QUOTATIONS FROM AND REFERENCES TO ISAIAH 53 IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
| ISAIAH 53 | NEW TESTAMENT |
|---|---|
| 53:1–12 | Lk 24:27 , 46 ; 1Pe 1:11 |
| 53:1 | Jn 12:38 ; Ro 10:16 |
| 53:2 | Mt 2:23 |
| 53:3 | Mk 9:12 |
| 53:4 | Mt 8:17 ; 1Pe 2:24 |
| 53:4–5 | Ro 4:25 |
| 53:5 | Mt 26:67 ; 1Pe 2:24 |
| 53:5–6 | Ac 10:43 |
| 53:6 | 1Pe 2:25 |
| 53:6–7 | Jn 1:29 |
| 53:7 | Mt 26:63 ; 27:12 , 14 ; Mk 14:60–61 ; 15:4–5 ; 1Co 5:7 ; 1Pe 2:23 ; Rev 5:6 , 12 ; 13:8 |
| 53:7–8 LXX | Ac 8:32–33 |
| 53:8–9 | 1Co 15:3 |
| 53:9 | Mt 26:24 ; 1Pe 2:22 ; 1Jn 3:5 ; Rev 14:5 |
| 53:11 | Ro 5:19 |
| 53:12 | Mt 27:38 ; Lk 22:37 ; 23:33–34 ; Heb 9:28 ; 1Pe 2:24 |
Taken from The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible : Vol. 5 by MOISÉS SILVA. Copyright © 2009 by Zondervan, p. 15
The Future Glory of Zion
1 ‡ “Sing, barren woman, †you who never bore a child;burst into song, shout for joy, †you who were never in labor; †because more are the children † of the desolate † womanthan of her who has a husband, † ”says the LORD .2 ‡ “Enlarge the place of your tent, †stretch your tent curtains wide,do not hold back;lengthen your cords,strengthen your stakes. †3 ‡ For you will spread out to the right and to the left;your descendants † will dispossess nations †and settle in their desolate † cities.
4 ‡ “Do not be afraid; † you will not be put to shame. †Do not fear disgrace; † you will not be humiliated.You will forget the shame of your youth †and remember no more the reproach † of your widowhood. †5 ‡ For your Maker † is your husband † —the LORD Almighty is his name—the Holy One † of Israel is your Redeemer; †he is called the God of all the earth. †6 ‡ The LORD will call you back †as if you were a wife deserted † and distressed in spirit—a wife who married young, †only to be rejected,” says your God.7 ‡ “For a brief moment † I abandoned † you,but with deep compassion † I will bring you back. †8 ‡ In a surge of anger †I hid † my face from you for a moment,but with everlasting kindness †I will have compassion † on you,”says the LORD your Redeemer. †
9 ‡ “To me this is like the days of Noah,when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. †So now I have sworn † not to be angry † with you,never to rebuke † you again.10 ‡ Though the mountains be shaken †and the hills be removed,yet my unfailing love † for you will not be shaken †nor my covenant † of peace † be removed,”says the LORD , who has compassion † on you.
11 ‡ “Afflicted † city, lashed by storms † and not comforted, †I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, [109] †your foundations † with lapis lazuli. †12 ‡ I will make your battlements of rubies,your gates † of sparkling jewels,and all your walls of precious stones.13 ‡ All your children will be taught by the LORD , †and great will be their peace. †14 ‡ In righteousness † you will be established: †Tyranny † will be far from you;you will have nothing to fear. †Terror † will be far removed;it will not come near you.15 ‡ If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;whoever attacks you will surrender † to you.
16 ‡ “See, it is I who created the blacksmith †who fans the coals into flameand forges a weapon † fit for its work.And it is I who have created the destroyer † to wreak havoc;17 ‡ no weapon forged against you will prevail, †and you will refute † every tongue that accuses you.This is the heritage of the servants † of the LORD ,and this is their vindication † from me,”declares the LORD .
Invitation to the Thirsty
1 ‡ “Come, all you who are thirsty, †come to the waters; †and you who have no money,come, buy † and eat!Come, buy wine and milk †without money and without cost. †2 ‡ Why spend money on what is not bread,and your labor on what does not satisfy? †Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, †and you will delight in the richest † of fare.3 ‡ Give ear and come to me;listen, † that you may live. †I will make an everlasting covenant † with you,my faithful love † promised to David. †4 ‡ See, I have made him a witness † to the peoples,a ruler and commander † of the peoples.5 ‡ Surely you will summon nations † you know not,and nations you do not know will come running to you, †because of the LORD your God,the Holy One † of Israel,for he has endowed you with splendor.” †
6 ‡ Seek † the LORD while he may be found; †call † on him while he is near.7 ‡ Let the wicked forsake † their waysand the unrighteous their thoughts. †Let them turn † to the LORD , and he will have mercy † on them,and to our God, for he will freely pardon. †
8 “For my thoughts † are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,” †declares the LORD .9 ‡ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, †so are my ways higher than your waysand my thoughts than your thoughts. †10 As the rain † and the snowcome down from heaven,and do not return to itwithout watering the earthand making it bud and flourish, †so that it yields seed † for the sower and bread for the eater, †11 ‡ so is my word † that goes out from my mouth:It will not return to me empty, †but will accomplish what I desireand achieve the purpose † for which I sent it.12 ‡ You will go out in joy †and be led forth in peace; †the mountains and hillswill burst into song † before you,and all the trees † of the fieldwill clap their hands. †13 ‡ Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,and instead of briers † the myrtle † will grow.This will be for the LORD ’s renown, †for an everlasting sign,that will endure forever.”
Salvation for Others
1 ‡ This is what the LORD says:
“Maintain justice †and do what is right, †for my salvation † is close at handand my righteousness † will soon be revealed.2 ‡ Blessed † is the one who does this—the person who holds it fast,who keeps the Sabbath † without desecrating it,and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”
3 ‡ Let no foreigner † who is bound to the LORD say,“The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.” †And let no eunuch † complain,“I am only a dry tree.”
4 ‡ For this is what the LORD says:
“To the eunuchs † who keep my Sabbaths,who choose what pleases meand hold fast to my covenant † —5 ‡ to them I will give within my temple and its walls †a memorial † and a namebetter than sons and daughters;I will give them an everlasting name †that will endure forever. †6 ‡ And foreigners † who bind themselves to the LORDto minister † to him,to love the name † of the LORD ,and to be his servants,all who keep the Sabbath † without desecrating itand who hold fast to my covenant—7 ‡ these I will bring to my holy mountain †and give them joy in my house of prayer.Their burnt offerings and sacrifices †will be accepted on my altar;for my house will be calleda house of prayer for all nations. † ” †8 ‡ The Sovereign LORD declares—he who gathers the exiles of Israel:“I will gather † still others to thembesides those already gathered.”
God’s Accusation Against the Wicked
9 ‡ Come, all you beasts of the field, †come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!10 ‡ Israel’s watchmen † are blind,they all lack knowledge; †they are all mute dogs,they cannot bark;they lie around and dream,they love to sleep. †11 ‡ They are dogs with mighty appetites;they never have enough.They are shepherds † who lack understanding; †they all turn to their own way, †they seek their own gain. †12 ‡ “Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine! †Let us drink our fill of beer!And tomorrow will be like today,or even far better.” †
1 ‡ The righteous perish, †and no one takes it to heart; †the devout are taken away,and no one understandsthat the righteous are taken awayto be spared from evil. †2 ‡ Those who walk uprightly †enter into peace;they find rest † as they lie in death.
3 ‡ “But you—come here, you children of a sorceress, †you offspring of adulterers † and prostitutes! †4 ‡ Who are you mocking?At whom do you sneerand stick out your tongue?Are you not a brood of rebels, †the offspring of liars?5 ‡ You burn with lust among the oaks †and under every spreading tree; †you sacrifice your children † in the ravinesand under the overhanging crags.6 ‡ The idols † among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;indeed, they are your lot.Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings †and offered grain offerings.In view of all this, should I relent? †7 ‡ You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill; †there you went up to offer your sacrifices. †8 ‡ Behind your doors and your doorpostsyou have put your pagan symbols.Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed,you climbed into it and opened it wide;you made a pact with those whose beds you love, †and you looked with lust on their naked bodies. †9 ‡ You went to Molek [110] † with olive oiland increased your perfumes. †You sent your ambassadors [111] † far away;you descended to the very realm of the dead! †10 ‡ You wearied † yourself by such going about,but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ †You found renewal of your strength, †and so you did not faint.
