Bible in 90 Days
The Suffering and Glory of the Lord’s Servant
13 The Lord says, “My servant will act wisely and accomplish his task.
He will be highly honored. He will be greatly respected.
14 Many people were shocked when they saw him.
He was so scarred that he no longer looked like a person.
His body was so twisted that he did not look like a human being anymore.
15 But many nations will be surprised when they see what he has done.
Kings will be so amazed that they will not be able to say anything.
They will understand things they were never told.
They will know the meaning of things they never heard.”
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.”
Jerusalem Will Be Glorious
54 “Jerusalem, sing!
You are now like a woman who never had a child.
Burst into song! Shout for joy!
You who have never had labor pains,
you are now all alone.
But you will have more children than a woman who still has a husband,”
says the Lord.
2 “Make a large area for your tent.
Spread out its curtains.
Go ahead and make your tent wider.
Make its ropes longer.
Drive the stakes down deeper.
3 You will spread out to the right and the left.
Your children after you will drive out the nations that are now living in your land.
They will make their homes in the deserted cities of those nations.
4 “Do not be afraid. You will not be put to shame anymore.
Do not be afraid of being dishonored.
People will no longer make fun of you.
You will forget the time when you suffered as slaves in Egypt.
You will no longer remember the shame
of being a widow in Babylon.
5 I made you. I am now your husband.
My name is the Lord Who Rules Over All.
I am the Holy One of Israel.
I have set you free.
I am the God of the whole earth.
6 You were like a wife who was deserted.
And her heart was broken.
You were like a wife who married young.
And her husband sent her away.
But now I am calling you to come back,” says your God.
7 “For a brief moment I left you.
But because I love you so much, I will bring you back.
8 For a moment I turned my face away from you.
I was very angry with you.
But I will show you my loving concern.
My faithful love will continue forever,”
says the Lord. He is the one who set you free.
9 “During Noah’s time I made a promise.
I said I would never cover the earth with water again.
In the same way, I have promised not to be angry with you.
I will never punish you again.
10 The mountains might shake.
The hills might be removed.
But my faithful love for you will never be shaken.
And my covenant that promises peace to you will never be removed,”
says the Lord. He shows you his loving concern.
11 “Suffering city, you have been beaten by storms.
You have not been comforted.
I will rebuild you with turquoise stones.
I will rebuild your foundations with lapis lazuli.
12 I will line the top of your city wall with rubies.
I will make your gates out of gleaming jewels.
And I will make all your walls out of precious stones.
13 I will teach all your children.
And they will enjoy great peace.
14 When you do what is right,
you will be made secure.
Your leaders will not be mean to you.
You will not have anything to be afraid of.
You will not be terrified anymore.
Terror will not come near you.
15 People might attack you. But I will not be the cause of it.
Those who attack you will give themselves up to you.
16 “I created blacksmiths.
They fan the coals into flames of fire.
They make weapons that are fit for their work.
I also created those who destroy others.
17 But no weapon used against you will succeed.
People might bring charges against you.
But you will prove that they are wrong.
Those are the things I do for my servants.
I make everything right for them,”
announces the Lord.
The Lord Invites Thirsty People to Come to Him
55 “Come, all you who are thirsty.
Come and drink the water I offer to you.
You who do not have any money, come.
Buy and eat the grain I give you.
Come and buy wine and milk.
You will not have to pay anything for it.
2 Why spend money on what is not food?
Why work for what does not satisfy you?
Listen carefully to me.
Then you will eat what is good.
You will enjoy the richest food there is.
3 Listen and come to me.
Pay attention to me.
Then you will live.
I will make a covenant with you that will last forever.
I will give you my faithful love.
I promised it to David.
4 I made him a witness to the nations.
He became a ruler and commander over them.
5 You too will send for nations you do not know.
Even though you do not know them,
they will come running to you.
That is what I will do. I am the Lord your God.
I am the Holy One of Israel.
I have honored you.”
