以赛亚书 60
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)
耶和华荣光兴起万民咸归之
60 “兴起发光,因为你的光已经来到,耶和华的荣耀发现照耀你。 2 看哪,黑暗遮盖大地,幽暗遮盖万民,耶和华却要显现照耀你,他的荣耀要现在你身上。 3 万国要来就你的光,君王要来就你发现的光辉。
4 “你举目向四方观看!众人都聚集来到你这里,你的众子从远方而来,你的众女也被怀抱而来。 5 那时你看见就有光荣,你心又跳动又宽畅。因为大海丰盛的货物必转来归你,列国的财宝也必来归你。 6 成群的骆驼,并米甸和以法的独峰驼必遮满你,示巴的众人都必来到,要奉上黄金、乳香,又要传说耶和华的赞美。 7 基达的羊群都必聚集到你这里,尼拜约的公羊要供你使用,在我坛上必蒙悦纳,我必荣耀我荣耀的殿。 8 那些飞来如云,又如鸽子向窗户飞回的,是谁呢? 9 众海岛必等候我,首先是他施的船只,将你的众子连他们的金银从远方一同带来,都为耶和华你神的名,又为以色列的圣者,因为他已经荣耀了你。
不侍主者国必败亡
10 “外邦人必建筑你的城墙,他们的王必服侍你。我曾发怒击打你,现今却施恩怜恤你。 11 你的城门必时常开放,昼夜不关,使人把列国的财物带来归你,并将他们的君王牵引而来。 12 哪一邦哪一国不侍奉你,就必灭亡,也必全然荒废。 13 黎巴嫩的荣耀,就是松树、杉树、黄杨树,都必一同归你,为要修饰我圣所之地,我也要使我脚踏之处得荣耀。 14 素来苦待你的,他的子孙都必屈身来就你;藐视你的,都要在你脚下跪拜。他们要称你为耶和华的城,为以色列圣者的锡安。
暂被厌恶后福无疆
15 “你虽然被撇弃被厌恶,甚至无人经过,我却使你变为永远的荣华,成为累代的喜乐。 16 你也必吃万国的奶,又吃君王的奶。你便知道我耶和华是你的救主,是你的救赎主,雅各的大能者。 17 我要拿金子代替铜,拿银子代替铁,拿铜代替木头,拿铁代替石头,并要以和平为你的官长,以公义为你的监督。 18 你地上不再听见强暴的事,境内不再听见荒凉毁灭的事。你必称你的墙为‘拯救’,称你的门为‘赞美’。
耶和华为永久之光
19 “日头不再做你白昼的光,月亮也不再发光照耀你,耶和华却要做你永远的光,你神要为你的荣耀。 20 你的日头不再下落,你的月亮也不退缩,因为耶和华必做你永远的光,你悲哀的日子也完毕了。 21 你的居民都成为义人,永远得地为业,是我种的栽子,我手的工作,使我得荣耀。 22 至小的族要加增千倍,微弱的国必成为强盛,我耶和华要按定期速成这事。”
Isaiah 60
The Voice
Once again the scene shifts. The exile is receding in the past and the remnant of Israel—those who survived God’s judgment and Babylon’s cruelty—are working hard to rebuild their lives and communities. But life back in Jerusalem under Persian rule is not faring as well as they hoped. So once again a prophetic voice breaks the silence to address a discouraged population. Most people are facing terrific difficulties. Despite what their prophets have spoken, Jerusalem is a mere shadow of the great city their parents and grandparents knew. People doubt whether God is really alive, or really all that powerful, or really even cares. But the faithful know that God is powerful and does care; they are determined to convince their countrymen that He has their well-being in mind. He can make this people and this place great again, if they just trust and follow Him. Soon the whole world will be caught up in this brand new thing God is doing.
This section of Isaiah is written to a singular female as if she is the mother of the Jews. But this woman isn’t just any woman—she is Jerusalem. Cities are often described as female because they are like mothers supporting a brood of children (the population). This capital city of God’s special favor, of God’s presence, is filled with His people of the promise and is poised to become something new and glorious.
60 Arise, shine, for your light has broken through!
The Eternal One’s brilliance has dawned upon you.
2 See truly; look carefully—darkness blankets the earth;
people all over are cloaked in darkness.
But God will rise and shine on you;
the Eternal’s bright glory will shine on you, a light for all to see.
3 Nations north and south, peoples east and west, will be drawn to your light,
will find purpose and direction by your light.
In the radiance of your rising, you will enlighten the leaders of nations.