11 ‡ “Whom have you so dreaded and feared †that you have not been true to me,and have neither remembered † menor taken this to heart? †Is it not because I have long been silent †that you do not fear me?12 ‡ I will expose your righteousness and your works, †and they will not benefit you.13 ‡ When you cry out † for help,let your collection of idols save † you!The wind will carry all of them off,a mere breath will blow † them away.But whoever takes refuge † in mewill inherit the land †and possess my holy mountain.” †
Comfort for the Contrite
14 ‡ And it will be said:
“Build up, build up, prepare the road! †Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.” †15 ‡ For this is what the high and exalted † One says—he who lives forever, † whose name is holy:“I live in a high † and holy place,but also with the one who is contrite † and lowly in spirit, †to revive the spirit of the lowlyand to revive the heart of the contrite. †16 ‡ I will not accuse † them forever,nor will I always be angry, †for then they would faint away because of me—the very people † I have created.17 ‡ I was enraged by their sinful greed; †I punished them, and hid † my face in anger,yet they kept on in their willful ways. †18 ‡ I have seen their ways, but I will heal † them;I will guide † them and restore comfort † to Israel’s mourners,19 ‡ creating praise on their lips. †Peace, peace, † to those far and near,” †says the LORD . “And I will heal them.”20 ‡ But the wicked † are like the tossing sea, †which cannot rest,whose waves cast up mire † and mud.21 ‡ “There is no peace,” † says my God, “for the wicked.” †
True Fasting
1 ‡ “Shout it aloud, † do not hold back.Raise your voice like a trumpet. †Declare to my people their rebellion †and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. †2 ‡ For day after day they seek † me out;they seem eager to know my ways,as if they were a nation that does what is rightand has not forsaken † the commands of its God.They ask me for just decisionsand seem eager for God to come near † them.3 ‡ ‘Why have we fasted,’ † they say,‘and you have not seen it?Why have we humbled † ourselves,and you have not noticed?’ †
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please †and exploit all your workers.4 ‡ Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, †and in striking each other with wicked fists.You cannot fast as you do todayand expect your voice to be heard † on high.5 ‡ Is this the kind of fast † I have chosen,only a day for people to humble † themselves?Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed †and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? †Is that what you call a fast,a day acceptable to the LORD ?
6 ‡ “Is not this the kind of fasting † I have chosen:to loose the chains of injustice †and untie the cords of the yoke,to set the oppressed † freeand break every yoke? †7 ‡ Is it not to share your food with the hungry †and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter † —when you see the naked, to clothe † them,and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? †8 ‡ Then your light will break forth like the dawn, †and your healing † will quickly appear;then your righteousness [112] † will go before you,and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. †9 ‡ Then you will call, † and the LORD will answer; †you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,with the pointing finger † and malicious talk, †10 ‡ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungryand satisfy the needs of the oppressed, †then your light † will rise in the darkness,and your night will become like the noonday. †11 ‡ The LORD will guide † you always;he will satisfy your needs † in a sun-scorched land †and will strengthen † your frame.You will be like a well-watered garden, †like a spring † whose waters never fail.12 ‡ Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins †and will raise up the age-old foundations; †you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, †Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
13 ‡ “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath †and from doing as you please on my holy day,if you call the Sabbath a delight †and the LORD ’s holy day honorable,and if you honor it by not going your own wayand not doing as you please or speaking idle words, †14 ‡ then you will find your joy † in the LORD ,and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights † of the landand to feast on the inheritance † of your father Jacob.”For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. †
Sin, Confession and Redemption
1 ‡ Surely the arm † of the LORD is not too short † to save,nor his ear too dull to hear. †2 ‡ But your iniquities have separated †you from your God;your sins have hidden his face from you,so that he will not hear. †3 ‡ For your hands are stained with blood, †your fingers with guilt. †Your lips have spoken falsely, †and your tongue mutters wicked things.4 ‡ No one calls for justice; †no one pleads a case with integrity.They rely † on empty arguments, they utter lies; †they conceive trouble and give birth to evil. †5 ‡ They hatch the eggs of vipers †and spin a spider’s web. †Whoever eats their eggs will die,and when one is broken, an adder is hatched.6 ‡ Their cobwebs are useless for clothing;they cannot cover themselves with what they make. †Their deeds are evil deeds,and acts of violence † are in their hands.7 ‡ Their feet rush into sin;they are swift to shed innocent blood. †They pursue evil schemes; †acts of violence mark their ways. †8 ‡ The way of peace they do not know; †there is no justice in their paths.They have turned them into crooked roads; †no one who walks along them will know peace. †
9 ‡ So justice is far from us,and righteousness does not reach us.We look for light, but all is darkness; †for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.10 ‡ Like the blind † we grope along the wall,feeling our way like people without eyes.At midday we stumble † as if it were twilight;among the strong, we are like the dead. †11 ‡ We all growl like bears;we moan mournfully like doves. †We look for justice, but find none;for deliverance, but it is far away.
