Isaiah 52

1Wake up, wake up, Zion; wrap yourself in your strength! Jerusalem, holy city, dress in your robes of beauty, for never again will anyone uncircumcised or unclean come into you. 2Shake the dust from yourself and stand, Jerusalem, held captive! Undo the cords that bind your neck, captive Daughter Zion.

3For the LORD says this: You were sold and nothing was paid; you will be redeemed and no silver will change hands. 4For the Lord GOD says this: Long ago my people went down to Egypt to stay there as foreigners; then Assyria crushed them without cause. 5So now, what is here for me? declares the LORD. My people have been taken, and nothing was paid for them. Their rulers howl, declares the LORD, and all day long, without pause, my name is scorned. 6That is why my people will come to know my name. That is why, on that day, they will know that I am he, the one who speaks: Here I am! 7What a welcome sight on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news! He calls out peace, he brings word of good things, he announces salvation, and he tells Zion, “Your God reigns!” 8Hear it! Your watchmen are raising a shout; they cry out for joy as one, for they see it plainly, eye to eye, as the LORD comes back to Zion. 9You ruined places of Jerusalem, break into song; shout for joy, all of you together! The LORD has brought comfort to his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10The LORD has stripped bare his holy arm in full view of every nation, and the whole earth, to its farthest edges, will see the salvation of our God.

11Depart, depart, get out of there! Touch nothing unclean. Leave from the midst of her and make yourselves pure, you who bear the vessels of the LORD. 12For you will not leave in a rush, nor go off like runaways. The LORD walks at your head, and the God of Israel guards you from behind.

13Look, my servant will act with insight and succeed. He will rise and be lifted up; he will stand very high. 14Just as many stared at you in horror (his appearance so ruined it no longer seemed a man’s, his form so marred it hardly looked human), 15so he will sprinkle many nations. Kings will fall silent before him, for they will see a thing no one ever told them and grasp a thing they never heard.