Isaiah 52

1 Awake, awake! Clothe yourself with strength, ^{a52:1 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read with your strength} O Zion! Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city, for the uncircumcised and the unclean won’t enter you. ^{b52:1 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read you any more}ISV — Isaiah 52:1

2 Shake yourself from the dust and ^{c52:2 So 1QIsaa LXX; 4QIsab MT lack and} arise, and ^{d52:2 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack and} sit on your throne, O Jerusalem! Loosen the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.ISV — Isaiah 52:2

3 For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and you’ll be redeemed without money.”ISV — Isaiah 52:3

4 For this is what the LORD ^{e52:4 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads the LORD GOD} says: “My people went down long ago into Egypt to live ^{f52:4 Or sojourn} there; the Assyrian, too, has oppressed them without cause.ISV — Isaiah 52:4

5 “Now therefore, what ^{g52:5 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads who} am I doing here,” asks ^{h52:5 Lit. declares} the LORD, “seeing that my people are taken away without cause? Those who rule over them are deluded,” ^{i52:5 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read them wail; or them taunt} says the LORD, “and continuously, all the day long, my name is blasphemed.ISV — Isaiah 52:5

6 Therefore my people will know my name; in that day ^{j52:6 So 1QIsaa LXX. MT reads therefore in that day} they’ll know that it is I who speaks, ‘Here I am!’ISV — Isaiah 52:6

7 “How beautiful ^{k52:7 Lit. they are beautiful; so 1QIsaa MTT LXXmss; 4QIsab reads It is beautiful} on the mountains are the feet of the one who brings news of peace, ^{l52:7 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read who brings good news} who announces good things, who announces salvation, ^{m52:7 So 1QIsaa; MT reads who announces peace, who brings news of good things, who announces salvation; cf. LXX} who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ISV — Isaiah 52:7

8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, ^{n52:8 Lit. their voice; so 1QIsaa; MT reads the voice} together they sing for joy; for they will see in plain sight the return of the LORD to Zion with compassion. ^{o52:8 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT lacks with compassion}ISV — Isaiah 52:8

9 “Break forth together into singing, ^{p52:9 Lit. sing for joy (sing.); so 1QIsaa; MT reads sing for joy (pl.)} you ruins of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted his people, and ^{q52:9 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT lacks and} he has redeemed Jerusalem.ISV — Isaiah 52:9

10 The LORD has bared his holy arm ^{r52:10 i.e. the Messiah} in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.ISV — Isaiah 52:10

11 “Depart! Depart! Go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.ISV — Isaiah 52:11

12 For you won’t go out in haste, nor will you go in flight; for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. He is called the God of all the earth.” ^{s52:12 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack this line}ISV — Isaiah 52:12

13 “Look! My servant will prosper, and ^{t52:13 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab 4QIsac MT lack and; LXX lacks and he will be exalted} he will be exalted and lifted up, and will be very high.ISV — Isaiah 52:13

14 Just as many were astonished at you ^{u52:14 So 1QIsaa MT LXX; MTmss Syriac read at him} — so was he marred in ^{v52:14 Or was my marring; so 1QIsaa; MT reads was the marring of} his appearance, more than any human, and his form beyond that of human semblance ^{w52:14 Lit. of the descendants of humans; so 1QIsaa; LXX reads of the humans; MT reads of the human} —ISV — Isaiah 52:14

15 so will he startle ^{x52:15 Or sprinkle} many nations. Kings will shut their mouths at him; for what had not been told them they will see, and what they had not heard they will understand.ISV — Isaiah 52:15