Awake, O Jerusalem

Isaiah 51

The Lord calls his people to look to Abraham and Sarah and to remember the righteousness and salvation he is bringing, which will outlast the heavens and the earth. Jerusalem, who has drunk the cup of the Lord's wrath to the dregs, is summoned to awake, with the promise that the cup will now be passed to those who afflicted her.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonHEARKEN to me, ye who are in pursuit of righteousness and who are seeking the Lord. Look at that hard rock which you have been hewing, and into that deep pit which you have digged.

BrentonHearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, and seek the Lord: look to the solid rock, which ye have hewn, and to the hole of the pit which ye have dug.

GreekἈκούσατε μου οἱ διώκοντες τὸ δίκαιον, καὶ ζητοῦντες τὸν Κύριον, ἐμβλέψατε εἰς τὴν στερεὰν πέτραν, ἣν ἐλατομήσατε, καὶ εἰς τὸν βόθυνον τοῦ λάκκου, ὃν ὠρύξατε.

KJVHearken 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.

JPSHearken to Me, ye that follow after righteousness, Ye that seek the LORD; Look unto the rock whence ye were hewn, And to the hole of the pit whence ye were digged.

ThomsonLook to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who brought you forth. For he was an individual when I called him; and I blessed him and loved him and multiplied him.

BrentonLook to Abraam your father, and to Sarrha that bore you: for he was alone when I called him, and blessed him, and loved him, and multiplied him.

GreekἘμβλέψατε εἰς Ἁβραὰμ τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν, καὶ εἰς Σάῤῥαν τὴν ὠδίνουσαν ὑμᾶς· ὅτι εἷς ἦν, καὶ ἐκάλεσα αὐτὸν, καὶ εὐλόγησα αὐτὸν, καὶ ἠγάπησα αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐπλήθυνα αὐτόν.

KJVLook unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

JPSLook unto Abraham your father, And unto Sarah that bore you; For when he was but one I called him, And I blessed him, and made him many.

ThomsonAnd now O Sion, I will comfort thee. I have indeed comforted all her desolations, and I will make her waste places like a garden; and those west of her like the garden of the Lord. In her shall be found joy and gladness, thanksgiving and the sound of praise.

BrentonAnd now I will comfort thee, O Sion: and I have comforted all her desert places; and I will make her desert places as a garden, and her western places as the garden of the Lord; they shall find in her gladness and exultation, thanksgiving and the voice of praise.

GreekΚαὶ σὲ νῦν παρακαλέσω, Σιὼν, καὶ παρεκάλεσα πάντα τὰ ἔρημα αὐτῆς, καὶ θήσω τὰ ἔρημα αὐτῆς ὡς παράδεισον, καὶ τὰ πρὸς δυσμὰς αὐτῆς ὡς παράδεισον Κυρίου· εὐφροσύνην καὶ ἀγαλλίαμα εὑρήσουσιν ἐν αὐτῇ, ἐξομολόγησιν καὶ φωνὴν αἰνέσεως.

KJVFor 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.

JPSFor the LORD hath comforted Zion; He hath comforted all her waste places, And hath made 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.

ThomsonHear Me; hear Me, O My people, and ye kings; listen to Me; for from Me shall proceed a law; and My judgment shall be for the light of nations.

BrentonHear me, hear me, my people; and ye kings, hearken to me: for a law shall proceed from me, and my judgment shall be for a light of the nations.

GreekἈκούσατέ μου, ἀκούσατέ μου λαός μου, καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς πρὸς μὲ ἐνωτίσασθε, ὅτι νόμος παρʼ ἐμοῦ ἐξελεύσεται, καὶ ἡ κρίσις μου εἰς φῶς ἐθνῶν.

KJVHearken 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.

JPSAttend unto Me, O My people, And give ear unto Me, O My nation; For instruction shall go forth from Me, And My right on a sudden for a light of the peoples.

ThomsonMy deliverance is approaching speedily, and My salvation shall go forth as light; and on Mine arm nations will rely. The islands will expect Me and on Mine arm they will rely.

BrentonMy righteousness speedily draws nigh, and my salvation shall go forth as light, and on mine arm shall the Gentiles trust: the isles shall wait for me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

GreekἘγγίζει ταχὺ ἡ δικαιοσύνη μου, καὶ ἐξελεύσεται ὡς φῶς τὸ σωτήριόν μου, καὶ εἰς τὸν βραχίονά μου ἔθνη ἐλπιοῦσιν· ἐμὲ νῆσοι ὑπομενοῦσι, καὶ εἰς τὸν βραχίονά μου ἐλπιοῦσιν.

