Yahweh’s Righteousness is Forever

1“Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness,

Who seek Yahweh:

Look to the rock from which you were hewn

And to the [†]quarry from which you were dug.

2Look to Abraham your father

And to Sarah who brought you forth through labor pains;

When he was but one I called him,

Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”

3Indeed, Yahweh will comfort Zion;

He will comfort all her waste places.

And her wilderness He will make like Eden,

And her desert like the garden of Yahweh;

Joy and gladness will be found in her,

Thanksgiving and sound of a melody.

4“Pay attention to Me, O My people,

And give ear to Me, O My [†]nation;

For a law will go forth from Me,

And I will [†]set My justice for a light of the peoples.

5My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth,

And My arms will judge the peoples;

The coastlands will hope in Me,

And for My arm they will wait expectantly.

6Lift up your eyes to the sky,

Then look to the earth beneath;

For the sky will vanish like smoke,

And the earth will wear out like a garment,

And its inhabitants will die [†]in like manner;

But My salvation will be forever,

And My righteousness will not be dismayed.

7Listen to Me, you who know righteousness,

A people in whose heart is My law;

Do not fear the reproach of man,

Nor be dismayed at their revilings.

8For the moth will eat them like a garment,

And the grub will eat them like wool.

But My righteousness will be forever,

And My salvation to all generations.”

9Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Yahweh;

Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago.

Was it not You who chopped Rahab in pieces,

Who pierced the dragon?

10Was it not You who dried up the sea,

The waters of the great deep,

Who made the depths of the sea a pathway

For the redeemed to cross over?

11So the ransomed of Yahweh will return

And come with joyful shouting to Zion,

And everlasting gladness will be on their heads.

They will obtain joy and gladness,

And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

12“I, even I, am He who comforts you.

Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies

And of the son of man who is made like grass,

13That you have forgotten Yahweh your Maker,

Who stretched out the heavens

And laid the foundations of the earth,

That you tremble in dread continually all day long because of the wrath of the one who brings distress,

As he makes ready to bring ruin?

But where is the wrath of the one who brings distress?

14The one in chains will soon be set free and will not die in the pit, nor will his bread be lacking. 15For I am Yahweh your God, who stirs up the sea, and its waves roar—Yahweh of hosts is His name. 16I have put My words in your mouth and have 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.’”

17Awaken yourself! Awaken yourself! Arise, O Jerusalem,

You who have drunk from the hand of Yahweh the cup of His wrath;

The [†]chalice of reeling you have [†]drained to the dregs.

18There is none to guide her among all the sons she has borne,

Nor is there one to take hold of her by the hand among all the sons she has reared.

19These two things have befallen you;

Who will console you?

The devastation and destruction, famine and sword;

How shall I comfort you?

20Your sons have fainted;

They lie helpless at the head of every street,

Like an antelope in a net,

Full of the wrath of Yahweh,

The rebuke of your God.

21Therefore, now, listen to this, you afflicted,

Who are drunk, but not with wine:

22Thus says your Lord, Yahweh, even your God

Who contends for His people,

“Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling,

The [†]chalice of My wrath;

You will never drink it again.

23I will set it into the hand of those who cause you grief,

Who have said to [†]you, ‘Lie down that we may walk over you.’

You have even set your back down like the ground

And like the street for those who walk over it.”