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Isaiah 50-52
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Isaiah 50-52
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
50 Thus says the Lord:
Where is your mother’s bill of divorce
with which I dismissed her?
Or which of my creditors is it
to whom I have sold you?
No, because of your sins you were sold,
and for your transgressions your mother was dismissed.(A)
2 Why was no one there when I came?
Why did no one answer when I called?
Is my arm powerless to redeem?
Or have I no strength to deliver?
By my rebuke I dry up the sea;
I make the rivers a desert,
so that their fish stink for lack of water
and die of thirst.[a](B)
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness
and make sackcloth their covering.(C)
The Servant’s Humiliation and Vindication
4 The Lord God has given me
a trained tongue,[b]
that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens,
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.(D)
5 The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I did not turn backward.(E)
6 I gave my back to those who struck me
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.(F)
7 The Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;(G)
8 he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand in court together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.(H)
9 It is the Lord God who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
All of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.(I)
10 Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the voice of his servant,
who walks in darkness
and has no light,
yet trusts in the name of the Lord
and relies upon his God?(J)
11 But all of you are kindlers of fire,
lighters of firebrands.[c]
Walk in the flame of your fire
and among the brands that you have kindled!
This is what you shall have from my hand:
you shall lie down in torment.(K)
Blessings in Store for God’s People
51 Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,
you who seek the Lord.
Look to the rock from which you were hewn
and to the quarry from which you were dug.(L)
2 Look to Abraham your father
and to Sarah, who bore you,
for he was but one when I called him,
but I blessed him and made him many.(M)
3 For the Lord will comfort Zion;
he will comfort all her waste places
and will make her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the garden of the Lord;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of song.(N)
4 Listen to me, my people,
and give heed to me, my nation,
for a teaching will go out from me
and my justice for a light to the peoples.(O)
5 I will bring near my deliverance swiftly;
my salvation has gone out,
and my arms will rule the peoples;
the coastlands wait for me,
and for my arm they hope.(P)
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens
and look at the earth beneath,
for the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and those who live on it will die like gnats,[d]
but my salvation will be forever,
and my deliverance will never be ended.(Q)
7 Listen to me, you who know righteousness,
you people who have my teaching in your hearts;
do not fear the reproach of others,
and do not be dismayed when they revile you.(R)
8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment,
and the worm will eat them like wool,
but my deliverance will be forever
and my salvation to all generations.(S)
9 Awake, awake, put on strength,
O arm of the Lord!
Awake, as in days of old,
the generations of long ago!
Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces,
who pierced the dragon?(T)
10 Was it not you who dried up the sea,
the waters of the great deep;
who made the depths of the sea a way
for the redeemed to cross over?(U)
11 So the ransomed of the Lord shall return
and come to Zion with rejoicing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.(V)
12 I, I am he who comforts you;
why then are you afraid of a mere mortal who must die,
a human being who fades like grass?(W)
13 You have forgotten the Lord, your Maker,
who stretched out the heavens
and laid the foundations of the earth.
You fear continually all day long
because of the fury of the oppressor,
who is bent on destruction.
But where is the fury of the oppressor?(X)
14 The oppressed shall speedily be released;
they shall not die and go down to the Pit,
nor shall they lack bread.(Y)
15 For I am the Lord your God,
who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
the Lord of hosts is his name.(Z)
16 I have put my words in your mouth
and hidden you in the shadow of my hand,
stretching out[e] the heavens
and laying the foundations of the earth
and saying to Zion, “You are my people.”(AA)
17 Rouse yourself, rouse yourself!
Stand up, O Jerusalem,
you who have drunk at the hand of the Lord
the cup of his wrath,
who have drunk to the dregs
the cup of staggering.(AB)
18 There is no one to guide her
among all the children she has borne;
there is no one to take her by the hand
among all the children she has brought up.(AC)
19 These two things have befallen you
—who will grieve with you?—
devastation and destruction, famine and sword.
