17 Wake yourself, wake yourself up!
Stand up, Jerusalem,
you who have drunk the cup of his fury(A)
from the Lord’s hand;
you who have drunk the goblet to the dregs—
the cup that causes people to stagger.
18 There is no one to guide her
among all the children she has raised;
there is no one to take hold of her hand
among all the offspring she has brought up.
19 These two things have happened to you:(B)
devastation and destruction,
famine and sword.
Who will grieve for you?
How can I[a] comfort you?
20 Your children have fainted;
they lie at the head of every street
like an antelope in a net.
They are full of the Lord’s fury,
the rebuke of your God.

21 So listen to this, suffering
and drunken one—but not with wine.(C)
22 This is what your Lord says—
the Lord, even your God,
who defends his people(D)
“Look, I have removed from your hand
the cup that causes staggering;
that goblet, the cup of my fury.
You will never drink it again.
23 I will put it into the hands of your tormentors,
who said to you,(E)
‘Lie down, so we can walk over you.’
You made your back like the ground,
and like a street for those who walk on it.

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Footnotes

  1. 51:19 DSS, LXX, Syr, Vg read you? Who can

Wake yourself, Jerusalem

17 Wake yourself, wake yourself!
    Rise up, Jerusalem,
    who drank the cup of wrath from the Lord’s hand.
    You drank; you drained the goblet of reeling.
18     There’s no one to guide her among all the children she bore;
    there’s no one to take her by the hand among all the children she raised.
19 These two things have happened to you—
    Who will be sorry for you?[a]
        destruction and devastation,
        famine and sword—
    who will comfort you?[b]
20 Your children passed out;
    they lay at the head of every street like antelope in a net,
    filled with the Lord’s wrath,
    with the rebuke of your God.

21 Therefore, hear this, suffering one,
    who is drunk, but not from wine.
22 The Lord, your Lord and your God,
    who contends for his people, says:
    Look, I have taken the cup of reeling,
    the goblet of my wrath, from your hand.
    You will no longer drink from it.
23 I will put it in the hand of your tormentors,
    who said to you,
    “Lie down so that we can walk on you.
    Make your back like the ground,
    like a street for those walking on it.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 51:19 DSS (1QIsaa), LXX, Vulg; MT How will I
  2. Isaiah 51:19 Or how will I comfort you?