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.”
The Lord Will Save Those Who Come to Him
56 The Lord says,
“Do what is fair and right.
I will soon come and save you.
Soon everyone will know that what I do is right.
2 Blessed is the person who does what I want them to.
They are faithful in keeping the Sabbath day.
They do not misuse it.
They do not do what is evil on that day.”
3 Suppose an outsider wants to follow the Lord.
Then that person shouldn’t say,
“The Lord won’t accept me as one of his people.”
And a eunuch shouldn’t say,
“I’m like a dry tree
that doesn’t bear any fruit.”
4 The Lord says,
“Suppose some eunuchs keep my Sabbath days.
They choose to do what pleases me.
And they are faithful in keeping my covenant.
5 Then I will set up a monument in the area of my temple.
Their names will be written on it.
That will be better for them than having sons and daughters.
The names of the eunuchs will be remembered forever.
They will never be forgotten.
6 “Suppose outsiders want to follow me
and serve me.
They want to love me
and worship me.
They keep the Sabbath day and do not misuse it.
And they are faithful in keeping my covenant.
7 Then I will bring them to my holy mountain of Zion.
I will give them joy in my house.
They can pray there.
I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices on my altar.
My house will be called
a house where people from all nations can pray.”
8 The Lord and King will gather
those who were taken away from their homes in Israel.
He announces, “I will gather them to myself.
And I will gather others to join them.”
The Lord Judges Israel’s Evil Leaders
9 Come, all you enemy nations! Come like wild animals.
Come and destroy like animals in the forest.
10 Israel’s prophets are blind.
They don’t know the Lord.
All of them are like watchdogs that can’t even bark.
They just lie around and dream.
They love to sleep.
11 They are like dogs that love to eat.
They never get enough.
They are like shepherds who don’t have any understanding.
All of them do as they please.
They only look for what they can get for themselves.
12 “Come!” they shout. “Let’s get some wine!
Let’s drink all the beer we can!
Tomorrow we’ll do the same thing.
And that will be even better than today.”
57 Those who are right with God die.
And no one really cares about it.
People who are faithful to the Lord are swept away by trouble.
And no one understands why that happens
to those who do what is right.
2 Those who lead honest lives
will enjoy peace and rest when they die.
3 The Lord says, “Come here,
you children of women who practice evil magic!
You are children of prostitutes and those who commit adultery.
4 Who are you making fun of?
Who are you laughing at?
Who are you sticking your tongue out at?
You are people who refuse to obey me.
You are just a bunch of liars!
5 You burn with sinful desire among the oak trees.
You worship your gods under every green tree.
You sacrifice your children in the valleys.
You also do it under the cliffs.
6 You have chosen some of the smooth stones in the valleys to be your gods.
You have joined yourselves to them.
You have even poured out drink offerings to them.
You have given grain offerings to them.
So why should I take pity on you?
7 You have made your bed on a very high hill.
You went up there to offer your sacrifices.
8 You have set up statues to remind you of your gods.
You have put them behind your doors and doorposts.
You deserted me. You invited other lovers into your bed.
You climbed into it and welcomed them.
You made a deal with them.
And you looked with desire at their naked bodies.
9 You took olive oil to the god named Molek.
You took a lot of perfume along with you.
You sent your messengers to places far away.
You even sent them down to the place of the dead.
10 You wore yourself out with all your efforts.
But you would not say, ‘It’s hopeless.’
You received new strength.
So you did not give up.
11 “Who are you so afraid of
that you have not been faithful to me?
You have not remembered me.
What you do doesn’t even bother you.
I have not punished you for a long time.
That is why you are not afraid of me.
12 You have not done what is right or good.
I will let everyone know about it.
And that will not be of any benefit to you.
13 Go ahead and cry out for help to all the statues of your gods.
See if they can save you!
The wind will carry them off.
Just a puff of air will blow them away.
But anyone who comes to me for safety
will receive the land.
