Isaiah 51:3–6

3 The Lord will surely comfort Zion

and will look with compassion on all her ruins;

he will make her deserts like Eden,

her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.

Joy and gladness will be found in her,

thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

4 “Listen to me, my people;

hear me, my nation:

Instruction will go out from me;

my justice will become a light to the nations.

5 My righteousness draws near speedily,

my salvation is on the way,

and my arm will bring justice to the nations.

The islands will look to me

and wait in hope for my arm.

6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

look at the earth beneath;

the heavens will vanish like smoke,

the earth will wear out like a garment

and its inhabitants die like flies.

But my salvation will last forever,

my righteousness will never fail.

3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion:

He will comfort all her waste places;

And he will make her wilderness like Eden,

And her desert like the garden of the Lord;

Joy and gladness shall be found therein,

Thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

4 Hearken unto me, my people;

And give ear unto me, O my nation:

For a law shall proceed from me,

And I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.

5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth,

And mine arms shall judge the people;

The isles shall wait upon me,

And on mine arm shall they trust.

6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

And look upon the earth beneath:

For the heavens shall vanish away like smoke,

And the earth shall wax old like a garment,

And they that dwell therein shall die in like manner:

But my salvation shall be for ever,

And my righteousness shall not be abolished.

3 The Lord will comfort Israel again

and have pity on her ruins.

Her desert will blossom like Eden,

her barren wilderness like the garden of the Lord.

Joy and gladness will be found there.

Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.

4 “Listen to me, my people.

Hear me, Israel,

for my law will be proclaimed,

and my justice will become a light to the nations.

5 My mercy and justice are coming soon.

My salvation is on the way.

My strong arm will bring justice to the nations.

All distant lands will look to me

and wait in hope for my powerful arm.

6 Look up to the skies above,

and gaze down on the earth below.

For the skies will disappear like smoke,

and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing.

The people of the earth will die like flies,

but my salvation lasts forever.

My righteous rule will never end!

3 For the Lord will comfort Zion,

He will comfort all her waste places;

He will make her wilderness like Eden,

And her desert like the garden of the Lord;

Joy and gladness will be found in it,

Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

4 “Listen to Me, My people;

And give ear to Me, O My nation:

For law will proceed from Me,

And I will make My justice rest

As a light of the peoples.

5 My righteousness is near,

My salvation has gone forth,

And My arms will judge the peoples;

The coastlands will wait upon Me,

And on My arm they will trust.

6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

And look on the earth beneath.

For the heavens will vanish away like smoke,

The earth will grow old like a garment,

And those who dwell in it will die in like manner;

But My salvation will be forever,

And My righteousness will not be abolished.

3 So the Lord will comfort Jerusalem;

he will show mercy to those who live in her ruins.

He will change her deserts into a garden like Eden;

he will make her empty lands like the garden of the Lord.

People there will be very happy;

they will give thanks and sing songs.

4 “My people, listen to me;

my nation, pay attention to me.

I will give the people my teachings,

and my decisions will be like a light to all people.

5 I will soon show that I do what is right.

I will soon save you.

I will use my power and judge all nations.

All the faraway places are waiting for me;

they wait for my power to help them.

6 Look up to the heavens.

Look around you at the earth below.

The skies will disappear like clouds of smoke.

The earth will become useless like old clothes,

and its people will die like flies.

But my salvation will continue forever,

and my goodness will never end.

3 For Jehovah hath comforted Zion; he hath comforted all her waste places, and hath made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

4 Attend unto me, O my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall go forth from me, and I will establish my justice for a light of the peoples. 5 My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the peoples; the isles shall wait for me, and on mine arm shall they trust. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

3 For Jehovah shall comfort Zion, he shall comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah: gladness and joy shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of song.

4 Listen unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will establish my judgment for a light of the peoples. 5 My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the peoples: the isles shall wait for me, and in mine arm shall they trust. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall grow old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

3 So the Lord will comfort Zion. 

He will comfort all those who live among its ruins. 