KJVMy 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.

JPSMy favour 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.

ThomsonTurn up your eyes to heaven; then look down on the earth below! for the heaven is like smoke condensed, and the earth shall grow old like a garment, and like those things the inhabitants shall perish: but My salvation shall endure forever, and My saving mercy shall never fail.

BrentonLift up your eyes to the sky, and look on the earth beneath: for the sky was darkened like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and the inhabitants shall die in like manner: but my righteousness shall not fail.

GreekἌρατε εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐμβλέψατε εἰς τὴν γῆν κάτω· ὅτι ὁ οὐρανὸς ὡς καπνὸς ἐστερεώθη, ἡ δὲ γῆ ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσεται, οἱ δὲ κατοικοῦντες ὥσπερ ταῦτα ἀποθανοῦνται, τὸ δὲ σωτήριόν μου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἔσται, ἡ δὲ δικαιοσύνη μου οὐ μὴ ἐκλίπῃ.

KJVLift 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.

JPSLift 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 favour shall not be abolished.

ThomsonHearken to Me, ye who know judgment; ye people, in whose heart is My law. Fear not the reproach of men, nor be overcome by their contempt.

BrentonHear me, ye that know judgment, the people in whose heart is my law: fear not the reproach of men, and be not overcome by their contempt.

GreekἈκούσατέ μου οἱ εἰδότες κρίσιν, λαὸς οὗ ὁ νόμος μου ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν· μὴ φοβεῖσθε ὀνειδισμὸν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ τῷ φαυλισμῷ αὐτῶν μὴ ἡττᾶσθε·

KJVHearken 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.

JPSHearken unto Me, ye that know righteousness, The people in whose heart is My law; Fear ye not the taunt of men, Neither be ye dismayed at their revilings.

ThomsonFor they are like a garment which shall be worn out by time, and like woollens which shall be devoured by a moth; but My saving mercy shall endure forever, and My salvation to generations of generations.

BrentonFor as a garment will be devoured by time, and as wool will be devoured by a moth, so shall they be consumed; but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation for all generations.

GreekὩς γὰρ ἱμάτιον βρωθήσεται ὑπὸ χρόνου, καὶ ὡς ἔρια βρωθήσεται ὑπὸ σητός· ἡ δὲ δικαιοσύνη μου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἔσται, τὸ δὲ σωτήριόν μου εἰς γενεὰς γενεῶν.

KJVFor 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 to generation.

JPSFor the moth shall eat them up like a garment, And the worm shall eat them like wool; But My favour shall be for ever, And My salvation unto all generations.

ThomsonAwake, awake, O Jerusalem! and clothe thyself with the strength of thine arm. Awake as at the beginning of day.

BrentonAwake, awake, O Jerusalem, and put on the strength of thine arm; awake as in the early time, as the ancient generation.

GreekἘξεγείρου ἐξεγείρου Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἔνδυσαι τὴν ἰσχὺν τοῦ βραχίονός σου, ἐξεγείρου ὡς ἐν ἀρχῇ ἡμέρας, ὡς γενεὰ αἰῶνος.

KJVAwake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?

JPSAwake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; Awake, as in the days of old, The generations of ancient times. Art thou not it that hewed Rahab in pieces, That pierced the dragon?

ThomsonArt thou not as the generation of old, which dried up the sea—the swelling water of the deep? Which made the depths of the sea a road for the delivered and redeemed to pass?

BrentonArt thou not it that dried the sea, the water, even the abundance of the deep; that made the depths of the sea a way of passage for the delivered and redeemed?

GreekΟὐ σὺ εἶ ἡ ἐρημοῦσα θάλασσαν, ὕδωρ ἀβύσσου πλῆθος; ἡ θεῖσα τὰ βάθη τῆς θαλάσσης ὁδὸν διαβάσεως ῥυομένοις καὶ λελυτρωμένοις;

KJVArt 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?

JPSArt thou not it that dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; That made the depths of the sea a way For the redeemed to pass over?

ThomsonFor under the guidance of the Lord they shall be brought back, and shall come to Sion with joy and everlasting gladness; for praise shall crown their head and joy shall overtake them. Grief and sorrow and sighing are fled.

