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.”
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Isaiah 51: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationIsaiah 51
51
The Lord Will Bring Comfort
1 #
4 Macc 13.12. If you want to do right
and obey the Lord,
follow Abraham's example.
He was the rock from which
you were chipped.
2God chose Abraham and Sarah
to be your ancestors.
The Lord blessed Abraham,
and from that one man
came many descendants.
3Though Zion is in ruins,
the Lord will bring comfort,
and the city will be as lovely
as the garden of Eden
that he provided.
Then Zion will celebrate;
it will be thankful
and sing joyful songs.
The Lord's Victory Will Last
4The Lord says:
You are my people and nation!
So pay attention to me.
My teaching will cause justice
to shine like a light
for every nation.
5Those who live across the sea
are eagerly waiting
for me to rescue them.
I am strong and ready;
soon I will come to save
and to rule all nations.
6Look closely at the sky!
Stare at the earth.
The sky will vanish like smoke;
the earth will wear out
like clothes.
Everyone on this earth
will die like flies.
But my victory will last;
my saving power never ends.
7If you want to do right
and obey my teaching
with all your heart,
then pay close attention.
Don't be discouraged
when others insult you
and say hurtful things.
8They will be eaten away
like a moth-eaten coat.
But my victory will last;
my saving power
will never end.
A Prayer for the Lord's Help
9Wake up! Do something, Lord.
Be strong and ready.
Wake up! Do what you did
for our people long ago.
Didn't you chop up
Rahab#51.9 Rahab: This may refer to Egypt at the time of the exodus. the monster?
10Didn't you dry up the deep sea
and make a road for your people
to follow safely across?
11Now those you have rescued
will return to Jerusalem,
singing on their way.
They will be crowned
with great happiness,
never again to be burdened
with sadness and sorrow.
The Lord Gives Hope
12I am the Lord, the one
who encourages you.
Why are you afraid
of mere humans?
They dry up and die like grass.
13I spread out the heavens
and laid foundations
for the earth.
But you have forgotten me,
your Lord and Creator.
All day long you were afraid
of those who were angry
and hoped to oppress you.
Where are they now?
14Everyone crying out in pain
will be quickly set free;
they will be rescued
from the power of death
and never go hungry.
15I will help them
because I am your God,
the Lord All-Powerful,
who makes the ocean roar.
16I have told you what to say,
and I will keep you safe
in the palm of my hand.
I spread out the heavens
and laid foundations
for the earth.
Now I say, “Jerusalem,
your people are mine.”
A Warning to Jerusalem
17 #
Rev 14.10; 16.19. Jerusalem, wake up! Stand up!
You've drunk too much
from the cup filled
with the Lord's anger.
You have swallowed every drop,
and you can't walk straight.
18Not one of your many children
is there to guide you
or to offer a helping hand.
19You have been destroyed
by war and by famine;
I cannot comfort you.#51.19 I … you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
20The Lord your God is angry,
and on every street corner
your children lie helpless,
like deer trapped in nets.
21You are in trouble and drunk,
but not from wine.
So pay close attention
22to the Lord your God,
who defends you and says,
“I have taken from your hands
the cup filled with my anger
that made you drunk.
You will never be forced
to drink it again.
23Instead I will give it
to your brutal enemies,
who treated you like dirt
and walked all over you.”
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.