They will possess my holy mountain of Zion.”
The Lord Comforts People Who Are Sorry for Their Sins
14 A messenger says,
“Build up the road! Build it up! Get it ready!
Remove anything that would keep my people from coming back.”
15 The God who is highly honored lives forever.
His name is holy. He says,
“I live in a high and holy place.
But I also live with anyone who turns away from their sins.
I live with anyone who is not proud.
I give new life to them.
I give it to anyone who turns away from their sins.
16 I will not find fault with my people forever.
I will not always be angry with them.
If I were, I would cause their spirits to grow weak.
The people I created would faint away.
17 I was very angry with them.
They always longed for more and more of everything.
So I punished them for that sin.
I turned my face away from them because I was angry.
But they kept on wanting their own way.
18 I have seen what they have done.
But I will heal them.
I will guide them.
I will give those who mourn in Israel the comfort they had before.
19 Then they will praise me.
I will give perfect peace to those who are far away and those who are near.
And I will heal them,” says the Lord.
20 But those who are evil are like the rolling sea.
It never rests.
Its waves toss up mud and sand.
21 “There is no peace for those who are evil,” says my God.
What True Worship Is All About
58 The Lord told me,
“Shout out loud. Do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Tell my people that they have refused to obey me.
Tell the family of Jacob how much they have sinned.
2 Day after day they worship me.
They seem ready and willing to know how I want them to live.
They act as if they were a nation that does what is right.
They act as if they have not turned away from my commands.
They claim to want me to give them fair decisions.
They seem ready and willing to come near and worship me.
3 ‘We have gone without food,’ they say.
‘Why haven’t you noticed it?
We have made ourselves suffer.
Why haven’t you paid any attention to us?’
“On the day when you fast, you do as you please.
You take advantage of all your workers.
4 When you fast, it ends in arguing and fighting.
You hit one another with your fists.
That is an evil thing to do.
The way you are now fasting
keeps your prayers from being heard in heaven.
5 Do you think that is the way I want you to fast?
Is it only a time for people to make themselves suffer?
Is it only for people to bow their heads like tall grass bent by the wind?
Is it only for people to lie down in ashes and clothes of mourning?
Is that what you call a fast?
Do you think I can accept that?
6 “Here is the way I want you to fast.
“Set free those who are held by chains without any reason.
Untie the ropes that hold people as slaves.
Set free those who are crushed.
Break every evil chain.
7 Share your food with hungry people.
Provide homeless people with a place to stay.
Give naked people clothes to wear.
Provide for the needs of your own family.
8 Then the light of my blessing will shine on you like the rising sun.
I will heal you quickly.
I will march out ahead of you.
And my glory will follow behind you and guard you.
That’s because I always do what is right.
9 You will call out to me for help.
And I will answer you.
You will cry out.
And I will say, ‘Here I am.’
“Get rid of the chains you use to hold others down.
Stop pointing your finger at others as if they had done something wrong.
Stop saying harmful things about them.
10 Work hard to feed hungry people.
Satisfy the needs of those who are crushed.
Then my blessing will light up your darkness.
And the night of your suffering will become as bright as the noonday sun.
11 I will always guide you.
I will satisfy your needs in a land baked by the sun.
I will make you stronger.
You will be like a garden that has plenty of water.
You will be like a spring whose water never runs dry.
12 Your people will rebuild the cities that were destroyed long ago.
And you will build again on the old foundations.
You will be called One Who Repairs Broken Walls.
You will be called One Who Makes City Streets Like New Again.
13 “Do not work on the Sabbath day.
Do not do just anything you want to on my holy day.
Make the Sabbath a day you can enjoy.
Honor the Lord’s holy day.
Do not work on it.
Do not do just anything you want to.
Do not talk about things that are worthless.
14 Then you will find your joy in me.
I will give you control over the most important places in the land.
And you will enjoy all the good things
in the land I gave your father Jacob.”
The Lord has spoken.
