1Hearken to me , ye that follow after righteousness , ye that seek Jehovah : look unto the rock whence ye were hewn , and to the hole of the pit whence ye were digged . 2Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you ; for when he was but one I called him , and I blessed him , and made him many . 3For Jehovah hath comforted Zion ; he hath comforted all her waste places , and hath made her wilderness like Eden , and her desert like the garden of Jehovah ; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving , and the voice of melody . 4Attend unto me , O my people ; and give ear unto me , O my nation : for a law shall go forth from me , and I will establish my justice for a light of the peoples . 5My righteousness is near , my salvation is gone forth , and mine arms shall judge the peoples ; the isles shall wait for me , and on mine arm shall they trust . 6Lift up your eyes to the heavens , and look upon the earth beneath ; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke , and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner : but my salvation shall be for ever , and my righteousness shall not be abolished . 7Hearken unto me , ye that know righteousness , the people in whose heart is my law ; fear ye not the reproach of men , neither be ye dismayed at their revilings . 8For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool ; but my righteousness shall be for ever , and my salvation unto all generations .
The Eternal Nature of God's Word
9Awake , awake , put on strength , O arm of Jehovah ; awake , as in the days of old , the generations of ancient times . Is it not thou that didst cut Rahab in pieces , that didst pierce the monster ? 10Is it not thou that driedst up the sea , the waters of the great deep ; that madest the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over ? 11And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return , and come with singing unto Zion ; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads : they shall obtain gladness and joy ; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away . 12I , even I , am he that comforteth you : who art thou , that thou art afraid of man that shall die , and of the son of man that shall be made as grass ; 13and hast forgotten Jehovah thy Maker , that stretched forth the heavens , and laid the foundations of the earth ; and fearest continually all the day because of the fury of the oppressor , when he maketh ready to destroy ? and where is the fury of the oppressor ? 14The captive exile shall speedily be loosed ; and he shall not die and go down into the pit , neither shall his bread fail . 15For I am Jehovah thy God , who stirreth up the sea , so that the waves thereof roar : Jehovah of hosts is his name . 16And I have put my words in thy mouth , and have covered thee in the shadow of my hand , that I may plant the heavens , and lay the foundations of the earth , and say unto Zion , Thou art my people .
The Coming Judgment and Restoration
17Awake , awake , stand up , O Jerusalem , that hast drunk at the hand of Jehovah the cup of his wrath ; thou hast drunken the bowl of the cup of staggering, and drained it . 18There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth ; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand among all the sons that she hath brought up . 19These two things are befallen thee, who shall bemoan thee? desolation and destruction , and the famine and the sword ; how shall I comfort thee? 20Thy sons have fainted , they lie at the head of all the streets , as an antelope in a net ; they are full of the wrath of Jehovah , the rebuke of thy God . 21Therefore hear now this , thou afflicted , and drunken , but not with wine : 22Thus saith thy Lord Jehovah , and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people , Behold , I have taken out of thy hand the cup of staggering, even the bowl of the cup of my wrath ; thou shalt no more drink it again : 23and I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee , that have said to thy soul , Bow down , that we may go over ; and thou hast laid thy back as the ground, and as the street , to them that go over .