Isaiah 51:1–11

The Lord Will Save His People

¹Listen to me, you people who pursue what is right and seek the Lord. 

Look to the rock from which you were cut 

and to the quarry from which you were dug. 

²Look to Abraham, your ancestor, 

and to Sarah, from whom you are descended. 

When I called Abraham, he was childless. 

I blessed him and gave him many descendants. 

³So 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. 

⁴Pay 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. 

⁵My 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. 

⁶Look 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. 

⁷Listen to me, you people who know righteousness, 

you people who have my teachings in your hearts. 

Don’t be afraid of being insulted by people. 

Don’t be discouraged by their ridicule. 

⁸Moths will eat them like clothing. 

Worms will devour them like wool. 

But my righteousness will last forever, 

and my salvation will last throughout every generation. 

⁹Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, O Lord! 

Wake up as you did in days long past, as in generations long ago. 

Didn’t you cut Rahab^ainto pieces and stab the serpent? 

¹⁰Didn’t you dry up the sea, the water of the great ocean? 

You made a road in the depths of the sea 

so that the people reclaimed ⸤by the Lord⸥ 

might pass through it. 

¹¹The people ransomed by the Lord will return. 

They will come to Zion singing with joy. 

Everlasting happiness will be on their heads ⸤as a crown⸥. 

They will be glad and joyful. 

They will have no sorrow or grief.