3   The Lord says, You were sold but no price was paid, and without payment you shall be ransomed. 4   The Lord God says, At the beginning my people went down into Egypt to live there, and at the end it was the Assyrians who oppressed them; 5   but now what do I find here? says the Lord. My people carried off and no price paid, their rulers derided, and my name reviled all day long, says the Lord. 6   But on that day my people shall know my name; ^note they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.

Israel a light to the nations

7   How lovely on the mountains are the feet of the herald
who comes to proclaim prosperity and bring good news,
    the news of deliverance,
calling to Zion, ‘Your God is king.’
8   Hark, your watchmen raise their voices
    and shout together in triumph;
  for with their own eyes they shall see
  the Lord returning in pity ^note to Zion.
   9   Break forth together in shouts of triumph,
    you ruins of Jerusalem;
  for the Lord has taken pity on his people
    and has ransomed Jerusalem.
   10   The Lord has bared his holy arm
    in the sight of all nations,
  and the whole world from end to end
  shall see the deliverance of our God.
11   Away from Babylon; come out, come out,
    touch nothing unclean.
  Come out from Babylon, keep yourselves pure,
    you who carry the vessels of the Lord.
   12   But you shall not come out in urgent haste
    nor leave like fugitives;
  for the Lord will march at your head,
    your rearguard will be Israel's God.


13   Behold, my servant shall prosper, ^note
he shall be lifted up, exalted to the heights.


14   Time was when many ^note were aghast at you, my people; ^note
15   so now many nations ^note recoil at sight of him,
and kings curl their lips in disgust.
For they see what they had never been told
  and things unheard before fill their thoughts.

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