Isaiah

For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

1For Zion's sake I will not keep quiet. For Jerusalem's sake I will not rest. I will speak until her goodness shines out like daylight, and her rescue burns like a torch.

2And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

2The nations will see that you are in the right, and every king will see your glory. You will be given a new name, chosen by the LORD himself.

3Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

3You will be a beautiful crown held in the LORD's hand, a royal crown resting in the palm of your God.

4Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

4People will no longer call you Left Behind, or call your land Empty Ruin. You will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah. For the LORD is glad about you, and your land will belong to him like a bride.

NoteHephzibah means "my delight is in her." Beulah means "married." The names are the point of the verse: the old names said nobody wanted her, and the new names say someone does.

5For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

5As a young man marries a young woman, your own sons will claim you and settle in you. As a groom is glad about his bride, your God will be glad about you.

6I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

6Jerusalem, I have placed watchmen on your walls. They will never be quiet, day or night. You who call on the LORD, do not stop speaking.

7And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

7Give God no rest until he sets Jerusalem firmly in place and makes her a city the whole earth praises.

8The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:

8The LORD has made a promise, raising his right hand and his strong arm: "I will never again let your enemies eat the grain you grew. Foreigners will not drink the new wine you worked so hard for.

Note"Corn" in the King James Version means grain of any kind, such as wheat or barley, not the corn on the cob we eat today. "Meat" in old English meant food of any kind.

9But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.

9The people who harvest the grain will eat it and thank the LORD. The people who gather the grapes will drink the wine in the courtyards of my holy house."

10Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.

10Go out, go out through the gates! Get the road ready for the people. Build up the highway, build it up. Clear away the stones. Raise a flag so the nations can see it.

NoteA "standard" was a tall flag or pole raised where everyone could see it, used to call people to gather or to show them which way to go.

11Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

11Listen: the LORD has announced this to the farthest parts of the earth. Say to the people of Zion, "Look, the one who saves you is coming. He brings his pay with him, and what he has earned goes ahead of him."

12And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

12People will call them The Holy People, The Ones the LORD Bought Back. And you will be called Wanted, A City Not Left Behind.