Who will comfort you?[f](AD)
20 Your children have fainted;
they lie at the head of every street
like an antelope in a net;
they are full of the wrath of the Lord,
the rebuke of your God.(AE)
21 Therefore hear this, you who are wounded,[g]
who are drunk but not with wine:(AF)
22 Thus says your Sovereign, the Lord,
your God who pleads the cause of his people:
See, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering;
you shall drink no more
from the cup of my wrath.(AG)
23 And I will put it into the hand of your tormentors,
who have said to you,
“Bow down, that we may walk on you,”
and you have made your back like the ground
and like the street for them to walk on.(AH)
Let Zion Rejoice
52 Awake; awake;
put on your strength, O Zion!
Put on your beautiful garments,
O Jerusalem, the holy city,
for the uncircumcised and the unclean
shall enter you no more.(AI)
2 Shake yourself from the dust; rise up,
O captive[h] Jerusalem;
loose the bonds from your neck,
O captive daughter Zion!(AJ)
3 For thus says the Lord: You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.(AK) 4 For thus says the Lord God: Long ago, my people went down into Egypt to reside there as aliens; the Assyrian, too, has oppressed them without cause.(AL) 5 Now therefore what am I doing here, says the Lord, seeing that my people are taken away without cause? Their rulers howl, says the Lord, and continually, all day long, my name is despised.(AM) 6 Therefore my people shall know my name; on[i] that day they shall know that it is I who speak—it is I!(AN)
7 How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”(AO)
8 Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy,
for in plain sight they see
the return of the Lord to Zion.(AP)
9 Break forth; shout together for joy,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people;
he has redeemed Jerusalem.(AQ)
10 The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.(AR)
11 Depart, depart, go out from there!
Touch no unclean thing;
go out from the midst of it; purify yourselves,
you who carry the vessels of the Lord.(AS)
12 For you shall not go out in haste,
and you shall not go in flight,
for the Lord will go before you,
and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.(AT)
The Suffering Servant
13 See, my servant shall prosper;
he shall be exalted and lifted up
and shall be very high.(AU)
14 Just as there were many who were astonished at him[j]
—so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of mortals—(AV)
15 so he shall startle[k] many nations;
kings shall shut their mouths because of him,
for that which had not been told them they shall see,
and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.(AW)
Footnotes
- 50.2 Or die on the thirsty ground
- 50.4 Cn: Heb of those who are taught
- 50.11 Syr: Heb you gird yourselves with firebrands
- 51.6 Or in like manner
- 51.16 Syr: Heb planting
- 51.19 Q ms Gk Syr Vg: MT how may I comfort you?
- 51.21 Or humbled
- 52.2 Cn: Heb rise up, sit
- 52.6 Q ms Syr Vg Tg: MT therefore on
- 52.14 Syr Tg: Heb you
- 52.15 Meaning of Heb uncertain
Isaiah 50-52
New International Version
Isaiah 50-52
New International Version
Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience
50 This is what the Lord says:
“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce(A)
with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
did I sell(B) you?
Because of your sins(C) you were sold;(D)
because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
2 When I came, why was there no one?
When I called, why was there no one to answer?(E)
Was my arm too short(F) to deliver you?
Do I lack the strength(G) to rescue you?
By a mere rebuke(H) I dry up the sea,(I)
I turn rivers into a desert;(J)
their fish rot for lack of water
and die of thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with darkness(K)
and make sackcloth(L) its covering.”
4 The Sovereign Lord(M) has given me a well-instructed tongue,(N)
to know the word that sustains the weary.(O)
He wakens me morning by morning,(P)
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.(Q)
5 The Sovereign Lord(R) has opened my ears;(S)
I have not been rebellious,(T)
I have not turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat(U) me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;(V)
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.(W)
7 Because the Sovereign Lord(X) helps(Y) me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,(Z)
and I know I will not be put to shame.(AA)
8 He who vindicates(AB) me is near.(AC)
Who then will bring charges against me?(AD)
Let us face each other!(AE)
Who is my accuser?
Let him confront me!
9 It is the Sovereign Lord(AF) who helps(AG) me.
Who will condemn(AH) me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
the moths(AI) will eat them up.
10 Who among you fears(AJ) the Lord
and obeys(AK) the word of his servant?(AL)
Let the one who walks in the dark,
who has no light,(AM)
trust(AN) in the name of the Lord
and rely on their God.
