Good Tidings to Zion

Isaiah 52

Zion is called to awake, put on her strength, and shake off the dust of captivity, for the Lord will redeem her without price and every nation will see the salvation of God. The chapter closes by introducing the Lord's servant, who will be exalted and glorified even though his appearance will first seem marred beyond that of other men.

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

ThomsonAWAKE, awake, O Sion! clothe thyself, O Sion, with thy strength. Put on thy glory, O Jerusalem, thou holy city! No more shall the uncircumcised and the unclean pass through thee.

BrentonAwake, awake, Sion; put on thy strength, O Sion; and do thou put on thy glory, Jerusalem the holy city: there shall no more pass through thee the uncircumcised and unclean.

GreekἘξεγείρου ἐξεγείρου Σιὼν, ἔνδυσαι τὴν ἰσχύν σου Σιὼν, καὶ σὺ ἔνδυσαι τὴν δόξαν σου Ἱερουσαλὴμ πόλις ἡ ἁγία· οὐκέτι προστεθήσεται διελθεῖν διὰ σοῦ ἀπερίτμητος καὶ ἀκάθαρτος.

KJVAwake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

JPSAwake, awake, Put on thy strength, O Zion; Put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; For henceforth there shall no more come into thee The uncircumcised and the unclean.

ThomsonShake off the dust, and stand up: assume thy seat, O Jerusalem! Loose the chain from thy neck, O captive daughter of Sion!

BrentonShake off the dust and arise; sit down, Jerusalem: put off the band of thy neck, captive daughter of Sion.

GreekἘκτίναξαι τὸν χοῦν καὶ ἀνάστηθι, κάθισον Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ἔκδυσαι τὸν δεσμὸν τοῦ τραχήλου σου ἡ αἰχμάλωτος θυγάτηρ Σιών.

KJVShake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

JPSShake thyself from the dust; Arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem; Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

ThomsonFor thus saith the Lord: You were sold for nought; and you shall be ransomed, not with money.

BrentonFor thus saith the Lord, Ye have been sold for nought; and ye shall not be ransomed with silver.

GreekὍτι τάδε λέγει Κύριος, δωρεὰν ἐπράθητε, καὶ οὐ μετὰ ἀργυρίου λυτρωθήσεσθε.

KJVFor thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

JPSFor thus saith the LORD: Ye were sold for nought; And ye shall be redeemed without money.

ThomsonThus saith the Lord, My people went down to Egypt at first to sojourn there; and to the Assyrians they were carried by force.

BrentonThus saith the Lord, My people went down before to Egypt to sojourn there; and were carried away forcibly to the Assyrians.

GreekΟὕτως λέγει Κύριος, εἰς Αἴγυπτον κατέβη ὁ λαός μου τὸ πρότερον παροικῆσαι ἐκεῖ, καὶ εἰς Ἀσσυρίους βίᾳ ἤχθησαν.

KJVFor thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

JPSFor thus saith the Lord GOD: My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; And the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

ThomsonNow therefore why are you here? Thus saith the Lord, Because My people were taken away for nought, express your amazement, and raise the mournful cry!

BrentonAnd now why are ye here? Thus saith the Lord, Because my people was taken for nothing, wonder ye and howl. Thus saith the Lord, On account of you my name is continually blasphemed among the Gentiles.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν τί ἐστὲ ὧδε; τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ὅτι ἐλήφθη ὁ λαός μου δωρεὰν, θαυμάζετε καὶ ὀλολύζετε· τάδε λέγει Κύριος, διʼ ὑμᾶς διαπαντὸς τὸ ὄνομά μου βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι.

KJVNow therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

JPSNow therefore, what do I here, saith the LORD, Seeing that My people is taken away for nought? They that rule over them do howl, saith the LORD, And My name continually all the day is blasphemed.

Thomson—

BrentonTherefore shall my people know my name in that day, for I am he that speaks: I am present,

GreekΔιατοῦτο γνώσεται ὁ λαός μου τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι αὐτὸς ὁ λαλῶν, πάρειμι ὡς ὥρα ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων,

KJVTherefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

JPSTherefore My people shall know My name; Therefore they shall know in that day That I, even He that spoke, behold, here I am.

ThomsonTherefore in that day My people shall know My name. Because I The I Am, the same Who am speaking, am at hand, like beauty on the mountains---like the feet of one proclaiming peace, like one proclaiming glad tidings. Because I will cause thy salvation to be proclaimed, saying, O Sion, Thy God will reign;

Brentonas a season of beauty upon the mountains, as the feet of one preaching glad tidings of peace, as one preaching good news: for I will publish thy salvation, saying, O Sion, thy God shall reign.

Greekὡς πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου ἀκοὴν εἰρήνης, ὡς εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀγαθὰ, ὅτι ἀκουστὴν ποιήσω τὴν σωτηρίαν σου, λέγων, Σιὼν βασιλεύσει σου ὁ Θεός.

