Isaiah 52:13-53:12
See,
my servant will act wisely ; he will be raised and lifted up and highly
exalted.
Just
as there were many who were appalled at him -- his appearance was so disfigured
beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness--
so
will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they
will understand.
Who
has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He
grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He
had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that
we should desire him.
He
was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with
suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we
esteemed him not.
Surely
he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him
stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
But
he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the
punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We
all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and
the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He
was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a
lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did
not open his mouth.
By
arrest and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my
people he was stricken.
He
was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he
had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet
it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the
LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his
days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After
the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied ;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their
iniquities.
Therefore
I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with
the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with
the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the
transgressors.