Isaiah 53

53Who would have believed what we heard?

Who saw the Lord’s power in this?

²He grew up like a small plant before the Lord,

like a root growing in a dry land.

He had no special beauty or form to make us notice him;

there was nothing in his appearance to make us desire him.

³He was hated and rejected by people.

He had much pain and suffering.

People would not even look at him.

He was hated, and we didn’t even notice him.

⁴But he took our suffering on him

and felt our pain for us.

We saw his suffering

and thought God was punishing him.

⁵But he was wounded for the wrong we did;

he was crushed for the evil we did.

The punishment, which made us well, was given to him,

and we are healed because of his wounds.

⁶We all have wandered away like sheep;

each of us has gone his own way.

But the Lord has put on him the punishment

for all the evil we have done.

⁷He was beaten down and punished,

but he didn’t say a word.

He was like a lamb being led to be killed.

He was quiet, as a sheep is quiet while its wool is being cut;

he never opened his mouth.

⁸Men took him away roughly and unfairly.

He died without children to continue his family.

He was put to death;

he was punished for the sins of my people.

⁹He was buried with wicked men,

and he died with the rich.

He had done nothing wrong,

and he had never lied.

¹⁰But it was the Lord who decided

to crush him and make him suffer.

The Lord made his life a penalty offering,

but he will still see his descendants and live a long life.

He will complete the things the Lord wants him to do.

¹¹“After his soul suffers many things,

he will see life and be satisfied.

My good servant will make many people right with God;

he will carry away their sins.

¹²For this reason I will make him a great man among people,

and he will share in all things with those who are strong.

He willingly gave his life

and was treated like a criminal.

But he carried away the sins of many people

and asked forgiveness for those who sinned.”