11 But now, all you who light fires
and provide yourselves with flaming torches,(AO)
go, walk in the light of your fires(AP)
and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:(AQ)
You will lie down in torment.(AR)
Everlasting Salvation for Zion
51 “Listen(AS) to me, you who pursue righteousness(AT)
and who seek(AU) the Lord:
Look to the rock(AV) from which you were cut
and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
2 look to Abraham,(AW) your father,
and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man,
and I blessed him and made him many.(AX)
3 The Lord will surely comfort(AY) Zion(AZ)
and will look with compassion on all her ruins;(BA)
he will make her deserts like Eden,(BB)
her wastelands(BC) like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness(BD) will be found in her,
thanksgiving(BE) and the sound of singing.
4 “Listen to me, my people;(BF)
hear me,(BG) my nation:
Instruction(BH) will go out from me;
my justice(BI) will become a light to the nations.(BJ)
5 My righteousness draws near speedily,
my salvation(BK) is on the way,(BL)
and my arm(BM) will bring justice to the nations.
The islands(BN) will look to me
and wait in hope(BO) for my arm.
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke,(BP)
the earth will wear out like a garment(BQ)
and its inhabitants die like flies.
But my salvation(BR) will last forever,(BS)
my righteousness will never fail.(BT)
7 “Hear me, you who know what is right,(BU)
you people who have taken my instruction to heart:(BV)
Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals
or be terrified by their insults.(BW)
8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment;(BX)
the worm(BY) will devour them like wool.
But my righteousness will last forever,(BZ)
my salvation through all generations.”
9 Awake, awake,(CA) arm(CB) of the Lord,
clothe yourself with strength!(CC)
Awake, as in days gone by,
as in generations of old.(CD)
Was it not you who cut Rahab(CE) to pieces,
who pierced that monster(CF) through?
10 Was it not you who dried up the sea,(CG)
the waters of the great deep,(CH)
who made a road in the depths of the sea(CI)
so that the redeemed(CJ) might cross over?
11 Those the Lord has rescued(CK) will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;(CL)
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy(CM) will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.(CN)
12 “I, even I, am he who comforts(CO) you.
Who are you that you fear(CP) mere mortals,(CQ)
human beings who are but grass,(CR)
13 that you forget(CS) the Lord your Maker,(CT)
who stretches out the heavens(CU)
and who lays the foundations of the earth,
that you live in constant terror(CV) every day
because of the wrath of the oppressor,
who is bent on destruction?
For where is the wrath of the oppressor?(CW)
14 The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;(CX)
they will not die in their dungeon,
nor will they lack bread.(CY)
15 For I am the Lord your God,
who stirs up the sea(CZ) so that its waves roar(DA)—
the Lord Almighty(DB) is his name.
16 I have put my words in your mouth(DC)
and covered you with the shadow of my hand(DD)—
I who set the heavens in place,
who laid the foundations of the earth,(DE)
and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.(DF)’”
The Cup of the Lord’s Wrath
17 Awake, awake!(DG)
Rise up, Jerusalem,
you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord
the cup(DH) of his wrath,(DI)
you who have drained to its dregs(DJ)
the goblet that makes people stagger.(DK)
18 Among all the children(DL) she bore
there was none to guide her;(DM)
among all the children she reared
there was none to take her by the hand.(DN)
19 These double calamities(DO) have come upon you—
who can comfort you?(DP)—
ruin and destruction,(DQ) famine(DR) and sword(DS)—
who can[a] console you?
20 Your children have fainted;
they lie at every street corner,(DT)
like antelope caught in a net.(DU)
They are filled with the wrath(DV) of the Lord,
with the rebuke(DW) of your God.
21 Therefore hear this, you afflicted(DX) one,
made drunk,(DY) but not with wine.
22 This is what your Sovereign Lord says,
your God, who defends(DZ) his people:
“See, I have taken out of your hand
the cup(EA) that made you stagger;
from that cup, the goblet of my wrath,
you will never drink again.
23 I will put it into the hands of your tormentors,(EB)
who said to you,
‘Fall prostrate(EC) that we may walk(ED) on you.’
