| Isaiah
(Yeshayahu) 52
Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength.
Put on your garments of splendor,
O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised
and defiled will not enter you again. Shake
off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem.
Free yourself from the chains on your neck,
O captive Daughter of Zion.
For
this is what the LORD says: "You
were sold for nothing, and without money you
will be redeemed."
For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "At
first my people went down to Egypt to live;
lately, Assyria 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,"
declares the LORD. "And all day long my
name is constantly blasphemed. Therefore my
people will know my name; therefore in that
day they will know that it is I who foretold
it.
Yes, it is I."
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet
of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns
to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted
his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD
will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all
the nations, and all the ends of the earth will
see the salvation of our God.
Depart,
depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean
thing! Come out from it and be pure,
you who carry the vessels of the LORD. But you
will not leave in haste or go in flight;
for the LORD will go before you, the God of
Israel will be your rear guard.
The Suffering and Glory of the Servant See,
my servant will act wisely; he will be raised
and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there
were many who were appalled at him- his appearance
was so disfigured beyond that of any man and
his form marred beyond human likeness- so will
he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut
their mouths because of him. For what they were
not told, they will see, and what they have
not heard, they will understand.
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