12 ‡ For our offenses † are many in your sight,and our sins testify † against us.Our offenses are ever with us,and we acknowledge our iniquities: †13 ‡ rebellion † and treachery against the LORD ,turning our backs † on our God,inciting revolt and oppression, †uttering lies † our hearts have conceived.14 ‡ So justice † is driven back,and righteousness † stands at a distance;truth † has stumbled in the streets,honesty cannot enter.15 ‡ Truth † is nowhere to be found,and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.
The LORD looked and was displeasedthat there was no justice. †16 ‡ He saw that there was no one, †he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; †so his own arm achieved salvation † for him,and his own righteousness † sustained him.17 ‡ He put on righteousness as his breastplate, †and the helmet † of salvation on his head;he put on the garments † of vengeance †and wrapped himself in zeal † as in a cloak.18 ‡ According to what they have done,so will he repay †wrath to his enemiesand retribution to his foes;he will repay the islands † their due.19 ‡ From the west, † people will fear the name of the LORD ,and from the rising of the sun, † they will revere his glory. †For he will come like a pent-up floodthat the breath † of the LORD drives along. [113]
20 ‡ “The Redeemer † will come to Zion, †to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” †declares the LORD .
21 ‡ “As for me, this is my covenant † with them,” says the LORD . “My Spirit, † who is on you, will not depart from you, † and my words that I have put in your mouth † will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the LORD .
The Glory of Zion
1 ‡ “Arise, † shine, for your light † has come,and the glory † of the LORD rises upon you.2 ‡ See, darkness † covers the earthand thick darkness † is over the peoples,but the LORD rises upon youand his glory appears over you.3 ‡ Nations † will come to your light, †and kings † to the brightness of your dawn.
4 ‡ “Lift up your eyes and look about you:All assemble † and come to you;your sons come from afar, †and your daughters † are carried on the hip. †5 ‡ Then you will look and be radiant, †your heart will throb and swell with joy; †the wealth † on the seas will be brought to you,to you the riches of the nations will come.6 ‡ Herds of camels † will cover your land,young camels of Midian † and Ephah. †And all from Sheba † will come,bearing gold and incense †and proclaiming the praise † of the LORD .7 ‡ All Kedar’s † flocks will be gathered to you,the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;they will be accepted as offerings † on my altar, †and I will adorn my glorious temple. †
8 “Who are these † that fly along like clouds, †like doves to their nests?9 ‡ Surely the islands † look to me;in the lead are the ships of Tarshish, [114] †bringing † your children from afar,with their silver and gold, †to the honor † of the LORD your God,the Holy One † of Israel,for he has endowed you with splendor. †
10 ‡ “Foreigners † will rebuild your walls,and their kings † will serve you.Though in anger I struck you,in favor † I will show you compassion. †11 ‡ Your gates † will always stand open,they will never be shut, day or night,so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations † —their kings † led in triumphal procession.12 ‡ For the nation or kingdom that will not serve † you will perish;it will be utterly ruined. †
13 ‡ “The glory of Lebanon † will come to you,the juniper, the fir and the cypress together, †to adorn my sanctuary; †and I will glorify the place for my feet. †14 ‡ The children of your oppressors † will come bowing before you;all who despise you will bow down † at your feetand will call you the City † of the LORD ,Zion † of the Holy One † of Israel.
