Isaiah 51:1

There is Hope for the Future

51:1 “Listen to me, you who pursue godliness, ¹ 

who seek the Lord!

Look at the rock from which you were chiseled,

at the quarry ²  from which you were dug! ³ 

Isaiah 51:4

51:4 Pay attention to me, my people!

Listen to me, my people!

For ⁴  I will issue a decree, ⁵ 

I will make my justice a light to the nations. ⁶ 

Isaiah 51:7

51:7 Listen to me, you who know what is right,

you people who are aware of my law! ⁷ 

Don’t be afraid of the insults of men;

don’t be discouraged because of their abuse!

[51:1]  ¹ tn Or “righteousness” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NAB “justice”; NLT “hope for deliverance.”

[51:1]  ² tn Heb “the excavation of the hole.”

[51:1]  ³ sn The “rock” and “quarry” refer here to Abraham and Sarah, the progenitors of the nation.

[51:4]  ⁴ tn Or “certainly.”

[51:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “instruction [or “a law”] will go out from me.”

[51:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “and my justice for a light to the nations I will cause to rest.”

[51:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “people (who have) my law in their heart.”