The Cup of THE LORD'S Wrath

       Awake, awake!
          Rise up, O Jerusalem,
       you who have drunk from the hand of THE LORD
          the cup of HIS wrath,
       you who have drained to its dregs
          the goblet that makes men stagger.
       Of all the sons she bore
          there was none to guide her;
       of all the sons she reared
          there was none to take her by the hand.
       These double calamities have come upon you--
          who can comfort you?--
       ruin and destruction, famine and sword--
          who can console you?
       Your sons have fainted;
          they lie at the head of every street,
          like antelope caught in a net.
       They are filled with the wrath of THE LORD
          and the rebuke of your GOD.

       Therefore hear this, you afflicted one,
          made drunk, but not with wine.
       This is what your SOVEREIGN LORD says,
          your GOD, who defends HIS people:
       "See, I have taken out of your hand
          the cup that made you stagger;
       from that cup, the goblet of MY wrath,
          you will never drink again.
       I will put it into the hands of your tormentors,
          who said to you,
          'Fall prostrate that we may walk over you.'
       And you made your back like the ground,
          like a street to be walked over."

       Awake, awake, O Zion,
          clothe yourself with strength.
       Put on your garments of splendor,
          O Jerusalem, the holy city.
       The uncircumcised and defiled
          will not enter you again.
       Shake off your dust;
          rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem.
       Free yourself from the chains on your neck,
          O captive Daughter of Zion.

   For this is what THE LORD says:

       "You were sold for nothing,
          and without money you will be redeemed."

   For this is what THE SOVEREIGN LORD says:

       "At first MY people went down to Egypt to live;
          lately, Assyria has oppressed them.

   "And now what do I have here?" declares THE LORD.

       "For MY people have been taken away for nothing,
          and those who rule them mock,"
                                                        declares THE LORD.
       "And all day long
          MY name is constantly blasphemed.
       Therefore MY people will know MY name;
          therefore in that day they will know
       that it is I who foretold it.
          Yes, it is I."

       How beautiful on the mountains
          are the feet of those who bring good news,
       who proclaim peace,
          who bring good tidings,
          who proclaim salvation,
       who say to Zion,
          "Your GOD reigns!"
       Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
          together they shout for joy.
       When THE LORD returns to Zion,
          they will see it with their own eyes.
       Burst into songs of joy together,
          you ruins of Jerusalem,
       for THE LORD has comforted HIS people,
          HE has redeemed Jerusalem.
       THE LORD will lay bare HIS holy arm
          in the sight of all the nations,
       and all the ends of the earth will see
          the salvation of our GOD.

       Depart, depart, go out from there!
          Touch no unclean thing!
       Come out from it and be pure,
          you who carry the vessels of THE LORD.
       But you will not leave in haste
          or go in flight;
       for THE LORD will go before you,
          THE GOD of Israel will be your rear guard.


The Book of Isaiah: chapter 51, verses 17 - 23 & chapter 52, verses 1 - 12