Isaiah 53
53:1 Who would have believed1 what we2 just heard?3
When4 was the
53:2 He sprouted up like a twig before God,6
like a root out of parched soil;7
he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention,8
no special appearance that we should want to follow him.9
53:3 He was despised and rejected by people,10
one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness;
people hid their faces from him;11
he was despised, and we considered him insignificant.12
53:4 But he lifted up our illnesses,
he carried our pain;13
even though we thought he was being punished,
attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done.14
53:5 He was wounded because of15 our rebellious deeds,
crushed because of our sins;
he endured punishment that made us well;16
because of his wounds we have been healed.17
53:6 All of us had wandered off like sheep;
each of us had strayed off on his own path,
but the
53:7 He was treated harshly and afflicted,19
but he did not even open his mouth.
Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block,
like a sheep silent before her shearers,
he did not even open his mouth.20
53:8 He was led away after an unjust trial21 –
but who even cared?22
Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living;23
because of the rebellion of his own24 people he was wounded.
53:9 They intended to bury him with criminals,25
but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb,26
because27 he had committed no violent deeds,
nor had he spoken deceitfully.
53:10 Though the
once restitution is made,28
he will see descendants and enjoy long life,29
and the
53:11 Having suffered, he will reflect on his work,
he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done.30
“My servant31 will acquit many,32
for he carried their sins.33
53:12 So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes,34
he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful,35
because he willingly submitted36 to death
and was numbered with the rebels,
when he lifted up the sin of many
and intervened37 on behalf of the rebels.”