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Pay attention to me, my people.
Listen to me, my people!
For[a] I will issue a decree,[b]
I will make my justice a light to the nations.[c]
I am ready to vindicate,[d]
I am ready to deliver,[e]
I will establish justice among the nations.[f]
The coastlands[g] wait patiently for me;
they wait in anticipation for the revelation of my power.[h]
Look up at the sky.
Look at the earth below.
For the sky will dissipate[i] like smoke,
and the earth will wear out like clothes;
its residents will die like gnats.
But the deliverance I give[j] is permanent;
the vindication I provide[k] will not disappear.[l]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 51:4 tn Or “certainly.”
  2. Isaiah 51:4 tn Heb “instruction [or “a law”] will go out from me.”
  3. Isaiah 51:4 tn Heb “and my justice for a light to the nations I will cause to rest.”
  4. Isaiah 51:5 tn Heb “my righteousness [or “vindication”] is near.”
  5. Isaiah 51:5 tn Heb “my deliverance goes forth.”
  6. Isaiah 51:5 tn Heb “and my arms will judge [on behalf of] nations.”
  7. Isaiah 51:5 tn Or “islands” (NIV); TEV “Distant lands.”
  8. Isaiah 51:5 tn Heb “for my arm” (so NIV, NRSV).
  9. Isaiah 51:6 tn Heb “will be torn in pieces.” The perfect indicates the certitude of the event, from the Lord’s rhetorical perspective.
  10. Isaiah 51:6 tn Heb “my deliverance.” The same Hebrew word can also be translated “salvation” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); cf. CEV “victory.”
  11. Isaiah 51:6 tn Heb “my righteousness [or “vindication”].”
  12. Isaiah 51:6 tn Heb “will not be shattered [or “dismayed”].”

“Listen to me, my people;(A)
    hear me,(B) my nation:
Instruction(C) will go out from me;
    my justice(D) will become a light to the nations.(E)
My righteousness draws near speedily,
    my salvation(F) is on the way,(G)
    and my arm(H) will bring justice to the nations.
The islands(I) will look to me
    and wait in hope(J) for my arm.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
    look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke,(K)
    the earth will wear out like a garment(L)
    and its inhabitants die like flies.
But my salvation(M) will last forever,(N)
    my righteousness will never fail.(O)

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