Isaiah 51:1-16

Isaiah 51:1-16

[1] Hearken  to me, ye that follow after  righteousness,  ye that seek  the LORD:  look  unto the rock  whence ye are hewn,  and to the hole  of the pit  whence ye are digged.  [2] Look  unto Abraham  your father,  and unto Sarah  that bare  you: for I called  him alone,  and blessed  him, and increased  him. [3] For the LORD  shall comfort  Zion:  he will comfort  all her waste places;  and he will make  her wilderness  like Eden,  and her desert  like the garden  of the LORD;  joy  and gladness  shall be found  therein, thanksgiving,  and the voice  of melody.  [4] Hearken  unto me, my people;  and give ear  unto me, O my nation:  for a law  shall proceed  from me, and I will make my judgment  to rest  for a light  of the people.  [5] My righteousness  is near;  my salvation  is gone forth,  and mine arms  shall judge  the people;  the isles  shall wait  upon me, and on mine arm  shall they trust.  [6] Lift 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  but my salvation  shall be for ever,  and my righteousness  shall not be abolished.  [7] Hearken  unto me, ye that know  righteousness,  the people  in whose heart  is my law;  fear  ye not the reproach  of men,  neither be ye afraid  of their revilings.  [8] For 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  from generation  [9] Awake,  put on  strength,  O arm  awake,  as in the ancient  days,  in the generations  of old.  Art thou not it that hath cut  Rahab,  and wounded  the dragon?  [10] Art thou not it which hath dried  the sea,  the waters  of the great  deep;  that hath made  the depths  of the sea  a way  for the ransomed  to pass over?  [11] Therefore the redeemed  of the LORD  shall return,  and come  with singing  unto Zion;  and everlasting  joy  shall be upon their head:  they shall obtain  gladness  and joy;  and sorrow  and mourning  shall flee away.  [12] I, even I, am he that comforteth  you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid  of a man  that shall die,  and of the son  of man  which shall be made  as grass;  [13] And forgettest  the LORD  thy maker,  that hath stretched forth  the heavens,  and laid the foundations  of the earth;  and hast feared  continually  every day  because  of the fury  of the oppressor,  as if  he were ready  to destroy?  and where is the fury  of the oppressor?  [14] The captive exile  hasteneth  that he may be loosed,  and that he should not die  in the pit,  nor that his bread  should fail.  [15] But I am the LORD  thy God,  that divided  the sea,  whose waves  roared:  The LORD  of hosts  is his name.  [16] And I have put  my words  in thy mouth,  and I have covered  thee in the shadow  of mine hand,  that I may plant  the heavens,  and lay the foundations  of the earth,  and say  unto Zion,  Thou art my people.