15 ‡ “Although you have been forsaken † and hated,with no one traveling † through,I will make you the everlasting pride †and the joy † of all generations.16 ‡ You will drink the milk of nationsand be nursed † at royal breasts.Then you will know † that I, the LORD , am your Savior, †your Redeemer, † the Mighty One of Jacob. †17 ‡ Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, †and silver in place of iron.Instead of wood I will bring you bronze,and iron in place of stones.I will make peace † your governorand well-being your ruler. †18 ‡ No longer will violence † be heard in your land,nor ruin or destruction † within your borders,but you will call your walls Salvation †and your gates Praise. †19 ‡ The sun will no more be your light by day,nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,for the LORD will be your everlasting light, †and your God will be your glory. †20 ‡ Your sun † will never set again,and your moon will wane no more;the LORD will be your everlasting light,and your days of sorrow † will end.21 ‡ Then all your people will be righteous †and they will possess † the land forever.They are the shoot I have planted, †the work of my hands, †for the display of my splendor. †22 ‡ The least of you will become a thousand,the smallest a mighty nation. †I am the LORD ;in its time I will do this swiftly.” †
Assyrian soldier with scaled breastplate and helmet. “He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head” ( Isa 59:17 ).
Z. Radovan/ www.BibleLandPictures.com
The Year of the LORD ’s Favor
1 ‡ The Spirit † of the Sovereign LORD † is on me,because the LORD has anointed † meto proclaim good news † to the poor. †He has sent me to bind up † the brokenhearted,to proclaim freedom † for the captives †and release from darkness for the prisoners, [115]2 ‡ to proclaim the year of the LORD ’s favor †and the day of vengeance † of our God,to comfort † all who mourn, †3 ‡ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown † of beautyinstead of ashes, †the oil † of joyinstead of mourning, †and a garment of praiseinstead of a spirit of despair.They will be called oaks of righteousness,a planting † of the LORDfor the display of his splendor. †
4 ‡ They will rebuild the ancient ruins †and restore the places long devastated;they will renew the ruined citiesthat have been devastated for generations.5 ‡ Strangers † will shepherd your flocks;foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.6 ‡ And you will be called priests † of the LORD ,you will be named ministers of our God.You will feed on the wealth † of nations,and in their riches you will boast.
7 ‡ Instead of your shame †you will receive a double † portion,and instead of disgraceyou will rejoice in your inheritance.And so you will inherit † a double portion in your land,and everlasting joy † will be yours.
8 ‡ “For I, the LORD , love justice; †I hate robbery and wrongdoing.In my faithfulness I will reward my peopleand make an everlasting covenant † with them.9 ‡ Their descendants † will be known among the nationsand their offspring among the peoples.All who see them will acknowledgethat they are a people the LORD has blessed.” †
10 ‡ I delight greatly in the LORD ;my soul rejoices † in my God.For he has clothed me with garments of salvationand arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, †as a bridegroom adorns his head † like a priest,and as a bride † adorns herself with her jewels.11 ‡ For as the soil makes the sprout come upand a garden † causes seeds to grow,so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness †and praise spring up before all nations.
Zion’s New Name
1 ‡ For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, †for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,till her vindication † shines out like the dawn, †her salvation † like a blazing torch.2 ‡ The nations † will see your vindication,and all kings your glory;you will be called by a new name †that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.3 ‡ You will be a crown † of splendor in the LORD ’s hand,a royal diadem in the hand of your God.4 ‡ No longer will they call you Deserted, †or name your land Desolate. †But you will be called Hephzibah, [116] †and your land Beulah [117] ;for the LORD will take delight † in you,and your land will be married. †5 ‡ As a young man marries a young woman,so will your Builder marry you;as a bridegroom † rejoices over his bride,so will your God rejoice † over you.