He will make its desert like Eden. 

He will make its wilderness like the garden of the Lord. 

Joy and gladness will be found in it, 

thanksgiving and the sound of singing. 

4 Pay attention to me, my people. 

Open your ears to hear me, my nation. 

My teachings will go out from me. 

My justice will become a light for the people. 

5 My righteousness is near. 

My salvation is on the way. 

I will bring justice to people. 

The coastlands put their hope in me, 

and they wait eagerly for me. 

6 Look at the sky. 

Look at the earth below. 

The sky will vanish like smoke. 

The earth will wear out like clothing, 

and those who live there will die like flies. 

But my salvation will last forever, 

and my righteousness will never fail. 

3 For the Lord will comfort Zion;

He will comfort all her waste places,

and He will make her wilderness like Eden,

and her desert like the garden of the Lord.

Joy and gladness will be found in her,

thanksgiving and melodious song.

4 Pay attention to Me, My people,

and listen to Me, My nation;

for instruction will come from Me,

and My justice for a light to the nations.

I will bring it about quickly.

5 My righteousness is near,

My salvation appears,

and My arms will bring justice to the nations.

The coastlands will put their hope in Me,

and they will look to My strength.

6 Look up to the heavens,

and look at the earth beneath;

for the heavens will vanish like smoke,

the earth will wear out like a garment,

and its inhabitants will die like gnats.

But My salvation will last forever,

and My righteousness will never be shattered.

3 For the Lord will comfort Zion;

he will comfort all her waste places

and will make her wilderness like Eden,

her desert like the garden of the Lord;

joy and gladness will be found in her,

thanksgiving and the voice of song.

4 Listen to me, my people,

and give heed to me, my nation,

for a teaching will go out from me

and my justice for a light to the peoples.

5 I will bring near my deliverance swiftly;

my salvation has gone out,

and my arms will rule the peoples;

the coastlands wait for me,

and for my arm they hope.

6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens

and look at the earth beneath,

for the heavens will vanish like smoke,

the earth will wear out like a garment,

and those who live on it will die like gnats,

but my salvation will be forever,

and my deliverance will never be ended.

3 For Yahweh will comfort Zion;

he will comfort all its sites of ruins.

And he will make its wilderness like Eden,

and its desert like the garden of Yahweh.

Joy and gladness will be found in it,

thanksgiving and the sound 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.

5 My 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.

6 Lift 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 my salvation will be forever,

and my righteousness will not be broken to pieces.

3 You can be sure that I will comfort Zion’s people.

I will look with loving concern on all of their destroyed buildings.

I will make their deserts like Eden.

I will make their dry and empty land like my very own garden.

Joy and gladness will be there.

People will sing and give thanks to me.

4 “Listen to me, my people.

Pay attention, my nation.

My law will go out to the nations.

I make everything right.

That will be a guiding light for them.

5 The time for me to set you free is near.

I will soon save you.

My powerful arm will make everything right among the nations.

The islands will put their hope in me.

They will wait for my powerful arm to act.

6 Look up toward the heavens.

Then look at the earth.

The heavens will vanish like smoke.

The earth will wear out like clothes.

Those who live there will die like flies.

But I will save you forever.

My saving power will never end.

3 Indeed, the Lord will comfort Zion;

He will comfort all her waste places.

And her wilderness He will make like Eden,

And her desert like the garden of the Lord;

Joy and gladness will be found in her,

Thanksgiving and sound of a melody.

4 “Pay attention to Me, O My people,

And give ear to Me, O My nation;

For a law will go forth from Me,

And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples.

5 “My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth,

And My arms will judge the peoples;

The coastlands will wait for Me,

And for My arm they will wait expectantly.

6 “Lift up your eyes to the sky,

Then look to the earth beneath;

For the sky will vanish like smoke,

And the earth will wear out like a garment

And its inhabitants will die in like manner;

But My salvation will be forever,

And My righteousness will not wane.