The Lord Sets His People Free
59 People of Israel, the Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you.
His ears aren’t too deaf to hear your cry for help.
2 But your sins have separated you from your God.
They have caused him to turn his face away from you.
So he won’t listen to you.
3 Your hands and fingers are stained with blood.
You are guilty of committing murder.
Your mouth has told lies.
Your tongue says evil things.
4 People aren’t fair when they present cases in court.
They aren’t honest when they state their case.
They depend on weak arguments. They tell lies.
They plan to make trouble.
Then they carry it out.
5 The plans they make are like the eggs of poisonous snakes.
Anyone who eats those eggs will die.
When one of them is broken, a snake comes out.
6 Those people weave their evil plans together like a spider’s web.
But the webs they make can’t be used as clothes.
They can’t cover themselves with what they make.
Their acts are evil.
They do things to harm others.
7 They are always in a hurry to sin.
They run quickly to murder those who aren’t guilty.
They love to think up evil plans.
They leave a trail of harmful actions.
8 They don’t know how to live at peace with others.
What they do isn’t fair.
They lead twisted lives.
No one who lives like that will enjoy peace and rest.
9 We aren’t being treated fairly.
We haven’t been set free yet.
The God who always does what is right
hasn’t come to help us.
We look for light, but we see nothing but darkness.
We look for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
10 Like blind people we feel our way along the wall.
We are like those who can’t see.
At noon we trip and fall as if the sun had already set.
Compared to those who are healthy, we are like dead people.
11 All of us growl like hungry bears.
We sound like doves as we mourn.
We want the Lord to do what is fair and save us.
But he doesn’t do it.
We long for him to set us free.
But the time for that seems far away.
12 That’s because we’ve done so many things he considers wrong.
Our sins prove that we are guilty.
The wrong things we’ve done are always troubling us.
We admit that we have sinned.
13 We’ve refused to obey the Lord.
We’ve made evil plans against him.
We’ve turned our backs on our God.
We’ve stirred up conflict and refused to follow him.
We’ve told lies that came from our own minds.
14 So people stop others from doing what is fair.
They keep them from doing what is right.
No one tells the truth in court anymore.
No one is honest there.
15 In fact, truth can’t be found anywhere.
Those who refuse to do evil are attacked.
The Lord sees that people aren’t treating others fairly.
That makes him unhappy.
16 He sees that there is no one who helps his people.
He is shocked that no one stands up for them.
So he will use his own powerful arm to save them.
He has the strength to do it because he is holy.
17 He will put the armor of holiness on his chest.
He’ll put the helmet of salvation on his head.
He’ll pay people back for the wrong things they do.
He’ll wrap himself in anger as if it were a coat.
18 He will pay his enemies back for what they have done.
He’ll pour his anger out on them.
He’ll punish those who attack him.
He’ll give the people in the islands what they have coming to them.
19 People in the west will show respect for the Lord’s name.
People in the east will worship him because of his glory.
The Lord will come like a rushing river that was held back.
His breath will drive it along.
20 “I set my people free. I will come to Mount Zion.
I will come to those in Jacob’s family who turn away from their sins,”
announces the Lord.
21 “Here is the covenant I will make with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit is on you and will not leave you. I have put my words in your mouth. They will never leave your mouth. And they will never leave the mouths of your children or their children after them. That will be true for all time to come,” says the Lord.
Zion Will Be Glorious
60 “People of Jerusalem, get up.
Shine, because your light has come.
The glory of the Lord will shine on you.
2 Darkness covers the earth.
Thick darkness spreads over the nations.
But I will rise and shine on you.
My glory will appear over you.
3 Nations will come to your light.
Kings will come to the brightness of your new day.
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.”
The Year When the Lord Sets His People Free
61 The Spirit of the Lord and King is on me.
The Lord has anointed me
to announce good news to poor people.
He has sent me to comfort
those whose hearts have been broken.
He has sent me to announce freedom
for those who have been captured.