Brentonfor by the help of the Lord they shall return, and come to Sion with joy and everlasting exultation, for praise and joy shall come upon their head: pain, and grief, and groaning, have fled away.

Greekὑπὸ γὰρ Κυρίου ἀποστραφήσονται, καὶ ἥξουσιν εἰς Σιὼν μετʼ εὐφροσύνης καὶ ἀγαλλιάματος αἰωνίου· ἐπὶ κεφαλῆς γὰρ αὐτῶν αἴνεσις καὶ εὐφροσύνη καταλήμψεται αὐτούς· ἀπέδρα ὀδύνη καὶ λύπη καὶ στεναγμός.

KJVTherefore 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.

JPSAnd the ransomed of the LORD 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.

ThomsonI The I Am am He Who comforteth thee. Recollect what thou wast when terrified at a mortal man, and at a son of man who are withered like grass;

BrentonI, even I, am he that comforts thee: consider who thou art, that thou wast afraid of mortal man, and of the son of man, who are withered as grass.

GreekἘγώ εἰμι, ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ παρακαλῶν σε· γνῶθι τίς οὖσα ἐφοβήθης ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπου θνητοῦ, καὶ ἀπὸ υἱοῦ ἀνθρώπου, οἳ ὡσεὶ χόρτος ἐξηράνθησαν.

KJVI, 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;

JPSI, 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;

Thomsonand forgottest the God Who made thee—Him Who made the heaven and founded the earth; and wast every day in continual dread of the furious countenance of thine oppressor. For how did he consult to carry thee away! But where now is the fury of thine oppressor?

BrentonAnd thou hast forgotten God who made thee, who made the sky and founded the earth; and thou wert continually afraid because of the wrath of him that afflicted thee: for whereas he counselled to take thee away, yet now where is the wrath of him that afflicted thee?

GreekΚαὶ ἐπελάθου Θεὸν τὸν ποιήσαντά σε, τὸν ποιήσαντα τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ θεμελιώσαντα τὴν γῆν· καὶ ἐφόβου ἀεὶ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ θυμοῦ τοῦ θλίβοντός σε· ὃν τρόπον γὰρ ἐβουλεύσατο τοῦ ἆραί σε, καὶ νῦν ποῦ ὁ θυμὸς τοῦ θλίβοντός σε;

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonFor in thy deliverance he shall not halt, nor tarry;

GreekἘν γὰρ τῷ σώζεσθαί σε οὐ στήσεται, οὐδὲ χρονιεῖ,

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBecause I thy God am He Who tempesteth the sea and causeth the billows thereof to roar; the Lord of Hosts is My name;

Brentonfor I am thy God, that troubles the sea, and causes the waves thereof to roar: the Lord of hosts is my name.

Greekὅτι ἐγὼ ὁ Θεός σου, ὁ ταράσσων τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἠχῶν τὰ κύματα αὐτῆς· Κύριος σαβαὼθ ὄνομά μοι.

KJVBut I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name.

JPSFor I am the LORD thy God, Who stirreth up the sea, that the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is His name.

ThomsonI will put My words in thy mouth, and cover thee under the shelter of My hand with which I made the heaven and founded the earth; and say to Sion, Thou art My people.

BrentonI will put my words into thy mouth, and I will shelter thee under the shadow of mine hand, with which I fixed the sky, and founded the earth: and the Lord shall say to Sion, Thou art my people.

GreekΘήσω τοὺς λόγους μου εἰς τὸ στόμα σου, καὶ ὑπὸ τὴν σκιὰν τῆς χειρός μου σκεπάσω σε, ἐν ᾗ ἔστησα τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ ἐθεμελίωσα τὴν γῆν· καὶ ἐρεῖ Σιὼν, λαός μου εἶ σύ.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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.’

ThomsonAwake, awake! stand up, O Jerusalem, who hast drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of His indignation. For thou hast drunk the cup of horror—the great cup of His wrath; and drained it.

BrentonAwake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, that hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury: for thou hast drunk out and drained the cup of calamity, the cup of wrath:

GreekἘξεγείρου ἐξεγείρου, ἀνάστηθι Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ἡ πιοῦσα ἐκ χειρὸς Κυρίου τὸ ποτήριον τοῦ θυμοῦ αὐτοῦ· τὸ ποτήριον γὰρ τῆς πτώσεως, τὸ κόνδυ τοῦ θυμοῦ ἐξέπιες καὶ ἐξεκένωσας,

KJVAwake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.

