Isaiah

¹ Dress up in your Sunday best, Jerusalem, holy city! Those who want no part of God have been culled out. They won't be coming along.

² Throw off your chains, captive daughter of Zion!

³ God says, "You were sold for nothing. You're being bought back for nothing."

⁴ Again, the Master, God, says, "Early on, my people went to Egypt and lived, strangers in the land. At the other end, Assyria oppressed them.

⁵ And now, what have I here?" God's Decree. "My people are hauled off again for no reason at all. Tyrants on the warpath, whooping it up, and day after day, incessantly, my reputation blackened.

⁶ Now it's time that my people know who I am, what I'm made of—yes, that I have something to say. Here I am!"

⁷ are the feet of the messenger bringing good news, Breaking the news that all's well, proclaiming good times, announcing salvation, telling Zion, "Your God reigns!"

⁸ shouting in joyful unison. They see with their own eyes God coming back to Zion.

⁹ "God has comforted his people! He's redeemed Jerusalem!"

¹⁰ All the nations can see his holy, muscled arm. Everyone, from one end of the earth to the other, sees him at work, doing his salvation work.

¹¹ Don't look back. Don't contaminate yourselves with plunder. Just leave, but leave clean. Purify yourselves in the process of worship, carrying the holy vessels of God.

¹² You're not running from anybody! God is leading you out of here, and the God of Israel is also your rear guard.

¹³ Exalted, tall, head and shoulders above the crowd!

¹⁴ At first everyone was appalled. He didn't even look human— a ruined face, disfigured past recognition.

¹⁵ kings shocked into silence when they see him. For what was unheard of they'll see with their own eyes, what was unthinkable they'll have right before them."