He wants me to set prisoners free
from their dark cells.
2 He has sent me to announce the year
when he will set his people free.
He wants me to announce the day
when he will pay his enemies back.
Our God has sent me to comfort all those who are sad.
3 He wants me to help those in Zion who are filled with sorrow.
I will put beautiful crowns on their heads
in place of ashes.
I will anoint them with olive oil to give them joy
instead of sorrow.
I will give them a spirit of praise
in place of a spirit of sadness.
They will be like oak trees that are strong and straight.
The Lord himself will plant them in the land.
That will show how glorious he is.
4 They will rebuild the places that were destroyed long ago.
They will repair the buildings that have been broken down for many years.
They will make the destroyed cities like new again.
They have been broken down for a very long time.
5 Outsiders will serve you by taking care of your flocks.
People from other lands will work in your fields and vineyards.
6 You will be called priests of the Lord.
You will be named workers for our God.
You will enjoy the wealth of nations.
You will brag about getting their riches.
7 Instead of being put to shame
you will receive a double share of wealth.
Instead of being dishonored
you will be glad to be in your land.
You will receive a double share of riches there.
And you’ll be filled with joy that will last forever.
8 The Lord says, “I love those who do what is right.
I hate it when people steal and do other sinful things.
So I will be faithful to my people.
And I will bless them.
I will make a covenant with them
that will last forever.
9 Their children after them will be famous among the nations.
Their families will be praised by people everywhere.
All those who see them will agree
that I have blessed them.”
10 The people of Jerusalem will say,
“We take great delight in the Lord.
We are joyful because we belong to our God.
He has dressed us with salvation as if it were our clothes.
He has put robes of godliness on us.
We are like a groom who is dressed up for his wedding.
We are like a bride who decorates herself with her jewels.
11 The soil makes the young plant come up.
A garden causes seeds to grow.
In the same way, the Lord and King will make godliness grow.
And all the nations will praise him.”
The Lord Gives Zion a New Name
62 The Lord says, “For the good of Zion I will not keep silent.
For Jerusalem’s benefit I will not remain quiet.
I will not keep silent until what I will do for them
shines like the sunrise.
I will not remain quiet until they are saved
and shine like a blazing torch.
2 Jerusalem, the nations will see
that I have made everything right for you.
All their kings will see your glory.
You will be called by a new name.
I myself will give it to you.
3 You will be like a glorious crown in my strong hand.
You will be like a royal crown in my powerful hand.
4 People will not call you Deserted anymore.
They will no longer name your land Empty.
Instead, you will be called One the Lord Delights In.
Your land will be named Married One.
That’s because the Lord will take delight in you.
And your land will be married.
5 As a young man marries a young woman,
so your Builder will marry you.
As a groom is happy with his bride,
so your God will be full of joy over you.”
6 Jerusalem, I have stationed guards on your walls.
They must never be silent day or night.
You who call out to the Lord
must not give yourselves any rest.
7 And don’t give him any rest
until he makes Jerusalem secure.
Don’t give him any peace
until people all over the earth praise that city.
8 The Lord has made a promise.
He has lifted up his right hand and mighty arm.
He has promised, “I will never give your grain
to your enemies for food again.
Outsiders will never again drink the fresh wine
you have worked so hard for.
9 Instead, those who gather the grain will eat it themselves.
And they will praise me.
Those who gather grapes to make the wine will enjoy it.
They will drink it in the courtyards of my temple.”
10 Go out through your gates, people of Jerusalem! Go out!
Prepare the way for the rest of your people to return.
Build up the road! Build it up!
Remove the stones.
Raise a banner over the city
for the nations to see.
11 The Lord has announced a message
from one end of the earth to the other.
He has said, “Tell the people of Zion,
‘Look! Your Savior is coming!
He is bringing his people back as his reward.
He has won the battle over their enemies.’ ”
12 They will be called the Holy People.
They will be called the People the Lord Set Free.
