pierced that monster^(an) through?

Was it not you who dried up the sea,^(ao) the waters of the great deep,^(ap) who made a road in the depths of the sea^(aq) so that the redeemed^(ar) might cross over?

Those the Lord has rescued^(as) will return. They will enter Zion with singing;^(at) everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy^(au) will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.^(av)

"I, even I, am he who comforts^(aw) you. Who are you that you fear^(ax) mere mortals,^(ay) human beings who are but grass,^(az)

that you forget^(ba) the Lord your Maker,^(bb) who stretches out the heavens^(bc) and who lays the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror^(bd) every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor?^(be)

The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;^(bf) they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread.^(bg)

For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea^(bh) so that its waves roar^(bi)— the Lord Almighty^(bj) is his name.

I have put my words in your mouth^(bk) and covered you with the shadow of my hand^(bl)— I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth,^(bm) and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.^(bn)'"

Awake, awake!^(bo) Rise up, Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup^(bp) of his wrath,^(bq) you who have drained to its dregs^(br) the goblet that makes people stagger.^(bs)

Among all the children^(bt) she bore there was none to guide her;^(bu) among all the children she reared there was none to take her by the hand.^(bv)

These double calamities^(bw) have come upon you— who can comfort you?^(bx)— ruin and destruction,^(by) famine^(bz) and sword^(ca)— who can^[a] console you?

Your children have fainted; they lie at every street corner,^(cb) like antelope caught in a net.^(cc) They are filled with the wrath^(cd) of the Lord , with the rebuke^(ce) of your God.

Therefore hear this, you afflicted^(cf) one, made drunk,^(cg) but not with wine.

This is what your Sovereign Lord says, your God, who defends^(ch) his people: "See, I have taken out of your hand the cup^(ci) that made you stagger; from that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never drink again.

I will put it into the hands of your tormentors,^(cj) who said to you, ‘Fall prostrate^(ck) that we may walk^(cl) on you.' And you made your back like the ground, like a street to be walked on."^(cm)

Awake, awake,^(a) Zion, clothe yourself with strength!^(b) Put on your garments of splendor,^(c) Jerusalem, the holy city.^(d) The uncircumcised^(e) and defiled^(f) will not enter you again.^(g)

Shake off your dust;^(h) rise up,⁽ⁱ⁾ sit enthroned, Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck,^(j) Daughter Zion,^(k) now a captive.

For this is what the Lord says: "You were sold for nothing,^(l) and without money^(m) you will be redeemed.⁽ⁿ⁾"

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "At first my people went down to Egypt^(o) to live; lately, Assyria^(p) has oppressed them.

"And now what do I have here?" declares the Lord . "For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock,^[a]" declares the Lord . "And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.^(q)

Therefore my people will know^(r) my name;^(s) therefore in that day^(t) they will know that it is I who foretold^(u) it. Yes, it is I."

How beautiful on the mountains^(v) are the feet of those who bring good news,^(w) who proclaim peace,^(x) who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"^(y)

Listen! Your watchmen^(z) lift up their voices;^(aa) together they shout for joy.^(ab) When the Lord returns^(ac) to Zion,^(ad) they will see it with their own eyes.

Burst into songs of joy^(ae) together, you ruins^(af) of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted^(ag) his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.^(ah)

The Lord will lay bare his holy arm^(ai) in the sight of all the nations,^(aj) and all the ends of the earth^(ak) will see the salvation^(al) of our God.

Depart,^(am) depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing!^(an) Come out from it and be pure,^(ao) you who carry the articles^(ap) of the Lord 's house.

But you will not leave in haste^(aq) or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you,^(ar) the God of Israel will be your rear guard.^(as)

See, my servant^(at) will act wisely^[b]; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.^(au)

Just as there were many who were appalled^(av) at him^[c]— his appearance was so disfigured^(aw) beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness^(ax)—

so he will sprinkle^(ay) many nations,^[d] and kings^(az) will shut their mouths^(ba) because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.^(bb)

Who has believed our message^(a) and to whom has the arm^(b) of the Lord been revealed?^(c)

He grew up before him like a tender shoot,^(d) and like a root^(e) out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance^(f) that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering,^(g) and familiar with pain.^(h) Like one from whom people hide⁽ⁱ⁾ their faces he was despised,^(j) and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,^(k) yet we considered him punished by God,^(l) stricken by him, and afflicted.^(m)

But he was pierced⁽ⁿ⁾ for our transgressions,^(o) he was crushed^(p) for our iniquities; the punishment^(q) that brought us peace^(r) was on him, and by his wounds^(s) we are healed.^(t)

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,^(u) each of us has turned to our own way;^(v) and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity^(w) of us all.

He was oppressed^(x) and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;^(y) he was led like a lamb^(z) to the slaughter,^(aa) and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression^[a] and judgment^(ab) he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living;^(ac) for the transgression^(ad) of my people he was punished.^[b]

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,^(ae) and with the rich^(af) in his death, though he had done no violence,^(ag) nor was any deceit in his mouth.^(ah)

Yet it was the Lord 's will^(ai) to crush^(aj) him and cause him to suffer,^(ak) and though the Lord makes^[c] his life an offering for sin,^(al) he will see his offspring^(am) and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper^(an) in his hand.

After he has suffered,^(ao) he will see the light^(ap) of life^[d] and be satisfied^[e]; by his knowledge^[f] my righteous servant^(aq) will justify^(ar) many, and he will bear their iniquities.^(as)

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,^[g](at) and he will divide the spoils^(au) with the strong,^[h] because he poured out his life unto death,^(av) and was numbered with the transgressors.^(aw) For he bore^(ax) the sin of many,^(ay) and made intercession^(az) for the transgressors.