6 ‡ I have posted watchmen † on your walls, Jerusalem;they will never be silent day or night.You who call on the LORD ,give yourselves no rest, †7 ‡ and give him no rest † till he establishes Jerusalemand makes her the praise † of the earth.
8 ‡ The LORD has sworn † by his right handand by his mighty arm:“Never again will I give your grain †as food for your enemies,and never again will foreigners drink the new winefor which you have toiled;9 ‡ but those who harvest it will eat † itand praise the LORD , †and those who gather the grapes will drink itin the courts of my sanctuary.” †
10 ‡ Pass through, pass through the gates! †Prepare the way for the people.Build up, build up the highway! †Remove the stones.Raise a banner † for the nations.
11 ‡ The LORD has made proclamationto the ends of the earth: †“Say to Daughter Zion, †‘See, your Savior comes! †See, his reward is with him,and his recompense accompanies him.’ ” †12 ‡ They will be called † the Holy People, †the Redeemed † of the LORD ;and you will be called Sought After,the City No Longer Deserted. †
God’s Day of Vengeance and Redemption
1 ‡ Who is this coming from Edom, †from Bozrah, † with his garments stained crimson? †Who is this, robed in splendor,striding forward in the greatness of his strength? †
“It is I, proclaiming victory,mighty to save.” †
2 ‡ Why are your garments red,like those of one treading the winepress? †
3 ‡ “I have trodden the winepress † alone;from the nations no one was with me.I trampled † them in my angerand trod them down in my wrath; †their blood spattered my garments, †and I stained all my clothing.4 ‡ It was for me the day of vengeance; †the year for me to redeem had come.5 ‡ I looked, but there was no one † to help,I was appalled that no one gave support;so my own arm † achieved salvation for me,and my own wrath sustained me. †6 ‡ I trampled † the nations in my anger;in my wrath I made them drunk †and poured their blood † on the ground.”
Praise and Prayer
7 ‡ I will tell of the kindnesses † of the LORD ,the deeds for which he is to be praised,according to all the LORD has done for us—yes, the many good things †he has done for Israel,according to his compassion † and many kindnesses.8 ‡ He said, “Surely they are my people, †children who will be true to me”;and so he became their Savior. †9 ‡ In all their distress he too was distressed,and the angel † of his presence † saved them. [118]In his love and mercy he redeemed † them;he lifted them up and carried † themall the days of old. †10 ‡ Yet they rebelled †and grieved his Holy Spirit. †So he turned and became their enemy †and he himself fought † against them.
11 ‡ Then his people recalled [119] the days of old,the days of Moses and his people—where is he who brought them through the sea, †with the shepherd of his flock? †Where is he who sethis Holy Spirit † among them,12 ‡ who sent his glorious arm † of powerto be at Moses’ right hand,who divided the waters † before them,to gain for himself everlasting renown, †13 ‡ who led † them through the depths? †Like a horse in open country,they did not stumble; †14 ‡ like cattle that go down to the plain,they were given rest † by the Spirit of the LORD .This is how you guided your peopleto make for yourself a glorious name.
15 ‡ Look down from heaven † and see,from your lofty throne, † holy and glorious.Where are your zeal † and your might?Your tenderness and compassion † are withheld † from us.16 ‡ But you are our Father, †though Abraham does not know usor Israel acknowledge † us;you, LORD , are our Father,our Redeemer † from of old is your name.17 ‡ Why, LORD , do you make us wander † from your waysand harden our hearts † so we do not revere † you?Return † for the sake of your servants,the tribes that are your inheritance. †18 ‡ For a little while † your people possessed your holy place,but now our enemies have trampled † down your sanctuary. †19 ‡ We are yours from of old;but you have not ruled over them,they have not been called [120] by your name. †
1 ‡ Oh, that you would rend the heavens † and come down, †that the mountains † would tremble before you!2 ‡ As when fire sets twigs ablazeand causes water to boil,come down to make your name † known to your enemiesand cause the nations to quake † before you!3 ‡ For when you did awesome † things that we did not expect,you came down, and the mountains trembled † before you.4 ‡ Since ancient times no one has heard,no ear has perceived,no eye has seen any God besides you, †who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. †5 ‡ You come to the help of those who gladly do right, †who remember your ways.But when we continued to sin against them,you were angry. †How then can we be saved?6 ‡ All of us have become like one who is unclean, †and all our righteous † acts are like filthy rags;we all shrivel up like a leaf, †and like the wind our sins sweep us away. †7 ‡ No one † calls on your name †or strives to lay hold of you;for you have hidden † your face from usand have given us over † to [122] our sins.
