[2] How comely.—Cheyne.
[3] When Jehovah restoreth Zion.—Jones. When the Lord returneth to Zion.—Kay.
fifth prophecy.—chap. lii. 13–liii.
Golgotha and Sheblemini (= Sit Thou at my right hand), or, the Exaltation of the Servant of Jehovah out of Deep Degradation.
13. Behold, My Servant shall act wisely; He will come forth and arise, and be very high. 14. Just as many were astonished at Thee: so disfigured, His appearance was not human, and form not like that of the children of men: 15. so will He make many nations to tremble: kings will shut their mouths at Him! for[4] they see what has not been told them, and discover what they have not heard.
LIII.—1. Who hath believed our preaching; and the arm of Jehovah, over whom has it been revealed?
2. And He sprang up like a layer-shoot before Him, and like a root-sprout out of dry ground: He had no form, and no beauty; and we looked, and there was no look, such that we could have found pleasure in Him. 3. He was despised and forsaken by men; a man of griefs, and well acquainted with disease; and like one from whom men hide their face: despised, and we esteemed Him not.
4. Verily He hath borne our diseases and our pains! He hath laden them upon Himself; but we regarded Him as one stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5. Whereas He was pierced for our sins, bruised for our iniquities! the punishment was laid on Him for our peace; and through His stripes we were healed. 6. All we like sheep went astray; we had turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.
7. He[1] was ill-treated; whilst He suffered willingly, and opened not His mouth, like the sheep that is led to the slaughter-bench, and like a lamb that is dumb before its shearers, and opened not His mouth. 8. He[2] has been taken away from prison and judgment; and of His generation who considered: “He was snatched away out of the land of the living; for the wickedness of my people punishment fell on Him”? 9. And they assigned Him His grave with sinners, and with a rich man in His martyrdom, because He had done no wrong, and there was no deceit in His mouth.
10. And it pleased Jehovah to bruise Him, to afflict Him with disease; if His soul would pay a trespass-offering, He should see posterity, should live long days, and the purpose of Jehovah should prosper through His hand. 11. Because of the travail of His soul, He will see, and be refreshed; through His knowledge will He procure justice, My Righteous Servant, for the many, and will take their iniquities upon Himself. 12. Therefore I give Him a portion among the great, and with strong ones will He divide the spoil; because He has poured out His soul into death: and He let Himself be reckoned among transgressors; whilst He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.