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