JPSAwake, awake, Stand up, O Jerusalem, That hast drunk at the hand of the LORD The cup of His fury; Thou hast drunken the beaker, even the cup of staggering, And drained it.

ThomsonAnd of all thy children which thou didst bring forth there was not one who comforted thee, nor was there one who took hold of thy hand: no, not of all the sons whom thou didst raise.

Brentonand there was none to comfort thee of all the children whom thou borest; and there was none to take hold of thine hand, not even of all the children whom thou hast reared.

Greekκαὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ παρακαλῶν σε ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν τέκνων σου ὧν ἔτεκες, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ ἀντιλαμβανόμενος τῆς χειρός σου, οὐδὲ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν υἱῶν σου ὧν ὕψωσας.

KJVThere is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.

JPSThere is none to guide her Among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; Neither is there any that taketh her by the hand Of all the sons that she hath brought up.

ThomsonBecause these things have befallen thee, who will condole with thee? Desolation and destruction, famine and the sword; who will comfort thee?

BrentonWherefore these things are against thee; who shall sympathise with thee in thy grief? downfall, and destruction, famine, and sword: who shall comfort thee?

GreekΔιὸ ταῦτα ἀντικείμενά σοι, τίς συλλυπηθήσεταί σοι; πτῶμα καὶ σύντριμμα, λιμὸς καὶ μάχαιρα, τίς παρακαλέσει σε;

KJVThese two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?

JPSThese two things are befallen thee; Who shall bemoan thee? Desolation and destruction, And the famine and the sword; How shall I comfort thee?

ThomsonThy sons? Some are astounded; some asleep at the head of every street, like a parboiled beet; some are full of the indignation of the Lord, enervated by the Lord God.

BrentonThy sons are the perplexed ones, that sleep at the top of every street as a half-boiled beet; they that are full of the anger of the Lord, caused to faint by the Lord God.

GreekΟἱ υἱοί σου οἱ ἀπορούμενοι, οἱ καθεύδοντες ἐπʼ ἄκρου πάσης ἐξόδου ὡς σευτλίον ἡμίεφθον, οἱ πλήρεις θυμοῦ Κυρίου, ἐκλελυμένοι διὰ Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ.

KJVThy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.

JPSThy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, As an antelope in a net; They are full of the fury of the LORD, The rebuke of thy God.

ThomsonTherefore hear, thou who hast been humbled, and who art drunk, but not with wine.

BrentonTherefore hear, thou afflicted one, and drunken, but not with wine;

GreekΔιατοῦτο ἄκουε τεταπεινωμένη, καὶ μεθύουσα οὐκ ἀπὸ οἴνου.

KJVTherefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:

JPSTherefore hear now this, thou afflicted, And drunken, but not with wine;

ThomsonThus saith the Lord, the God Who judgeth His people, Behold I have taken out of thy hand the cup of horror—the great cup of Mine indignation; and thou shalt no more drink it again.

Brentonthus saith the Lord God that judges his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of calamity, the cup of my wrath; and thou shalt not drink it any more.

GreekΟὕτως λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ κρίνων τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ, ἰδοὺ εἴληφα ἐκ τῆς χειρός σου τὸ ποτήριον τῆς πτώσεως, τὸ κόνδυ τοῦ θυμοῦ μου, καὶ οὐ προσθήσῃ ἔτι πιεῖν αὐτό·

KJVThus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:

JPSThus saith thy Lord the LORD, And thy God that pleadeth the cause of His people: Behold, I have taken out of thy hand The cup of staggering; The beaker, even the cup of My fury, Thou shalt no more drink it again;

ThomsonAnd I will put it into the hands of them who have injured thee and oppressed thee—who have said to thy soul, Crouch down that we may walk over thee; when thou hadst bent thy body down level with the earth in the street, to them passing along.

BrentonAnd I will give it into the hands of them that injured thee, and them that afflicted thee; who said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may pass over: and thou didst level thy body with the ground to them passing by without.

Greekκαὶ δώσω αὐτὸ εἰς τὰς χεῖρας τῶν ἀδικησάντων σε καὶ τῶν ταπεινωσάντων σε, οἳ εἶπαν τῇ ψυχῇ σου, κύψον, ἵνα παρέλθωμεν· καὶ ἔθηκας ἴσα τῇ γῇ τὰ μέσα σου ἔξω τοῖς παραπορευομένοις.

KJVBut I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

JPSAnd 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.