And you made your back like the ground,
like a street to be walked on.”(EE)
52 Awake, awake,(EF) Zion,
clothe yourself with strength!(EG)
Put on your garments of splendor,(EH)
Jerusalem, the holy city.(EI)
The uncircumcised(EJ) and defiled(EK)
will not enter you again.(EL)
2 Shake off your dust;(EM)
rise up,(EN) sit enthroned, Jerusalem.
Free yourself from the chains on your neck,(EO)
Daughter Zion,(EP) now a captive.
3 For this is what the Lord says:
4 For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
5 “And now what do I have here?” declares the Lord.
“For my people have been taken away for nothing,
and those who rule them mock,[b]”
declares the Lord.
“And all day long
my name is constantly blasphemed.(EV)
6 Therefore my people will know(EW) my name;(EX)
therefore in that day(EY) they will know
that it is I who foretold(EZ) it.
Yes, it is I.”
7 How beautiful on the mountains(FA)
are the feet of those who bring good news,(FB)
who proclaim peace,(FC)
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”(FD)
8 Listen! Your watchmen(FE) lift up their voices;(FF)
together they shout for joy.(FG)
When the Lord returns(FH) to Zion,(FI)
they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy(FJ) together,
you ruins(FK) of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted(FL) his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.(FM)
10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm(FN)
in the sight of all the nations,(FO)
and all the ends of the earth(FP) will see
the salvation(FQ) of our God.
11 Depart,(FR) depart, go out from there!
Touch no unclean thing!(FS)
Come out from it and be pure,(FT)
you who carry the articles(FU) of the Lord’s house.
12 But you will not leave in haste(FV)
or go in flight;
for the Lord will go before you,(FW)
the God of Israel will be your rear guard.(FX)
The Suffering and Glory of the Servant
13 See, my servant(FY) will act wisely[c];
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.(FZ)
14 Just as there were many who were appalled(GA) at him[d]—
his appearance was so disfigured(GB) beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness(GC)—
15 so he will sprinkle(GD) many nations,[e]
and kings(GE) will shut their mouths(GF) because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.(GG)
Footnotes
- Isaiah 51:19 Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Masoretic Text / how can I
- Isaiah 52:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Vulgate; Masoretic Text wail
- Isaiah 52:13 Or will prosper
- Isaiah 52:14 Hebrew you
- Isaiah 52:15 Or so will many nations be amazed at him (see also Septuagint)
1 Thessalonians 5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
1 Thessalonians 5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you.(A) 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.(B) 3 When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!(C) 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief;(D) 5 for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6 So, then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober,(E) 7 for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night.(F) 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober and put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation.(G) 9 For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,(H) 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.(I) 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
Final Exhortations, Greetings, and Benediction
12 But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you;(J) 13 esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.(K) 15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.(L) 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good;(M) 22 abstain from every form of evil.
23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound[a] and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.(N) 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.(O)
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.(P)
26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. 27 I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters.(Q)
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.[b]
1 Thessalonians 5
New International Version
1 Thessalonians 5
New International Version
The Day of the Lord
5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates(A) we do not need to write to you,(B) 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord(C) will come like a thief in the night.(D) 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”(E) destruction will come on them suddenly,(F) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.(G)
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness(H) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.(I) 5 You are all children of the light(J) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,(K) but let us be awake(L) and sober.(M) 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.(N) 8 But since we belong to the day,(O) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,(P) and the hope of salvation(Q) as a helmet.(R) 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath(S) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.(T) 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.(U) 11 Therefore encourage one another(V) and build each other up,(W) just as in fact you are doing.
Final Instructions
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard(X) among you, who care for you in the Lord(Y) and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.(Z) 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle(AA) and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,(AB) be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,(AC) but always strive to do what is good for each other(AD) and for everyone else.
16 Rejoice always,(AE) 17 pray continually,(AF) 18 give thanks in all circumstances;(AG) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.(AH) 20 Do not treat prophecies(AI) with contempt 21 but test them all;(AJ) hold on to what is good,(AK) 22 reject every kind of evil.
23 May God himself, the God of peace,(AL) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul(AM) and body be kept blameless(AN) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.(AO) 24 The one who calls(AP) you is faithful,(AQ) and he will do it.(AR)
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.(AS) 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.(AT) 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.(AU)
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.(AV)
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
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