The Next Testament

Isaiah 51–52:12: Awake, Awake": The Cup Taken Away, and the Feet on the Mountains

Scripture: Berean Standard Bible

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,you who seek the LORD:Look to the rock from which you were cut,and to the quarry from which you were hewn.Look to Abraham your father,and to Sarah who gave you birth.When I called him, he was but one;then I blessed him and multiplied him.For the LORD will comfort Zionand will look with compassion on all her ruins;he will make her wilderness like Edenand her desert like the garden of the LORD.Joy and gladness will be found in her,thanksgiving and melodious song.
Pay attention to me, my people,and listen to me, my nation;for a law will go out from me,and my justice will become a light to the nations;I will bring it about quickly.
My righteousness draws near,my salvation is on the way,and my arms will bring justice to the nations.The islands will look for meand wait in hope for my arm.Lift up your eyes to the heavens,and look at the earth below;for the heavens will vanish like smoke,the earth will wear out like a garment,and its people will die like gnats.But my salvation will last forever,and my righteousness will never fail.
Listen to me, you who know what is right,you people with my law in your hearts:Do not fear the scorn of men;do not be broken by their insults.For the moth will devour them like a garment,and the worm will eat them like wool.But my righteousness will last forever,my salvation through all generations.”
Awake, awake,put on strength, O arm of the LORD.Wake up as in days past,as in generations of old.Was it not you who cut Rahab to pieces,who pierced through the dragon?Was it not you who dried up the sea,the waters of the great deep,who made a road in the depths of the seafor the redeemed to cross over?So the redeemed of the LORD will returnand enter Zion with singing,crowned with everlasting joy.Gladness and joy will overtake them,and sorrow and sighing will flee.
“I, even I, am he who comforts you.Why should you be afraid of mortal man,of a son of man who withers like grass?But you have forgotten the LORD, your Maker,who stretched out the heavensand laid the foundations of the earth.You live in terror all day longbecause of the fury of the oppressorwho is bent on destruction.But where is the fury of the oppressor?The captive will soon be freed;he will not die in the dungeon,and his bread will not be lacking.For I am the LORD your Godwho stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is his name.I have put my words in your mouth,and covered you with the shadow of my hand,to establish the heavens, to found the earth,and to say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’ ”
Awake, awake!Rise up, O Jerusalem,you who have drunk from the hand of the LORDthe cup of his fury;you who have drained the goblet to the dregs—the cup that makes men stagger.Among all the sons she bore,there is no one to guide her;among all the sons she brought up,there is no one to take her hand.These pairs have befallen you:devastation and destruction,famine and sword.Who will grieve for you?Who can comfort you?Your sons 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.
Therefore now hear this, you afflicted one,drunken, but not with wine.Thus says your Lord, the LORD,even your God, who defends his people:
“See, I have removed from your handthe cup of staggering.From that goblet, the cup of my fury,you will never drink again.I will place it in the hands of your tormentors,who told you: ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you,’so that you made your back like the ground,like a street to be traversed.”Awake, awake,clothe yourself with strength, O Zion!Put on your garments of splendor,O Jerusalem, holy city!For the uncircumcised and uncleanwill no longer enter you.Shake off your dust!Rise up and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem.Remove the chains from your neck,O captive Daughter of Zion.

For this is what the LORD says:

“You were sold for nothing,and without money you will be redeemed.”

For this is what the Lord GOD says:

“At first my people went down to Egypt to live,then Assyria oppressed them without cause.And now what have I here?declares the LORD.For my people have been taken without cause;those who rule them taunt,declares the LORD,and my name is blasphemed continuallyall day long.Therefore my people will know my name;therefore they will know on that daythat I am he who speaks.Here I am!”
How beautiful on the mountainsare the feet of those who bring good news,who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,who proclaim salvation,who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,together they shout for joy.For every eye will seewhen the LORD returns to Zion.Break forth in joy, sing together,O ruins of Jerusalem,for the LORD has comforted his people;he has redeemed Jerusalem.The LORD has bared his holy armin the sight of all the nations;all the ends of the earth will seethe salvation of our God.
Depart, depart, go out from there!Touch no unclean thing;come out from it, purify yourselves,you who carry the vessels of the LORD.For you will not leave in a hurrynor flee in haste,for the LORD goes before you,and the God of Israel is your rear guard.