And Jerusalem will be named the City the Lord Cares About.
It will be named the City No Longer Deserted.
God Will Save His People and Punish Their Enemies
63 Who is this man coming from the city of Bozrah in Edom?
His clothes are stained bright red.
Who is he? He is dressed up in all his glory.
He is marching toward us with great strength.
The Lord answers, “It is I.
I have won the battle.
I am mighty.
I have saved my people.”
2 Why are your clothes red?
They look as if you have been stomping
on grapes in a winepress.
3 The Lord answers, “I have been stomping on the nations
as if they were grapes.
No one was there to help me.
I walked all over the nations because I was angry.
That is why I stomped on them.
Their blood splashed all over my clothes.
So my clothes were stained bright red.
4 I decided it was time to pay back Israel’s enemies.
The year for me to set my people free had come.
5 I looked around, but no one was there to help me.
I was shocked that no one gave me any help.
So I used my own power to save my people.
I had the strength to do it because I was angry.
6 I walked all over the nations because I was angry with them.
I made them drink from the cup of my great anger.
I poured out their blood on the ground.”
Isaiah Praises the Lord and Prays to Him
7 I will talk about the kind things the Lord has done.
I’ll praise him for everything he’s done for us.
He has done many good things
for the nation of Israel.
That’s because he loves us and is very kind to us.
8 In the past he said, “They are my people.
They are children who will be faithful to me.”
So he saved them.
9 When they suffered, he suffered with them.
He sent his angel to save them.
He set them free because he is loving and kind.
He lifted them up and carried them.
He did it again and again in days long ago.
10 But they refused to obey him.
They made his Holy Spirit sad.
So he turned against them and became their enemy.
He himself fought against them.
11 Then his people remembered what he did long ago.
They recalled the days of Moses and his people.
They asked, “Where is the God who brought
Israel through the Red Sea?
Moses led them as the shepherd of his flock.
Where is the God who put
his Holy Spirit among them?
12 He used his glorious and powerful arm
to help Moses.
He parted the waters of the sea in front of them.
That mighty act made him famous forever.
13 He led them through that deep sea.
Like a horse in open country,
they didn’t trip and fall.
14 They were like cattle that are taken down to the plains.
They were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord.”
That’s how he guided his people.
So he made a glorious name for himself.
15 Lord, look down from heaven.
Look down from your holy and glorious throne.
Where is your great love for us?
Where is your power?
Why don’t you show us
your tender love and concern?
16 You are our Father.
Abraham might not accept us as his children.
Jacob might not recognize us as his family.
But you are our Father, Lord.
Your name is One Who Always Sets Us Free.
17 Lord, why do you let us wander away from you?
Why do you let us become so stubborn
that we don’t respect you?
Come back and help us.
We are the tribes that belong to you.
18 For a little while your holy people possessed the land.
But now our enemies have torn your temple down.
19 We are like people you never ruled over.
We are like those who don’t belong to you.
64 I wish you would open up your heavens
and come down to us!
I wish the mountains would tremble
when you show your power!
2 Be like a fire that causes twigs to burn.
It also makes water boil.
So come down and make yourself known to your enemies.
Cause the nations to shake with fear
when they see your power!
3 Long ago you did some wonderful things we didn’t expect.
You came down, and the mountains trembled
when you showed your power.
4 No one’s ears have ever heard of a God like you.
No one’s eyes have ever seen a God who is greater than you.
No God but you acts for the good
of those who trust in him.
5 You come to help those who enjoy doing what is right.
You help those who thank you for teaching them how to live.
But when we continued to disobey you,
you became angry with us.
So how can we be saved?
6 All of us have become like someone who is “unclean.”
All the good things we do are like dirty rags to you.
All of us are like leaves that have dried up.
Our sins sweep us away like the wind.
7 No one prays to you.
No one asks you for help.
You have turned your face away from us.
You have let us feel the effects of our sins.
8 Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay. You are the potter.
Your hands made all of us.