KJVHow beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

JPSHow beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of the messenger of good tidings, That announceth peace, the harbinger of good tidings, That announceth salvation; That saith unto Zion: ‘Thy God reigneth! ’

Thomsonbecause the voice of thy watchmen is lifted up; with the voice therefore let all at the same time express joy. Because eyes will look to eyes when the Lord compassionateth Sion;

BrentonFor the voice of them that guard thee is exalted, and with the voice together they shall rejoice: for eyes shall look to eyes, when the Lord shall have mercy upon Sion.

GreekὍτι φωνὴ τῶν φυλασσόντων σε ὑψώθη, καὶ τῇ φωνῇ ἅμα εὐφρανθήσονται· ὅτι ὀφθαλμοὶ πρὸς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὄψονται, ἡνίκα ἂν ἐλεήσῃ Κύριος τὴν Σιών.

KJVThy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.

JPS—

Thomsonlet the ruins of Jerusalem break out together with bursts of joy. Because the Lord hath compassionated her and delivered Jerusalem;

BrentonLet the waste places of Jerusalem break forth in joy together, because the Lord has had mercy upon her, and has delivered Jerusalem.

GreekῬηξάτω εὐφροσύνην ἅμα τὰ ἔρημα Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ὅτι ἠλέησε Κύριος αὐτὴν, καὶ ἐῤῥύσατο Ἱερουσαλήμ.

KJVBreak forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

JPSBreak forth into joy, sing together, Ye waste places of Jerusalem; For the LORD hath comforted His people, He hath redeemed Jerusalem.

Thomsonlet the Lord therefore make bare His holy arm in the sight of all the nations! and let all the ends of the earth see the salvation come from our God.

BrentonAnd the Lord shall reveal his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation that comes from our God.

GreekΚαὶ ἀποκαλύψει Κύριος τὸν βραχίονα τὸν ἅγιον αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν, καὶ ὄψονται πάντα ἄκρα τῆς γῆς τὴν σωτηρίαν τὴν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν.

KJVThe LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

JPSThe LORD hath made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God.

ThomsonDepart, depart; come out thence, and touch no polluted thing. Come out from the midst of her; be clean, ye who carry the vessels of the Lord.

BrentonDepart ye, depart, go out from thence, and touch not the unclean thing; go ye out from the midst of her; separate yourselves, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord.

GreekἈπόστητε, ἀπόστητε, ἐξέλθατε ἐκεῖθεν, καὶ ἀκαθάρτου μὴ ἅψησθε, ἐξέλθατε ἐκ μέσου αὐτῆς, ἀφορίσθητε οἱ φέροντες τὰ σκεύη Κυρίου·

KJVDepart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

JPSDepart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, Touch no unclean thing; Go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, Ye that bear the vessels of the LORD.

ThomsonFor you shall not come out in haste, nor by flight march along; for the Lord will march before you in front; and the God of Israel will bring up your rear.

BrentonFor ye shall not go forth with tumult, neither go by flight: for the Lord shall go first in advance of you; and the God of Israel shall be he that brings up your rear.

GreekὍτι οὐ μετὰ ταραχῆς ἐξελεύσεσθε, οὐδὲ φυγῇ πορεύσεσθε· προπορεύσεται γὰρ πρότερος ὑμῶν Κύριος, καὶ ὁ ἐπισυνάγων ὑμᾶς Θεὸς Ἰσραήλ.

KJVFor ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.

JPSFor ye shall not go out in haste, Neither shall ye go by flight; For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rearward.

ThomsonBehold My servant will mind and be exalted and highly glorified.

BrentonBehold, my servant shall understand, and be exalted, and glorified exceedingly.

GreekἸδοὺ, συνήσει ὁ παῖς μου, καὶ ὑψωθήσεται, καὶ δοξασθήσεται σφόδρα.

KJVBehold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

JPSBehold, My servant shall prosper, He shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.

ThomsonIn the same manner as many will be astonished at thee; so devoid of glory for men will be thine appearance, and thy glory for the sons of men.

BrentonAs many shall be amazed at thee, so shall thy face be without glory from men, and thy glory shall not be honoured by the sons of men.

GreekὋν τρόπον ἐκστήσονται ἐπὶ σὲ πολλοὶ, οὕτως ἀδοξήσει ἀπὸ τῶς ἀνθρώπων τὸ εἶδός σου, καὶ ἡ δόξα σου ἀπὸ υἱῶν ἀνθρώπων.

KJVAs many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

JPSAccording as many were appalled at thee— So marred was his visage unlike that of a man, And his form unlike that of the sons of men—

ThomsonThus many nations will express admiration at him; and kings will shut their mouths, because they, to whom no publication was made concerning him, shall see; and they, who had not heard, will understand.

BrentonThus shall many nations wonder at him; and kings shall keep their mouths shut: for they to whom no report was brought concerning him, shall see; and they who have not heard, shall consider.

GreekΟὕτω θαυμάσονται ἔθνη πολλὰ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, καὶ συνέξουσι βασιλεῖς τὸ στόμα αὐτῶν· ὅτι οἷς οὐκ ἀνηγγέλη περὶ αὐτοῦ, ὄψονται, καὶ οἳ οὐκ ἀκηκόασι, συνήσουσι.

KJVSo shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

JPSSo shall he startle many nations, Kings shall shut their mouths because of him; From that which had not been told them shall they see, And that which they had not heard shall they perceive.