Isaiah 62
What Happens in This Chapter
In this chapter God promises that Jerusalem will not stay ruined or alone. She will be given new names, she will shine so that other nations and kings can see it, and her own people will eat the food they grow. Watchmen are told to keep calling out, and the people are told to keep asking God until He makes Jerusalem a city the whole earth praises. The chapter ends with a message sent to the ends of the earth that the One who saves is coming.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
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.
1God says, "I will not keep quiet about Zion. Zion is another name for Jerusalem, God's city. For Jerusalem I will not rest. I will keep speaking until her goodness shines like a bright light. Her rescue will shine like a burning 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 how good and right you are. Every king will see how great you are. You will be given a new name. The LORD Himself will choose that name for you.
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 like a beautiful crown held in the LORD's hand. You will be like a king's crown resting in your God's hand.
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 not call you Forsaken anymore, which means left all alone. They will not call your land Desolate, which means empty and ruined. You will be called Hephzibah, and your land will be called Beulah. The LORD is happy with you, and your land will belong to Him like a bride.
Hephzibah means "I am happy with her." Beulah means "Married." The new names are the opposite of the old ones.
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.
5A young man marries a young woman. In the same way, your sons will marry you. A groom is glad on his wedding day when he looks at his bride. In that same way, your God will be glad over 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,
6God says, "Jerusalem, I have put watchmen on your walls. Watchmen are guards who watch and call out warnings. They will never be quiet, day or night." You who pray to the LORD, do not stay silent.
7And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
7Do not stop asking Him. Keep asking until He builds Jerusalem up again. Keep asking until the whole earth praises her.
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 made a strong promise. He raised His right hand, His strong arm, and said this. "I will never again let your enemies eat the grain you grew. Strangers will not drink the new wine you worked so hard to make."
In old English, "corn" meant grain of any kind, like wheat or barley. It did not mean corn on the cob.
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.
9"The people who harvest the grain will eat it themselves. They will thank the LORD for it. The people who gather the grapes will drink the wine. They will drink it in the open yards 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 city gates! Get the road ready for the people to come. Build the road up high. Take the stones off it. Lift up a flag so all the nations can see it.
A "standard" was a flag on a tall pole. People could see it far away and know where 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 sent word to the far ends of the earth. He says, "Tell the people of Jerusalem this. Look, the One who saves you is coming! He is bringing your reward with Him. He is bringing His pay for the work with 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 Sought Out, and A City Not Left Alone.
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