Isaiah 51:1–11

Yahweh Comforts Zion

51“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,^a

but^b I blessed him and made him numerous.”

³For Yahweh will comfort Zion;

he will comfort all its sites of ruins.

And he will make^c its wilderness like Eden,

and its desert like the garden of Yahweh.

Joy and gladness will be found in it,

thanksgiving and the sound^d 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^e 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^f them like wool,

but^g my righteousness will be forever,

and my salvation for generation after generation.^h”

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 madeⁱ the depths of the sea a way

for those who are redeemed to cross over?

¹¹So^j the redeemed ones of Yahweh shall return,

and they shall come to Zion with singing,

and everlasting joy shall be on their heads.^k

Joy and gladness shall appear;^l

sorrow and sighing shall flee away!