Isaiah 51
51
Zion’s Restoration
1“Listen to me, you who chase after righteousness, # 51:1 See Deut. 16:20; Prov. 15:9; 21:21.
you who passionately pursue the Lord.
Look back to Abraham, the rock from which you were cut,
to Sarah, the quarry from which you were dug,
and remember what I did for them.
2Yes, look to Abraham your father and to Sarah, who bore you.
For when I called Abraham, he was but one person,
but I blessed him greatly so that one became many.” # 51:2 Part of the Abrahamic blessing was the power to procreate, even when Sarah was barren.
3Indeed, Yahweh will comfort Zion, restore her,
and comfort all her broken places.
He will transform her wilderness into the garden of Bliss, # 51:3 Or “the garden of Eden.” See Joel 2:3.
her desert into the garden of Yahweh.
Joy and laughter will fill the air # 51:3 Or “will abide in her.”
with thanksgiving and joyous melodies.
4“Listen to me, my people;
pay attention to me, my nation.
For I release my teaching to the nations,
and I will cause the light of justice to rest on them. # 51:4 Or “I will make my justice a light for the nations.” See John 8:12.
5My righteousness is coming closer, # 51:5 See Mark 1:14–15. Isa. 51:5 gives us three pictures of Jesus Christ: God’s righteousness, God’s salvation, and God’s mighty arms.
and my salvation has gone out.
My mighty arms will govern the people.
The islands will trust in me
and put their hope in the unveiling of my might. # 51:5 Or “hope in my arm [of power].”
6Lift up your eyes to the heavenly realm
and look at the earth far below.
Though the heavens disappear like smoke,
though the earth wears out like a garment,
and though all the people die like gnats,
my salvation will endure forever
and my righteousness will never end!
7So listen to me, you who care for what is right,
who treasure my teaching in your hearts:
Do not fear the insults of others;
do not be troubled when they revile you.
8They are nothing for you to fear,
for the moth will eat them up like a shirt
and the worm will consume them like wool,
but my righteousness will last forever
and my salvation from generation to generation.”
Cry Out to God
9Awake, God, awake!
Arm of Yahweh, put on your robe of strength!
Awake and do the works of power as in ancient days,
as in generations past!
Wasn’t it you who smashed the sea monster # 51:9 This is the Hebrew word rahav (Rahab), likely a metaphor for Egypt. to pieces,
who pierced the dragon # 51:9 See Ps. 74:13–14; Ezek. 29:3. in generations long ago?
10Wasn’t it you who dried up the Red Sea with its deep waters
and made a path through the sea to rescue # 51:10 Or “to cross over.” your redeemed?
11Do it again!
Those Yahweh has set free
will return to Zion and come celebrating with songs of joy!
They will be crowned with never-ending joy!
Gladness and joy will overwhelm them;
despair and depression will disappear!
12“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you.
All the sons of men will be cut down and fade like grass.
Why then would you be afraid of a mere human being?
13You have forgotten that Yahweh, your Maker,
stretched out the skies and laid earth’s firm foundation.
But you live each day constantly worrying, # 51:13 Or “trembling.”
living in fear of your angry oppressor
who is bent on your destruction.
But their fury cannot touch you!
14Those who are suffering will soon be released.
They will not die in their dark dungeon,
nor will they go hungry.
15For I am Yahweh, your faithful God,
who split the sea with its roaring waves. # 51:15 See Ps. 74:13; Jer. 31:35.
My name is Lord Yahweh, Commander of Angel Armies!”
Hidden in the Hollow of His Hand
16“I have placed my words in your mouth # 51:16 Jesus Christ is the true Prophet who has the words of God in his mouth.
and have hidden you in the hollow # 51:16 Or “shadow.” of my hand
to establish the heavens and make the earth rock solid.
You will say to Zion, ‘You are my people!’ ”
Wake Up, Zion
17Wake up! Wake up! # 51:17 In v. 9, the people were crying out to God to awaken and arise, but here God was telling the people they were the ones who must wake up and arise. Get up, Jerusalem!
You have drunk enough from the cup Yahweh handed you.
It was the cup of his anger, and you’ve drained it dry—
the intoxicating bowl that makes men stagger!