4 Don’t be shy; don’t be doubtful; lift up your eyes and look around.
They have gathered all around you, eager to come and be close to you.
And your children will come back to this land:
your sons from the farthest places of wandering,
and your daughters gently carried home.
5 And when you see it, your face will glow;
your heart will race and be filled with joy;
For great ships will arrive with gifts from across the sea,
and the wealth of nations will make their way to you.
6 Herd after herd of camels will cover the land,
caravans arriving daily from south and southwest: Midian, Ephah,
Even Sheba with gifts of gold and frankincense.
They will announce for all the world to hear, “The Eternal be praised!”
7 Kedar’s flocks will be gathered for you;
Nebaioth’s rams will be available for sacrifices.
Eternal One: When they are offered on My altar, I will accept them.
I will make My glorious house even more glorious.
8 Who are these sailing to our ports like clouds through the sky,
like doves winging their way home to their window sills?
9 Breezy coastlands will wait expectantly for Me; the ships of Tarshish arrive first
to bring your children back from distant lands
Carrying in their holds the silver and gold—
to honor the name of the Eternal your God,
The Holy One of Israel who has made you beautiful.
10 People will come from different countries and different cultures
to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls and make her strong again.
Their kings will help you however you need.
Eternal One: I punished you because I was furious with you,
reduced you to little on account of your persistent wrongdoing;
But I will restore you, reclaim you, and rebuild you because I cannot help but love you.
11 Now your gates will stay open to a constant stream of gifts;
all day and night they will not be shut
As the wealth of nations is brought to you
with their kings leading the processions.
12 Any nations that abstain, any peoples who decline from serving you
will simply disappear;
they will be destroyed.
13 Eternal One: Meanwhile, the most beautiful materials will arrive from Lebanon—
cypress, box, and pine—to rebuild and decorate the place where I promised to be,
My house where I will rest in glory among you.
14 And all the children of those who had bullied you, attacked and abused you,
all those who hated you will come crawling on their knees and bowing at your feet.
And they will address you as “city of God, place of the Eternal,
the Holy One of Israel’s Zion, sweet heaven on earth.”
15 Eternal One: Although you have suffered abandonment, hatred, and hopeless despair,
and no one dared to pass through,
I will make you a place of lofty beauty for all time,
filled and overflowing with joy from generation to generation.
16 You will be enriched by the world and its kings,
and you will know for certain that I am the Eternal,
Your Liberator, your Redeemer, the Strong One of Jacob.
17 I will bring you gold instead of bronze, silver instead of iron,
bronze instead of wood, iron instead of stone.
Your government will be founded and grounded;
I will make peace your governor, and righteousness your ruler.
18 You’ll never hear again, “Help! Call the guards!”
Violence, destruction, and ruin will be things of the past in Jerusalem.
You will name the city walls Salvation, and the city gates Praise.
19 You won’t need the sun to brighten the day
or the moon and lamps to give you light.
This Hebrew title “Messiah” is based on a verb rightly translated “to anoint.” Kings and priests are “messiah-ed” during this period. But prophets like Isaiah and those who stand in the tradition of the great Hebrew prophets are also anointed. Living and working in Jerusalem in these days is much different than in earlier times. Wracked by the ages and ruined by overt destruction and covert neglect, the citizens of the holy city face disillusionment and disappointment. The people who come back after exile in Babylon do not return to a gloriously restored city and temple, but to a difficult land and contentious neighbors. The prophet is inspired by the spirit of God to restore hope, to help, and to comfort. As a spiritual guide he is compelled to convince people that God remains with them and that He still desires what is good, right, and true for and within them. Centuries later, in a synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus will pick up the scroll of Isaiah and read these inspiring words. He will say in no uncertain terms that the Scriptures are being fulfilled right then and there in their hearing (Luke 4:16-21). The year of jubilee will have arrived.
The Eternal One will be all the light you ever need.
Your God will provide your glory, brilliance for all time.
20 Your sun will never set;
your moon will never be eclipsed in shadow,
For you’ll bask in the Eternal’s light and silver splendor forever.
Never again will you suffer the dark night of despair and gloom of mourning.
21 All the people will be right with God,
and they’ll stay in the land they possess forever.
Eternal One: I will plant them there like a sturdy sapling with My own hands.
I will tend them and take pride in their growing.
22 Just watch, they will develop robustly;
from so small a beginning, they will multiply and become a mighty nation.
I, the Eternal One, will make it happen soon.
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.