Font Size
Isaiah 51:12-16
New International Version
Isaiah 51:12-16
New International Version
12 “I, even I, am he who comforts(A) you.
Who are you that you fear(B) mere mortals,(C)
human beings who are but grass,(D)
13 that you forget(E) the Lord your Maker,(F)
who stretches out the heavens(G)
and who lays the foundations of the earth,
that you live in constant terror(H) every day
because of the wrath of the oppressor,
who is bent on destruction?
For where is the wrath of the oppressor?(I)
14 The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;(J)
they will not die in their dungeon,
nor will they lack bread.(K)
15 For I am the Lord your God,
who stirs up the sea(L) so that its waves roar(M)—
the Lord Almighty(N) is his name.
16 I have put my words in your mouth(O)
and covered you with the shadow of my hand(P)—
I who set the heavens in place,
who laid the foundations of the earth,(Q)
and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.(R)’”
Isaiah 51:12-16
The Message
Isaiah 51:12-16
The Message
What Are You Afraid of—or Who?
12-16 “I, I’m the One comforting you.
What are you afraid of—or who?
Some man or woman who’ll soon be dead?
Some poor wretch destined for dust?
You’ve forgotten me, God, who made you,
who unfurled the skies, who founded the earth.
And here you are, quaking like an aspen
before the tantrums of a tyrant
who thinks he can kick down the world.
But what will come of the tantrums?
The victims will be released before you know it.
They’re not going to die.
They’re not even going to go hungry.
For I am God, your very own God,
who stirs up the sea and whips up the waves,
named God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
I teach you how to talk, word by word,
and personally watch over you,
Even while I’m unfurling the skies,
setting earth on solid foundations,
and greeting Zion: ‘Welcome, my people!’”
Isaiah 51:12-16
King James Version
Isaiah 51:12-16
King James Version
12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
14 The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.
15 But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name.
16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
Read full chapter
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson