Isaiah 54
54
God Brings His People Home
1“Woman, be happy!
You have not had any children,
but you should be very happy.
“Yes, the woman who is alone#54:1 Yes, the woman … alone This Hebrew word is like the word “destroyed.” This probably means “Jerusalem, the city that is destroyed.”
will have more children than the woman with a husband.”
This is what the Lord says.
2“Make your tent bigger.
Open your doors wide.
Don’t think small!
Make your tent large and strong,
3because you will grow in all directions.
Your children will take over many nations
and live in the cities that were destroyed.
4Don’t be afraid!
You will not be disappointed.
People will not say bad things against you.
You will not be embarrassed.
When you were young, you felt shame.
But you will forget that shame now.
You will not remember the shame you felt
when you lost your husband.#54:4 husband In Hebrew this word is like the name Baal. This means that the Lord is Jerusalem’s true God, not the false god Baal.
5Your real husband is the one who made you.
His name is the Lord All-Powerful.
The Holy One of Israel is your Protector,#54:5 Protector Or “Redeemer,” someone who cared for and protected the family of a dead relative. Often this person bought back (redeemed) the poor relatives from slavery, making them free again.
and he is the God of all the earth!
6“Like a woman whose husband has left her,
you were very sad.
You were like a young wife left all alone.
But the Lord has called you back to him.”
This is what your God says.
7“For a short time I turned away from you,
but with all my love I will welcome you again.
8I was so angry that for a while I did not want to see you.
But now I want to comfort you with kindness forever.”
The Lord your Savior said this.
9“Remember, in Noah’s time I punished the world with the flood.
But I made a promise to Noah that I would never again destroy the world with water.
In the same way, I promise that I will never again be angry with you
and say bad things to you.
10“The mountains may disappear,
and the hills may become dust,
but my faithful love will never leave you.
I will make peace with you,
and it will never end.”
The Lord who loves you said this.
11“You poor city!
Enemies came against you like storms,
and no one comforted you.
But I will rebuild you.
I will use a beautiful mortar to lay the stones of your walls.
I will use sapphire stones when I lay the foundation.
12The stones on top of the wall will be made from rubies.
I will use shiny jewels for the gates.
I will use precious stones to build the walls around you.
13I, the Lord, will teach your children,
and they will have real peace.
14You will be built on goodness.
You will be safe from cruelty and fear.
So you will have nothing to fear.
Nothing will come to hurt you.
15I will never send anyone to attack you.
And if any army tries to attack you, you will defeat them.
16“Look, I made the blacksmith. He blows on the fire to make it hotter. Then he takes the hot iron and makes the kind of tool he wants to make. In the same way, I made the ‘Destroyer’ to destroy things.
17“People will make weapons to fight against you, but their weapons will not defeat you. Some people will say things against you, but anyone who speaks against you will be proved wrong.”
The Lord says, “That is what my servants get! They get the good things#54:17 good things Or “victory.” that come from me, their Lord.
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Isaiah 54: ERV
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Isaiah 54
54
A Promise of the Lord's Protection
1 #
Ga 4.27. Sing and shout,
even though you have never
had children!
The Lord has promised that you
will have more children
than someone married
for a long time.
2Make your tents larger!
Spread out the tent pegs;
fasten them firmly.
3You and your descendants
will take over the land
of other nations.
You will settle in towns
that are now in ruins.
4Don't be afraid or ashamed
and don't be discouraged.
You won't be disappointed.
Forget how sinful you were
when you were young;
stop feeling ashamed
for being left a widow.
5The Lord All-Powerful,
the Holy God of Israel,
rules all the earth.
He is your Creator and husband,
and he will rescue you.
6You were like a young wife,
brokenhearted and crying
because her husband
had divorced her.
But the Lord your God says,
“I am taking you back!
7I rejected you for a while,
but with love and tenderness
I will embrace you again.
8For a while, I turned away
in furious anger.
Now I will have mercy
and love you forever!
I, your protector and Lord,
make this promise.”
The Lord Promises Lasting Peace
9 #
Gn 9.8-17. I once promised Noah that I
would never again destroy
the earth by a flood.
Now I have promised that I
will never again get angry
and punish you.
10 #
Jdt 16.15. Every mountain and hill
may disappear.
But I will always be kind
and merciful to you;
I won't break my agreement
to give your nation peace.
The New Jerusalem
11 #
Rev 21.18-21. #Tb 13.16,17. Jerusalem, you are sad
and discouraged,
tossed around in a storm.
But I, the Lord,
will rebuild your city
with precious stones;#54.11 with precious stones: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
for your foundation
I will use blue sapphires.
12Your fortresses#54.12 fortresses: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
will be built of rubies,
your gates of jewels,
and your walls of gems.
13 #
Jn 6.45. I will teach your children
and make them successful.
14You will be built on fairness
with no fears of injustice;
every one of your worries
will be taken far from you.
15I will never send anyone
to attack your city,
and you will make prisoners
of those who do attack.
16Don't forget that I created
metalworkers who make weapons
over burning coals.
I also created armies
that can bring destruction.
17Weapons made to attack you
won't be successful;
words spoken against you
won't hurt at all.
My servants, Jerusalem is yours!
I, the Lord, promise
to bless you with victory.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.