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
Yahweh Comforts Zion
1“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,
who seek Yahweh.
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the excavation of the pit from which you were quarried.
2Look to Abraham your father,
and to Sarah; she brought you forth.
For I called him alone,#Literally “one”
but#Or “and” I blessed him and made him numerous.”
3For Yahweh will comfort Zion;
he will comfort all its sites of ruins.
And he will make#Literally “put” its wilderness like Eden,
and its desert like the garden of Yahweh.
Joy and gladness will be found in it,
thanksgiving and the sound#Literally “voice” of song.
4“Listen attentively to me, my people,
and my nation, listen to me!
For a teaching will go out from me,
and I will cause my justice to rest for a light to the peoples.
5My righteousness is near; my salvation has gone out,
and my arms will judge the peoples.
The coastlands wait for me,
and for my arm they wait.
6Lift up your eyes to the heavens
and look to the earth beneath,
for the heavens will be torn to pieces like smoke,
and the earth will be worn out like a garment,
and those who inhabit her will die like gnats.
But#Or “And” my salvation will be forever,
and my righteousness will not be broken to pieces.
7Listen to me, you who know righteousness,
people who have my teaching in their heart;
you must not fear the reproach of men,
or be terrified because of their abuse.
8For a moth will eat them like garments;
a moth will devour#Or “eat” them like wool,
but#Or “and” my righteousness will be forever,
and my salvation for generation after generation.#Literally “generation of generations””
9Awake! Awake; put on strength, O arm of Yahweh!
Awake as in days of long ago,
the generations of a long time back!
Are you not the one who cut Rahab in pieces,
the one who pierced the sea-dragon?
10Are you not the one who dried up the sea,
the waters of the great deep,
the one who made#Literally “placed” the depths of the sea a way
for those who are redeemed to cross over?
11So#Or “And” the redeemed ones of Yahweh shall return,
and they shall come to Zion with singing,
and everlasting joy shall be on their heads.#Hebrew “head”
Joy and gladness shall appear;#Literally “reach”
sorrow and sighing shall flee away!
12“I, I am he who comforts you;
who are you that#Or “and” you are afraid of man? He dies!
And of the son of humankind? He is sacrificed#Literally “given” as grass!
13And you have forgotten Yahweh, your maker,
who stretched out the heavens,
and founded the earth.
And you tremble continually, all day,
because of the wrath of the oppressor
when he takes aim#Literally “sets up” to destroy.
But#Or “And” where is the wrath of the oppressor?
14The fettered one shall make haste to be freed.
And he shall not die in#Or “to” the pit,
and he shall not lack his bread.
15For#Or “And” I am Yahweh, your God,
who stirs up#Or “stirring up” the sea,
so that#Or “and” its waves roar;
Yahweh of hosts is his name.
16And I have put my words in your mouth,
and I have covered you in the shadow of my hand,
to plant the heavens
and to found the earth,
saying to Zion, ‘You are my people.’ ”
17Rouse yourself! Rouse yourself!
Stand up, Jerusalem, who have drunk from the hand of Yahweh the cup of his wrath;
you have drunk the goblet, the cup of staggering;
you have drained it out.
18There is no one who guides her among#Or “from” all the children she has borne,
and there is no one who grasps her by the hand among#Or “from” all the children she raised.
19Two things here have happened to you—who will show sympathy#Literally “wander” for you?—
devastation and destruction, famine and sword—who will comfort you?
20Your children have fainted;
they lie at the head of all the streets, like an antelope in#Or “of” a snare,
those who are full of the wrath of Yahweh,
the rebuke of your God.
21Therefore hear now this afflicted one
and drunken one but#Or “and” not from wine.
22Thus says your Lord, Yahweh,
and your God pleads the cause of his people:
“Look! I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering.
You shall not continue#Literally “do again” to drink the goblet, the cup of my wrath, any longer.
23And I will put it in the hand of your tormenters,
who have said to you,#Literally “your inner self” ‘Bow down that#Or “and” we may pass#Or “stride” over you!’
And you have made#Literally “placed” your back like the ground,
and like the street for those who pass#Or “stride” over you.”
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