1. Jerusalem, wake up!Stand up and be strong.Holy city of Zion,dress in your best clothes.Those foreigners who ruinedyour sacred citywon't bother you again.
2. Zion, rise from the dust!Free yourself from the ropearound your neck.
3. The Lord says:My people, you were sold,but not for money;now you will be set free,but not for a payment.
4. Long ago you went to Egyptwhere you livedas foreigners.Then Assyria was cruel to you,
5. and now another nationhas taken you prisonerfor no reason at all.Your leaders groan with pain,and day after daymy own name is cursed.
6. My people, you will learnwho I am and who is speakingbecause I am here.
7. What a beautiful sight!On the mountains a messengerannounces to Jerusalem,“Good news! You're saved.There will be peace.Your God is now King.”
8. Everyone on guard duty,sing and celebrate!Look! You can see the Lordreturning to Zion.
9. Jerusalem, rise from the ruins!Join in the singing.The Lord has given comfortto his people;he comes to your rescue.
10. The Lord has shown all nationshis mighty strength;now everyone will seethe saving power of our God.
11. Leave the city of Babylon!Don't touch anything filthy.Wash yourselves. Be readyto carry back everything sacredthat belongs to the Lord.
12. You won't need to run.No one is chasing you.The Lord God of Israelwill lead and protect youfrom enemy attacks.
13. The Lord says:My servant will succeed!He will be given great praiseand the highest honours.
14. Many were horrifiedat what happened to him.But everyone who saw himwas even more horrifiedbecause he suffered untilhe no longer looked human.
15. My servant will makenations worthy to worship me;kings will be silentas they bow in wonder.They will see and think aboutthings they have never seenor thought about before.