1 Cheer for Downtrodden Zion Awake, awake,Put on your strength, O Zion;Put on your beautiful garments,O Jerusalem, the holy city;For the uncircumcised and the uncleanWill no longer come into you.
2 Shake yourself from the dust, arise,O captive Jerusalem;Rid yourself of the chains around your neck,O captive Daughter of Zion.
3 For the Lsays this, “You were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed, but not with money.”
4 For the Lord Gsays this, “My people went down at the first into Egypt to live there; and [many years later Sennacherib] the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
5 But now, what do I have here,” declares the L, “seeing that My people have been taken away without reason? Those who rule over them howl [with taunting and mockery of salvation],” declares the L, “and My name is continually blasphemed all day long.
6 Therefore My people shall know My Nameandwhat it means. Therefore in that day I am the One who is speaking, ‘Here I am.’ ”
7 How beautifulanddelightful on the mountainsAre the feet of him who brings good news,Who announces peace,Who brings good news of good [things],Who announces salvation,Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,Together they shout for joy;For they will see face to faceThe return of the Lto Zion.
9 Break forth, shout joyfully together,You ruins of Jerusalem;For the Lhas comforted His people,He has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lhas bared His holy arm (His infinite power)Before the eyes of all the nations [revealing Himself as the One by Whom Israel is redeemed from captivity],That all the ends of the earth may seeThe salvation of our God.
11 Depart, depart, go out from there (the lands of exile),Touch no unclean thing;Go out of the midst of her (Babylon), purify yourselves,You who carry the articles of the L[on your journey from there].
12 For you will not go out in a hurry [as when you left Egypt],Nor will you go in flight [fleeing, as you did from the Egyptians];For the Lwill go before you,And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
13 The Exalted Servant Indeed, My Servant (the Messiah) will act wiselyandprosper;He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted.
14 Just as many were astonishedandappalled at you,My people,So His appearance was marred more than any manAnd His form [marred] more than the sons of men.
15 So He will sprinkle many nations [with His blood, providing salvation],Kings will shut their mouths because of Him;For what they had not been told they will see,And what they had not heard they will understand.