Today’s Scripture:

Wake up! Wake up!Clothe yourself with strength, O Zion!Put on your beautiful clothes,O Jerusalem, holy city.For uncircumcised and unclean paganswill no longer invade you.2 Shake off the dirt![a]Get up, captive[b] Jerusalem.Take off the iron chains around your neck,O captive daughter Zion.

3 For this is what the Lord says:

“You were sold for nothing,and you will not be redeemed for money.”

4 For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“In the beginning my people went to live temporarily in Egypt;Assyria oppressed them for no good reason.5 And now, what do we have here?”[c] says the Lord.“Indeed my people have been carried away for nothing,those who rule over them taunt,”[d] says the Lord,“and my name is constantly slandered[e] all day long.6 For this reason my people will know my name;for this reason they will know[f] at that time[g] that I am the one who says,‘Here I am.’”7 How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains[h]the feet of a messenger who announces peace,a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance,who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”[i]8 Listen,[j] your watchmen shout;in unison they shout for joy,for they see with their very own eyes[k]the Lord’s return to Zion.9 In unison give a joyful shout,O ruins of Jerusalem!For the Lord consoles his people;he protects[l] Jerusalem.10 The Lord reveals[m] his royal power[n]in the sight of all the nations;the entire[o] earth seesour God deliver.[p]11 Leave! Leave! Get out of there!Don’t touch anything unclean!Get out of it!Stay pure, you who carry the Lord’s holy items.[q]12 Yet do not depart quicklyor leave in a panic.[r]For the Lord goes before you;the God of Israel is your rear guard.

13 Look, my servant will succeed![s]He will be elevated, lifted high, and greatly exalted[