Isaiah 51 - Good News Translation (GNT)

Words of Comfort to Jerusalem

51 The Lord says,

“Listen to me, you that want to be saved,
you that come to me for help.
Think of the rock from which you came,
the quarry from which you were cut.
2 Think of your ancestor, Abraham,
and of Sarah, from whom you are descended.
When I called Abraham, he was childless,
but I blessed him and gave him children;
I made his descendants numerous.

3 “I will show compassion to Jerusalem,
to all who live in her ruins.
Though her land is a desert, I will make it a garden,
like the garden I planted in Eden.
Joy and gladness will be there,
and songs of praise and thanks to me.

4 “Listen to me, my people,
listen to what I say:
I give my teaching to the nations;
my laws will bring them light.
5 I will come quickly and save them;
the time of my victory is near.
I myself will rule over the nations.
Distant lands wait for me to come;
they wait with hope for me to save them.
6 Look up at the heavens; look at the earth!
The heavens will disappear like smoke;
the earth will wear out like old clothing,
and all its people will die like flies.
But the deliverance I bring will last forever;
my victory will be final.

7 “Listen to me, you that know what is right,
who have my teaching fixed in your hearts.
Do not be afraid when people taunt and insult you;
8 they will vanish like moth-eaten clothing!
But the deliverance I bring will last forever;
my victory will endure for all time.”

9 Wake up, Lord, and help us!
Use your power and save us;
use it as you did in ancient times.
It was you that cut the sea monster Rahab[a] to pieces.
10 It was you also who dried up the sea
and made a path through the water,
so that those you were saving could cross.
11 Those whom you have rescued
will reach Jerusalem with gladness,
singing and shouting for joy.
They will be happy forever,
forever free from sorrow and grief.

12 The Lord says,

“I am the one who strengthens you.
Why should you fear mortals,
who are no more enduring than grass?
13 Have you forgotten the Lord who made you,
who stretched out the heavens
and laid the earth's foundations?
Why should you live in constant fear
of the fury of those who oppress you,
of those who are ready to destroy you?
Their fury can no longer touch you.
14 Those who are prisoners will soon be set free;
they will live a long life
and have all the food they need.

15 “I am the Lord your God;
I stir up the sea
and make its waves roar.
My name is the Lord Almighty!
16 I stretched out[b] the heavens
and laid the earth's foundations;
I say to Jerusalem, ‘You are my people!
I have given you my teaching,
and I protect you with my hand.’”

The End of Jerusalem's Suffering

17 (A)Jerusalem, wake up!
Rouse yourself and get up!
You have drunk the cup of punishment
that the Lord in his anger gave you to drink;
you drank it down, and it made you stagger.
18 There is no one to lead you,
no one among your people
to take you by the hand.

19 A double disaster has fallen on you:
your land has been devastated by war,
and your people have starved.
There is no one to show you sympathy.
20 At the corner of every street
your people collapse from weakness;
they are like deer caught in a hunter's net.
They have felt the force of God's anger.

21 You suffering people of Jerusalem,
you that stagger as though you were drunk,
22 the Lord your God defends you and says,
“I am taking away the cup
that I gave you in my anger.
You will no longer have to drink
the wine that makes you stagger.
23 I will give it to those who oppressed you,
to those who made you lie down in the streets
and trampled on you as if you were dirt.”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 51:9 A legendary sea monster, which represented the forces of chaos and evil, was sometimes a symbol of Egypt.
  2. Isaiah 51:16 One ancient translation stretched out; Hebrew planted.

Cross references

  1. Isaiah 51:17 : Rev 14:10; Isa 16:19

You Might Also Like:

Isaiah 51 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

51 Hearken unto Me, ye pursuing righteousness, Seeking Jehovah, Look attentively unto the rock -- ye have been hewn, And unto the hole of the pit -- ye have been digged. 2 Look attentively unto Abraham your father, And unto Sarah -- she bringeth you forth, For -- one -- I have called him, And I bles...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

51 Hear ye me, that follow that that is just, and seek the Lord (Listen ye to me, ye who follow what is right, and seek the Lord). Take ye heed to the stone, from whence ye be hewn down, and to the cave of the pit, from which ye be cut down. 2 Take ye heed to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, that...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - World English Bible (WEB)

51 “Listen to me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek Yahweh.Look to the rock you were cut from, and to the quarry you were dug from.2 Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you;for when he was but one I called him, I blessed him, and made him many.3 For Yahweh has comforted...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - The Voice (VOICE)

51 Listen closely, you who diligently work for justice and look for the Eternal One, for what is fair and true.It would be good for you to look back, look to the place from where you came, the rock out of which you were shaped and the quarry from where you were mined.2 Look to your spiritual ancesto...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Comfort Zion With Justice51 “Listen to Me, you who pursue justice, you who seek Adonai.Look to the rock from which you were hewn,and to the quarry from which you were dug.2 Look to Abraham your fatherand to Sarah who bore you.For when I called him, he was but one,then I blessed him and multiplied hi...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Blessings in Store for God’s People51 “Hearken to me, you who pursue deliverance, you who seek the Lord;look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were digged.2 Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you;for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed ...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Blessings in Store for God’s People51 “Hearken to me, you who pursue deliverance, you who seek the Lord;look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were digged.2 Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you;for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed ...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Blessings in Store for God’s People51 Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the Lord.Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.2 Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you;for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed h...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Blessings in Store for God’s People51 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.(A)2 Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah, who bore you,for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed ...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - New Living Translation (NLT)

A Call to Trust the Lord51 “Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance— all who seek the Lord!Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined.2 Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation.Abraham was only one man when I called him...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - New Life Version (NLV)

Comfort for Zion51 “Listen to me, you who are following what is right and good, and who are looking for the Lord. Look to the rock from which you were cut out, and to the hole from which you were dug. 2 Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain. When he was but one, I ...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Lord Comforts Zion(A)51 “Listen to Me, (B)you who [a]follow after righteousness,You who seek the Lord:Look to the rock from which you were hewn,And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.2 (C)Look to Abraham your father,And to Sarah who bore you;(D)For I called him alone,And (E)blessed h...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Everlasting salvation for Zion51 ‘Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord:look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;2 look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth.When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - New International Version (NIV)

Everlasting Salvation for Zion51 “Listen(A) to me, you who pursue righteousness(B) and who seek(C) the Lord:Look to the rock(D) from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;2 look to Abraham,(E) your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth.When I called him he was only one man...
Read More

Isaiah 51 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

The Lord’s Saving Power for Zion Lasts Forever51 The Lord says, “Listen to me, you who want to do what is right. Pay attention, you who look to me.Consider the rock you were cut out of. Think about the rock pit you were dug from.2 Consider Abraham. He is the father of your people. Think about Sarah....
Read More

Isaiah 51 - New English Translation (NET)

There is Hope for the Future51 “Listen to me, you who pursue godliness,[a]who seek the Lord.Look at the rock from which you were chiseled,at the quarry[b] from which you were dug.[c]2 Look at Abraham, your father,and Sarah, who gave you birth.[d]When I summoned him, he was a lone individual,[e]but I...
Read More