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Isaiah 53:4-12
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Isaiah 53:4-12
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
4 Yet it was our pain that he bore,
our sufferings he endured.
We thought of him as stricken,
struck down by God[a] and afflicted,(A)
5 But he was pierced for our sins,
crushed for our iniquity.
He bore the punishment that makes us whole,
by his wounds we were healed.(B)
6 We had all gone astray like sheep,
all following our own way;
But the Lord laid upon him[b]
the guilt of us all.(C)
7 Though harshly treated, he submitted
and did not open his mouth;
Like a lamb led to slaughter
or a sheep silent before shearers,
he did not open his mouth.(D)
8 Seized and condemned, he was taken away.
Who would have thought any more of his destiny?
For he was cut off from the land of the living,
struck for the sins of his people.
9 He was given a grave among the wicked,
a burial place with evildoers,
Though he had done no wrong,
nor was deceit found in his mouth.(E)
10 But it was the Lord’s will to crush him with pain.
By making his life as a reparation offering,[c]
he shall see his offspring, shall lengthen his days,
and the Lord’s will shall be accomplished through him.
11 Because of his anguish he shall see the light;
because of his knowledge he shall be content;
My servant, the just one, shall justify the many,
their iniquity he shall bear.
12 Therefore I will give him his portion among the many,
and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty,
Because he surrendered himself to death,
was counted among the transgressors,
Bore the sins of many,
and interceded for the transgressors.(F)
Footnotes
- 53:4 Struck down by God: the Bible often sees suffering as a punishment for sin (e.g., Ps 6:2; 32:1–5), yet sin sometimes appears to go unpunished and the innocent often suffer (cf. Ps 73; the Book of Job). In the case of the servant, the onlookers initially judge him guilty because of his suffering but, in some way not explained, they come to understand that his sufferings are for the sins of others. One notes the element of surprise, for such vicarious suffering, in the form described here, is without parallel in the Old Testament.
- 53:6 The Lord laid upon him: the servant’s suffering is no accidental or casual matter, but part of God’s plan; see also v. 10. The bystanders’ speculation of v. 4 is verified, but not in the sense intended by them.
- 53:10–11 Reparation offering: the Hebrew term ’asham is used of a particular kind of sacrifice, one that is intended as compensation for that which is due because of guilt. See Lv 5:14–26 and note. Justify: the verb means “to be acquitted,” “declared innocent,” but since the servant bears “their iniquity,” an effective rather than simply legal action is suggested.
Isaiah 53:4-12
New International Version
Isaiah 53:4-12
New International Version
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,(A)
yet we considered him punished by God,(B)
stricken by him, and afflicted.(C)
5 But he was pierced(D) for our transgressions,(E)
he was crushed(F) for our iniquities;
the punishment(G) that brought us peace(H) was on him,
and by his wounds(I) we are healed.(J)
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,(K)
each of us has turned to our own way;(L)
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity(M) of us all.
7 He was oppressed(N) and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;(O)
he was led like a lamb(P) to the slaughter,(Q)
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment(R) he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;(S)
for the transgression(T) of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,(U)
and with the rich(V) in his death,
though he had done no violence,(W)
nor was any deceit in his mouth.(X)
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will(Y) to crush(Z) him and cause him to suffer,(AA)
and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin,(AB)
he will see his offspring(AC) and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper(AD) in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,(AE)
he will see the light(AF) of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant(AG) will justify(AH) many,
and he will bear their iniquities.(AI)
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g](AJ)
and he will divide the spoils(AK) with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,(AL)
and was numbered with the transgressors.(AM)
For he bore(AN) the sin of many,(AO)
and made intercession(AP) for the transgressors.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 53:8 Or From arrest
- Isaiah 53:8 Or generation considered / that he was cut off from the land of the living, / that he was punished for the transgression of my people?
- Isaiah 53:10 Hebrew though you make
- Isaiah 53:11 Dead Sea Scrolls (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text does not have the light of life.
- Isaiah 53:11 Or (with Masoretic Text) 11 He will see the fruit of his suffering / and will be satisfied
- Isaiah 53:11 Or by knowledge of him
- Isaiah 53:12 Or many
- Isaiah 53:12 Or numerous
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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