8 ‡ Yet you, LORD , are our Father. †We are the clay, you are the potter; †we are all the work of your hand. †9 ‡ Do not be angry † beyond measure, LORD ;do not remember our sins † forever.Oh, look on us, we pray,for we are all your people. †10 ‡ Your sacred cities † have become a wasteland;even Zion is a wasteland, Jerusalem a desolation. †11 ‡ Our holy and glorious temple, † where our ancestors praised you,has been burned with fire,and all that we treasured † lies in ruins.12 ‡ After all this, LORD , will you hold yourself back? †Will you keep silent † and punish us beyond measure?
Judgment and Salvation
1 ‡ “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;I was found by those who did not seek me. †To a nation † that did not call on my name, †I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’2 ‡ All day long I have held out my handsto an obstinate people, †who walk in ways not good,pursuing their own imaginations † —3 ‡ a people who continually provoke meto my very face, †offering sacrifices in gardens †and burning incense † on altars of brick;4 ‡ who sit among the graves †and spend their nights keeping secret vigil;who eat the flesh of pigs, †and whose pots hold broth of impure meat;5 ‡ who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me,for I am too sacred † for you!’Such people are smoke † in my nostrils,a fire that keeps burning all day.
6 ‡ “See, it stands written before me:I will not keep silent † but will pay back † in full;I will pay it back into their laps † —7 ‡ both your sins † and the sins of your ancestors,” †says the LORD .“Because they burned sacrifices on the mountainsand defied me on the hills, †I will measure into their lapsthe full payment † for their former deeds.”
8 ‡ This is what the LORD says:
“As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes †and people say, ‘Don’t destroy it,there is still a blessing in it,’so will I do in behalf of my servants; †I will not destroy them all.9 ‡ I will bring forth descendants † from Jacob,and from Judah those who will possess † my mountains;my chosen † people will inherit them,and there will my servants live. †10 ‡ Sharon † will become a pasture for flocks, †and the Valley of Achor † a resting place for herds,for my people who seek † me.
11 ‡ “But as for you who forsake † the LORDand forget my holy mountain, †who spread a table for Fortuneand fill bowls of mixed wine † for Destiny,12 ‡ I will destine you for the sword, †and all of you will fall in the slaughter; †for I called but you did not answer, †I spoke but you did not listen. †You did evil in my sightand chose what displeases me.” †
13 ‡ Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“My servants will eat, †but you will go hungry; †my servants will drink, †but you will go thirsty; †my servants will rejoice, †but you will be put to shame. †14 ‡ My servants will sing †out of the joy of their hearts,but you will cry out †from anguish of heartand wail in brokenness of spirit.15 ‡ You will leave your namefor my chosen ones to use in their curses; †the Sovereign LORD will put you to death,but to his servants he will give another name. †16 ‡ Whoever invokes a blessing † in the landwill do so by the one true God; †whoever takes an oath in the landwill swear † by the one true God.For the past troubles † will be forgottenand hidden from my eyes.
New Heavens and a New Earth
17 ‡ “See, I will createnew heavens and a new earth. †The former things will not be remembered, †nor will they come to mind.18 ‡ But be glad and rejoice † foreverin what I will create,for I will create Jerusalem † to be a delightand its people a joy.19 ‡ I will rejoice † over Jerusalemand take delight † in my people;the sound of weeping and of crying †will be heard in it no more.
