Isaiah 53

1Who has believed our message?To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm? 2 My servant grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot,like a root in dry ground.There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,nothing to attract us to him. 3 He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.He was despised, and we did not care.

4Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;it was our sorrows Or Yet it was our sicknesses he carried; / it was our diseases. that weighed him down.And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,crushed for our sins.He was beaten so we could be whole.He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.We have left God’s paths to follow our own.Yet the LORD laid on himthe sins of us all.

7He was oppressed and treated harshly,yet he never said a word.He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,he did not open his mouth. 8 Unjustly condemned,he was led away. Greek version reads He was humiliated and received no justice. Compare Acts 8:33.No one cared that he died without descendants,that his life was cut short in midstream. Or As for his contemporaries, / who cared that his life was cut short in midstream? Greek version reads Who can speak of his descendants? / For his life was taken from the earth. Compare Acts 8:33.But he was struck downfor the rebellion of my people. 9 He had done no wrongand had never deceived anyone.But he was buried like a criminal;he was put in a rich man’s grave.

10But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush himand cause him grief.Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,he will have many descendants.He will enjoy a long life,and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands. 11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,he will be satisfied.And because of his experience,my righteous servant will make it possiblefor many to be counted righteous,for he will bear all their sins. 12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,because he exposed himself to death.He was counted among the rebels.He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.