18There are none of Zion’s children left,
none to guide her home # 51:18 The image here is that Zion has been intoxicated by drinking the cup of God’s anger (see Jer. 49:12) and there is no one there to take her home in that condition. In the culture of that day, it was the responsibility of children to guide a drunken parent home. and take her by the hand,
none among all the children she has raised.
19Twin calamities have come upon you,
but who will feel sorry for you?
Disaster and devastation, famine and war, # 51:19 Although there are four listed, this double calamity is seen in two couplets (disaster and devastation, famine and war).
but who will comfort you?
20Your children have fainted and lie fallen in the streets,
like a gazelle caught in a net.
Yahweh’s anger,
the rebuke of your God, has overwhelmed them.
21So listen, you who are weak and wounded,
who are intoxicated not with wine but with God’s anger.
22This is what your sovereign ruler,
Lord Yahweh, your God,
the Mighty Defender of his people, says:
“Look! I have removed from your hand
the intoxicating cup that made you stagger.
You will no longer drink from the bowl of my anger.
23Instead, I will put that bowl
in the hands of your tormentors who said to you,
‘Lie down so we can walk all over you!’
For your back became like the ground they trample on,
like a street for them to walk on.”
Currently Selected:
Isaiah 51: TPT
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Passion Translation® is a registered trademark of Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Learn More About The Passion TranslationIsaiah 51
51
1“Listen to me, you who follow after righteousness,
you who seek Yahweh.
Look to the rock you were cut from,
and to the quarry you were dug from.
2Look to Abraham your father,
and to Sarah who bore you;
for when he was but one I called him,
I blessed him,
and made him many.
3For 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 will be found in them,
thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
4“Listen to me, my people;
and hear me, my nation,
for a law will go out from me,
and I will establish my justice for a light to the peoples.
5My righteousness is near.
My salvation has gone out,
and my arms will judge the peoples.
The islands will wait for me,
and they will trust my arm.
6Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens will vanish away like smoke,
and the earth will wear out like a garment.
Its inhabitants will die in the same way,
but my salvation will be forever,
and my righteousness will not be abolished.
7“Listen to me, you who know righteousness,
the people in whose heart is my law.
Don’t fear the reproach of men,
and don’t be dismayed at their insults.
8For the moth will eat them up like a garment,
and the worm will eat them like wool;
but my righteousness will be forever,
and my salvation to all generations.”
9Awake, awake, put on strength, arm of Yahweh!
Awake, as in the days of old,
the generations of ancient times.
Isn’t it you who cut Rahab in pieces,
who pierced the monster?
10Isn’t it you who dried up the sea,
the waters of the great deep;
who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?
11Those ransomed by Yahweh will return,
and come with singing to Zion.
Everlasting joy shall be on their heads.
They will obtain gladness and joy.
Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
12“I, even I, am he who comforts you.
Who are you, that you are afraid of man who shall die,
and of the son of man who will be made as grass?
13Have you forgotten Yahweh your Maker,
who stretched out the heavens,
and laid the foundations of the earth?
Do you live in fear continually all day because of the fury of the oppressor,
when he prepares to destroy?
Where is the fury of the oppressor?
14The captive exile will speedily be freed.
He will not die and go down into the pit.
His bread won’t fail.
15For I am Yahweh your God, who stirs up the sea
so that its waves roar.
Yahweh of Armies is his name.
16I 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 tell Zion, ‘You are my people.’”
17Awake, awake!
Stand up, Jerusalem,
you who have drunk from Yahweh’s hand the cup of his wrath.
You have drunken the bowl of the cup of staggering,
and drained it.
18There is no one to guide her among all the sons to whom she has given birth;
and there is no one who takes her by the hand among all the sons whom she has brought up.
19These two things have happened to you—
who will grieve with you?—
desolation and destruction,
and famine and the sword.
How can I comfort you?
20Your sons have fainted.
They lie at the head of all the streets,
like an antelope in a net.
They are full of Yahweh’s wrath,
the rebuke of your God.
21Therefore now hear this, you afflicted,
and drunken, but not with wine:
22Your Lord Yahweh,
your God who pleads the cause of his people, says,
“Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of staggering,
even the bowl of the cup of my wrath.
You will not drink it any more.
23I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you,
who have said to your soul, ‘Bow down, that we may walk over you;’
and you have laid your back as the ground,
like a street to those who walk over.”
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
PUBLIC DOMAIN (not copyrighted)