Jerusalem can celebrate

1Jerusalem, wake up!52.1: Rev 21.2,27.

Stand up and be strong.

Holy city of Zion,

dress in your best clothes.

Those foreigners who ruined

your sacred city

won't bother you again.

2Zion, rise from the dust!

Free yourself from the rope

around your neck.

Suffering will end

3The LORD says:

My people, you were sold,

but not for money;

now you will be set free,

but not for a payment.

4Long ago you went to Egypt

where you lived

as foreigners.

Then Assyria was cruel to you,

5and now another nation52.5 another nation: Babylonia.52.5: Ro 2.24.

has taken you prisoner

for no reason at all.

Your leaders groan with pain,52.5 groan with pain: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

and day after day

my own name is cursed.

6My people, you will learn

who I am and who is speaking

because I am here.

A message of hope for Jerusalem

7What a beautiful sight!52.7: Nah 1.15; Ro 10.15; Eph 6.15.

On the mountains a messenger

announces to Jerusalem,

“Good news! You're saved.

There will be peace.

Your God is now King.”

8Everyone on guard duty,

sing and celebrate!

Look! You can see the LORD

returning to Zion.

9Jerusalem, rise from the ruins!

Join in the singing.

The LORD has given comfort

to his people;

he comes to your rescue.

10The LORD has shown all nations

his mighty strength;

now everyone will see

the saving power of our God.

A command to leave Babylon

11Leave the city of Babylon!52.11: 2 Co 6.17.

Don't touch anything filthy.

Wash yourselves. Be ready

to carry back everything sacred

that belongs to the LORD.

12You won't need to run.

No one is chasing you.

The LORD God of Israel

will lead and protect you

from enemy attacks.

The suffering servant

13The LORD says:

My servant will succeed!

He will be given great praise

and the highest honours.

14Many were horrified

at what happened to him.52.14 him: One ancient translation; Hebrew “you”.

But everyone who saw him

was even more horrified

because he suffered until

he no longer looked human.52.14 human: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 14.

15My servant will make52.15: Ro 15.21.

nations worthy to worship me;52.15 My…me: Hebrew; one ancient translation “The nations will be amazed at him.”

kings will be silent

as they bow in wonder.52.15 kings…wonder: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

They will see and think about

things they have never seen

or thought about before.