53 Who has believed what we’ve been saying?
    Who has seen the Lord’s saving power?
² His servant grew up like a tender young plant.
    He grew like a root coming up out of dry ground.
He didn’t have any beauty or majesty that made us notice him.
    There wasn’t anything special about the way he looked that drew us to him.
³ People looked down on him. They didn’t accept him.
    He knew all about pain and suffering.
He was like someone people turn their faces away from.
    We looked down on him. We didn’t have any respect for him.

⁴ He suffered the things we should have suffered.
    He took on himself the pain that should have been ours.
But we thought God was punishing him.
    We thought God was wounding him and making him suffer.
⁵ But the servant was pierced because we had sinned.
    He was crushed because we had done what was evil.
He was punished to make us whole again.
    His wounds have healed us.
⁶ All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God.
    All of us have turned to our own way.
And the Lord has placed on his servant
    the sins of all of us.

⁷ He was treated badly and made to suffer.
    But he didn’t open his mouth.
He was led away like a lamb to be killed.
    Sheep are silent while their wool is being cut off.
    In the same way, he didn’t open his mouth.
⁸ He was arrested and sentenced to death.
    Then he was taken away.
    He was cut off from this life.
He was punished for the sins of my people.
    Who among those who were living at that time
    tried to stop what was happening?
⁹ He was given a grave with those who were evil.
    But his body was buried in the tomb of a rich man.
He was killed even though he hadn’t harmed anyone.
    And he had never lied to anyone.

¹⁰ The Lord says, “It was my plan to crush him
    and cause him to suffer.
    I made his life an offering to pay for sin.
But he will see all his children after him.
    In fact, he will continue to live.
    My plan will be brought about through him.
¹¹ After he has suffered, he will see the light of life.
    And he will be satisfied.
My godly servant will make many people godly
    because of what he will accomplish.
    He will be punished for their sins.
¹² So I will give him a place of honor among those who are great.
    He will be rewarded just like others who win the battle.
That’s because he was willing to give his life as a sacrifice.
    He was counted among those who had committed crimes.
He took the sins of many people on himself.
    And he gave his life for those who had done what is wrong.”

⁶ Turn to the Lord before it’s too late.
    Call out to him while he’s still ready to help you.
⁷ Let those who are evil stop doing evil things.
    And let them quit thinking evil thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord.
    The Lord will show them his tender love.
Let them turn to our God.
    He is always ready to forgive.

⁸ “My thoughts are not like your thoughts.
    And your ways are not like my ways,”
    announces the Lord.
⁹ “The heavens are higher than the earth.
    And my ways are higher than your ways.
    My thoughts are higher than your thoughts.
¹⁰ The rain and the snow
    come down from the sky.
They do not return to it
    without watering the earth.
They make plants come up and grow.
    The plants produce seeds for farmers.
    They also produce food for people to eat.
¹¹ The words I speak are like that.
    They will not return to me without producing results.
They will accomplish what I want them to.
    They will do exactly what I sent them to do.

¹² “My people, you will go out of Babylon with joy.
    You will be led out of it in peace.
The mountains and hills
    will burst into song as you go.
And all the trees in the fields
    will clap their hands.
¹³ Juniper trees will grow where there used to be bushes that had thorns on them.
    And myrtle trees will grow where there used to be thorns.
That will bring me great fame.
    It will be a lasting reminder of what I can do.
    It will stand forever.”

⁴ “Look up. Look all around you.
    All your people are getting together to come back to you.
Your sons will come from far away.
    Your daughters will be carried on the hip like little children.
⁵ Then your face will glow with joy.
    Your heart will beat fast because you are so happy.
Wealth from across the ocean will be brought to you.
    The riches of the nations will come to you.
⁶ Herds of young camels will cover your land.
    They will come from Midian and Ephah.
They will also come from Sheba.
    They’ll carry gold and incense.
    And people will shout praises to me.
⁷ All of Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you.
    The rams of Nebaioth will serve as your sacrifices.
I will accept them as offerings on my altar.
    That is how I will bring honor to my glorious temple.

⁸ “Whose ships are these that sail along like clouds?
    They fly like doves to their nests.
⁹ People from the islands are coming to me.
    The ships of Tarshish are out in front.
They are bringing your children back from far away.
    Your children are bringing their silver and gold with them.
They are coming to honor me.
    I am the Lord your God.
I am the Holy One of Israel.
    I have honored you.

¹⁰ “People from other lands will rebuild your walls.
    Their kings will serve you.
When I was angry with you, I struck you.
    But now I will show you my tender love.
¹¹ Your gates will always stand open.
    They will never be shut, day or night.
Then people can bring you the wealth of the nations.
    Their kings will come along with them.
¹² The nation or kingdom that will not serve you will be destroyed.
    It will be completely wiped out.

¹³ “Lebanon’s glorious trees will be brought to you.
    Its junipers, firs and cypress trees will be brought.
They will be used to make my temple beautiful.
    And I will bring glory to the place where my throne is.
¹⁴ The children of those who crush you will come and bow down to you.
    All those who hate you will kneel down at your feet.
Jerusalem, they will call you the City of the Lord.
    They will name you Zion, the City of the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁵ “You have been deserted and hated.
    No one even travels through you.
But I will make you into something to be proud of forever.
    You will be a place of joy for all time to come.
¹⁶ You will get everything you need from kings and nations.
    You will be like children who are nursing
    at their mother’s breasts.
Then you will know that I am the one who saves you.
    I am the Lord. I set you free.
    I am the Mighty One of Jacob.
¹⁷ Instead of bronze I will bring you gold.
    In place of iron I will give you silver.
Instead of wood I will bring you bronze.
    In place of stones I will give you iron.
I will make peace govern you.
    I will make godliness rule over you.
¹⁸ People will no longer harm one another in your land.
    They will not wipe out or destroy anything inside your borders.
You will call your walls Salvation.
    And you will name your gates Praise.
¹⁹ You will not need the light of the sun by day anymore.
    The bright light of the moon will no longer have to shine on you.
I will be your light forever.
    My glory will shine on you.
    I am the Lord your God.
²⁰ Your sun will never set again.
    Your moon will never lose its light.
I will be your light forever.
    Your days of sorrow will come to an end.
²¹ Then all your people will do what is right.
    The land will belong to them forever.
They will be like a young tree I have planted.
    My hands have created them.
    They will show how glorious I am.
²² The smallest family among you will become a tribe.
    The smallest tribe will become a mighty nation.
I am the Lord.
    When it is the right time, I will act quickly.”