Isaiah 52:1-10

11Wake up, Zion! Be ready to show your strength! Jerusalem, God's holy city, Put on your beautiful clothes! Foreign people who do not serve God will not attack your city again.

2Shake off the dirt, Jerusalem! Get up and sit on your throne. People of Zion, you are no longer prisoners, so take the chains off your neck.

3This is what the Lord says to you: ‘I received no money when I sold you. And I will not pay anything to make you free again.’

4The Almighty Lord says, ‘Long ago, my people went to live for some time in Egypt. At a later time, Assyria's army was cruel to them.

5But now, what is happening? An enemy has taken my people away as slaves, for no good reason. Their leaders boast loudly, and they insult me all the time.

6So I will cause my people to know my name. When all this happens, they will know that I am the God who speaks to them. I tell them that I am with them.’

7Somebody is coming across the mountains to bring good news to us! It is a beautiful thing to see him run towards us! He has come to tell us that there will be peace, because God will save our city. He says to Zion, ‘Your God rules as king!’

8Listen! The guards on the city's walls are shouting! They all shout together with joy! They can see for themselves that the Lord is returning to Zion.

9Jerusalem, your buildings have become heaps of stones, but now you can all shout together with joy! Sing aloud, because the Lord has comforted his people. He has made Jerusalem safe again.

10The Lord has shown all the nations how strong he is. They can all see his holy power. People all over the world will know that our God has rescued his people.