9 Don’t be so angry with us, Lord.
Don’t remember our sins anymore.
Please have mercy on us.
All of us belong to you.
10 Your sacred cities have become a desert.
Even Zion is a desert.
Jerusalem is a dry and empty place.
11 Our people of long ago used to praise you in our holy and glorious temple.
But now it has been burned down.
Everything we treasured has been destroyed.
12 Lord, won’t you help us even after everything that’s happened?
Will you keep silent and punish us more than we can stand?
The Lord Judges and Saves
65 The Lord says, “I made myself known to those who were not asking for me.
I was found by those who were not trying to find me.
I spoke to a nation that did not pray to me.
‘Here I am,’ I said. ‘Here I am.’
2 All day long I have held out my hands
to welcome a stubborn nation.
They lead sinful lives.
They go where their evil thoughts take them.
3 They are always making me very angry.
They do it right in front of me.
They offer sacrifices in the gardens of other gods.
They burn incense on altars that are made out of bricks.
4 They sit among the graves.
They spend their nights talking to the spirits of the dead.
They eat the meat of pigs.
Their cooking pots hold soup that has ‘unclean’ meat in it.
5 They say, ‘Keep away! Don’t come near us!
We are too sacred for you!’
Those people are like smoke in my nose.
They are like a fire that keeps burning all day.
6 “I will judge them. I have even written it down.
I will not keep silent.
Instead, I will pay them back for all their sins.
7 I will punish them for their sins.
I will also punish them for the sins of their people before them.”
This is what the Lord says.
“They burned sacrifices on the mountains.
They disobeyed me by worshiping other gods on the hills.
So I will make sure they are fully punished
for all the sins they have committed.”
8 The Lord says,
“Sometimes juice is still left in grapes that have been crushed.
So people say, ‘Don’t destroy them.’
They are still of some benefit.”
That is what I will do for the good of those who serve me.
I will not destroy all my people.
9 I will give children
to the families of Jacob and Judah.
They will possess my entire land.
My chosen people will be given all of it.
Those who serve me will live there.
10 Their flocks will eat in the rich grasslands of Sharon.
Their herds will rest in the Valley of Achor.
That is what I will do for my people who follow me.
11 “But some of you have deserted me.
You no longer worship on my holy mountain of Zion.
You spread a table for the god called Good Fortune.
You offer bowls of mixed wine to the god named Fate.
12 So I will make it your fate to be killed by swords.
All of you will die in the battle.
That’s because I called out to you, but you did not answer me.
I spoke to you, but you did not listen.
You did what is evil in my sight.
You chose to do what does not please me.”
13 So the Lord and King says,
“Those who serve me will have food to eat.
But you will be hungry.
My servants will have plenty to drink.
But you will be thirsty.
Those who serve me will be full of joy.
But you will be put to shame.
14 My servants will sing
with joy in their hearts.
But you will cry out
because of the great pain in your hearts.
You will cry because your spirits are sad.
15 My chosen ones will use your names
when they curse others.
I am your Lord and King.
I will put you to death.
But I will give new names to those who serve me.
16 They will ask me to bless their land.
They will do it in my name.
I am the one true God.
They will make promises in their land.
They will do it in my name.
I am the one true God.
The troubles of the past will be forgotten.
They will be hidden from my eyes.
The Lord Will Create New Heavens and a New Earth
17 “I will create new heavens and a new earth.
The things that have happened before will not be remembered.
They will not even enter your minds.
18 So be glad and full of joy forever
because of what I will create.
I will cause others to take delight in Jerusalem.
They will be filled with joy
when they see its people.
19 And I will be full of joy because of Jerusalem.
I will take delight in my people.
Weeping and crying
will not be heard there anymore.
20 “Babies in Jerusalem will no longer
live only a few days.
Old people will not fail
to live for a very long time.
Those who live to the age of 100
will be thought of as mere children when they die.
Those who die before they are 100
will be considered as having been under God’s curse.