20 ‡ “Never again will there be in itan infant † who lives but a few days,or an old man who does not live out his years; †the one who dies at a hundredwill be thought a mere child;the one who fails to reach [123] a hundredwill be considered accursed.21 ‡ They will build houses † and dwell in them;they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. †22 ‡ No longer will they build houses and others live in them, †or plant and others eat.For as the days of a tree, †so will be the days † of my people;my chosen † ones will long enjoythe work of their hands.23 ‡ They will not labor in vain, †nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; †for they will be a people blessed † by the LORD ,they and their descendants † with them.24 ‡ Before they call † I will answer; †while they are still speaking † I will hear.25 ‡ The wolf and the lamb † will feed together,and the lion will eat straw like the ox, †and dust will be the serpent’s † food.They will neither harm nor destroyon all my holy mountain,” †says the LORD .
Judgment and Hope
1 ‡ This is what the LORD says:
“Heaven is my throne, †and the earth is my footstool. †Where is the house † you will build for me?Where will my resting place be?2 ‡ Has not my hand made all these things, †and so they came into being?”declares the LORD .
“These are the ones I look on with favor:those who are humble and contrite in spirit, †and who tremble at my word. †3 ‡ But whoever sacrifices a bull †is like one who kills a person,and whoever offers a lambis like one who breaks a dog’s neck;whoever makes a grain offeringis like one who presents pig’s † blood,and whoever burns memorial incense †is like one who worships an idol.They have chosen their own ways, †and they delight in their abominations; †4 ‡ so I also will choose harsh treatment for themand will bring on them what they dread. †For when I called, no one answered, †when I spoke, no one listened.They did evil † in my sightand chose what displeases me.” †
5 ‡ Hear the word of the LORD ,you who tremble at his word: †“Your own people who hate † you,and exclude you because of my name, have said,‘Let the LORD be glorified,that we may see your joy!’Yet they will be put to shame. †6 ‡ Hear that uproar from the city,hear that noise from the temple!It is the sound † of the LORDrepaying † his enemies all they deserve.
7 ‡ “Before she goes into labor, †she gives birth;before the pains come upon her,she delivers a son. †8 ‡ Who has ever heard of such things?Who has ever seen † things like this?Can a country be born in a day †or a nation be brought forth in a moment?Yet no sooner is Zion in laborthan she gives birth to her children. †9 ‡ Do I bring to the moment of birth †and not give delivery?” says the LORD .“Do I close up the wombwhen I bring to delivery?” says your God.10 ‡ “Rejoice † with Jerusalem and be glad for her,all you who love † her;rejoice greatly with her,all you who mourn † over her.11 ‡ For you will nurse † and be satisfiedat her comforting breasts; †you will drink deeplyand delight in her overflowing abundance.” †
12 ‡ For this is what the LORD says:
“I will extend peace † to her like a river, †and the wealth † of nations like a flooding stream;you will nurse and be carried † on her armand dandled on her knees.13 ‡ As a mother comforts her child, †so will I comfort † you;and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”
14 ‡ When you see this, your heart will rejoice †and you will flourish † like grass;the hand † of the LORD will be made known to his servants, †but his fury † will be shown to his foes.15 ‡ See, the LORD is coming with fire, †and his chariots † are like a whirlwind; †he will bring down his anger with fury,and his rebuke † with flames of fire.16 ‡ For with fire † and with his sword †the LORD will execute judgment † on all people,and many will be those slain † by the LORD .
17 ‡ “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, † following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, † rats † and other unclean things—they will meet their end † together with the one they follow,” declares the LORD .
18 ‡ “And I, because of what they have planned and done, † am about to come [124] and gather the people of all nations † and languages, and they will come and see my glory. †
19 ‡ “I will set a sign † among them, and I will send some of those who survive † to the nations—to Tarshish, † to the Libyans [125] and Lydians † (famous as archers), to Tubal † and Greece, † and to the distant islands † that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. † They will proclaim my glory among the nations. 20 ‡ And they will bring † all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain † in Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD —on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” † says the LORD . “They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the LORD in ceremonially clean vessels. † 21 ‡ And I will select some of them also to be priests † and Levites,” says the LORD .
22 ‡ “As the new heavens and the new earth † that I make will endure before me,” declares the LORD , “so will your name and descendants endure. † 23 ‡ From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath † to another, all mankind will come and bow down † before me,” says the LORD . 24 ‡ “And they will go out and look on the dead bodies † of those who rebelled † against me; the worms † that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, † and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”