12 “I, even I, am he who comfortsb you.

Who are you that you fearc mere mortals,d

human beings who are but grass,e

13 that you forgetf the Lord your Maker,g

who stretches out the heavensh

and who lays the foundations of the earth,

that you live in constant terrori every day

because of the wrath of the oppressor,

who is bent on destruction?

For where is the wrath of the oppressor?j

14 The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;k

they will not die in their dungeon,

nor will they lack bread.l

15 For I am the Lord your God,

who stirs up the seam so that its waves roarn—

the Lord Almightyo is his name.

16 I have put my words in your mouthp

and covered you with the shadow of my handq—

I who set the heavens in place,

who laid the foundations of the earth,r

and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.s’ ”

The Cup of the Lord’s Wrath

17 Awake, awake!t

Rise up, Jerusalem,

you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord

the cupu of his wrath,v

you who have drained to its dregsw

the goblet that makes people stagger.x

18 Among all the childreny she bore

there was none to guide her;z

among all the children she reared

there was none to take her by the hand.a

19 These double calamitiesb have come upon you—

who can comfort you?c—

ruin and destruction,d faminee and swordf—

who cana console you?

20 Your children have fainted;

they lie at every street corner,g

like antelope caught in a net.h

They are filled with the wrathi of the Lord,

with the rebukej of your God.

21 Therefore hear this, you afflictedk one,

made drunk,l but not with wine.

22 This is what your Sovereign Lord says,

your God, who defendsm his people:

“See, I have taken out of your hand

the cupn that made you stagger;

from that cup, the goblet of my wrath,

you will never drink again.

23 I will put it into the hands of your tormentors,o

who said to you,

‘Fall prostratep that we may walkq on you.’

And you made your back like the ground,

like a street to be walked on.”r

52 Awake, awake,s Zion,

clothe yourself with strength!t

Put on your garments of splendor,u

Jerusalem, the holy city.v

The uncircumcisedw and defiledx

will not enter you again.y

2 Shake off your dust;z

rise up,a sit enthroned, Jerusalem.

Free yourself from the chains on your neck,b

Daughter Zion,c now a captive.

3 For this is what the Lord says:

“You were sold for nothing,d

and without moneye you will be redeemed.f”

4 For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“At first my people went down to Egyptg to live;

lately, Assyriah has oppressed them.

5 “And now what do I have here?” declares the Lord.

“For my people have been taken away for nothing,

and those who rule them mock,a”

declares the Lord.

“And all day long

my name is constantly blasphemed.i

6 Therefore my people will knowj my name;k

therefore in that dayl they will know

that it is I who foretoldm it.

Yes, it is I.”

7 How beautiful on the mountainsn

are the feet of those who bring good news,o

who proclaim peace,p

who bring good tidings,

who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion,

“Your God reigns!”q

8 Listen! Your watchmenr lift up their voices;s

together they shout for joy.t

When the Lord returnsu to Zion,v

they will see it with their own eyes.

9 Burst into songs of joyw together,

you ruinsx of Jerusalem,

for the Lord has comfortedy his people,

he has redeemed Jerusalem.z

10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arma

in the sight of all the nations,b

and all the ends of the earthc will see

the salvationd of our God.

11 Depart,e depart, go out from there!

Touch no unclean thing!f

Come out from it and be pure,g

you who carry the articlesh of the Lord’s house.

12 But you will not leave in hastei

or go in flight;

for the Lord will go before you,j

the God of Israel will be your rear guard.k