21 My people will build houses and live in them.
They will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They will no longer build houses
only to have others live in them.
They will no longer plant crops
only to have others eat them.
My people will live to be as old as trees.
My chosen ones will enjoy for a long time
the things they have worked for.
23 Their work will not be worthless anymore.
They will not have children who are sure to face sudden terror.
Instead, I will bless them.
I will also bless their children after them.
24 Even before they call out to me, I will answer them.
While they are still speaking, I will hear them.
25 Wolves and lambs will eat together.
Lions will eat straw like oxen.
Serpents will eat nothing but dust.
None of those animals will harm or destroy
anything or anyone on my holy mountain of Zion,”
says the Lord.
The Lord Judges Some People and Blesses Others
66 The Lord says,
“Heaven is my throne.
The earth is under my control.
So how could you ever build a house for me?
Where would my resting place be?
2 Didn’t I make everything by my power?
That is how all things were created,”
announces the Lord.
“The people I value are not proud.
They are sorry for the wrong things they have done.
They have great respect for what I say.
3 But others are not like that.
They sacrifice bulls to me,
but at the same time they kill people.
They offer lambs to me,
but they also sacrifice dogs to other gods.
They bring grain offerings to me,
but they also offer pig’s blood to other gods.
They burn incense to me,
but they also worship statues of gods.
They have chosen to go their own way.
They take delight in things I hate.
4 So I have also made a choice.
I will make them suffer greatly.
I will bring on them what they are afraid of.
When I called out to them, no one answered me.
When I spoke to them, no one listened.
They did what is evil in my sight.
They chose to do what displeases me.”
5 Listen to the word of the Lord.
Listen, you who tremble with fear when he speaks. He says,
“Some of your own people hate you.
They turn their backs on you because you are faithful to me.
They make fun of you and say,
‘Let the Lord show his glory by saving you.
Then we can see how happy you are.’
But they will be put to shame.
6 Hear the loud sounds coming from the city!
Listen to the noise coming from the temple!
I am the one causing it.
I am paying back my enemies for everything they have done.
7 “Zion is like a woman who has a baby
before she goes into labor.
She has a son
even before her labor pains begin.
8 Who has ever heard of anything like that?
Who has ever seen such a thing?
Can a country be born in a day?
Can a nation be created in a moment?
But as soon as Zion goes into labor,
there are many more of her people.
9 Zion, would I bring you to the moment of birth
and not let it happen?”
says the Lord.
“Would I close up a mother’s body
when it is time for her baby to be born?”
says your God.
10 “Be glad along with Jerusalem, all you who love her.
Be filled with joy because of her.
Take great delight in her,
all you who mourn over her.
11 You will nurse at her comforting breasts.
And you will be satisfied.
You will drink until you are full.
And you will delight in her rich and plentiful supply.”
12 The Lord continues,
“I will cause peace to flow over her like a river.
I will make the wealth of nations sweep over her like a flooding stream.
You will nurse and be carried in her arms.
You will play on her lap.
13 As a mother comforts her child,
I will comfort you.
You will find comfort in Jerusalem.”
14 When you see that happen, your hearts will be filled with joy.
Just as grass grows quickly, you will succeed.
The Lord will show his power to those who serve him.
But he will pour out his anger on his enemies.
15 The Lord will judge them with fire.
His chariots are coming like a windstorm.
He will pour out his burning anger on his enemies.
It will blaze out like flames of fire.
16 The Lord will judge with fire and with his sword.
He will judge all people.
He will put many people to death.
17 “Some people set themselves apart and make themselves pure. They do it so they can go into the gardens to worship other gods. They follow what the worship leader tells them to do. They are among those who eat the meat of pigs and rats. They also eat other ‘unclean’ things. Those people and the one they follow will come to a horrible end,” announces the Lord.
18 “They have planned to do many evil things. And they have carried out their plans. So I will come and gather the people of every nation and language. They will see my glory when I act.
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