Isaiah 60

1 Arise [stand up, be lifted], shine [be bright, radiate light], for your light [spiritual illumination, divine presence] has come [arrived, is present], and the glory [great honor, majestic splendor] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] rises [shines, is lifted] upon [over, above] you. word study 2 For behold [look, see], darkness [thick, spiritual gloom] covers the earth [land, world], and thick darkness [gross, deep] is over the peoples [nations, communities]; but the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] will rise [shine, appear] upon you, and His glory [honor, majesty] will appear [be seen, visible] over you. word study 3 Nations [Gentiles, people-groups] will come to your light [spiritual illumination, happiness], and kings [royal persons, rulers] to the brightness [brilliance, radiance] of your dawn [dawning, rising, new day]. word study 4 Lift up [raise, elevate] your eyes [the windows of your soul] and look around [surrounding you, in every direction]: They all [every single one, without exception] gather [assemble, come together] and come to you; your sons [male descendants, children] will come from afar [distant, far-off places], and your daughters [female children, loved ones] will be carried [nursed, supported] on the arm [side, in a place of affection]. word study 5 Then [at that time, in the future] you will look [see, gaze, behold] and be radiant [shine, sparkle, flow together], and your heart [the innermost part of a person, including their mind, and emotions] will tremble [fear, dread, be afraid] and swell [be enlarged, grow wide] with joy [delight, cheerfulness], because [for, since] the riches [abundance, wealth, valuable goods] of the sea [the Mediterranean Sea, a large body of water] will be brought [turned, converted, overturned] to you, and the wealth [riches, strength, power] of the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew people] will come [go, approach, enter] to you. word study 6 Caravans [multitude, large groups] of camels [dromedaries, young camels] will cover [fill, overflow] your land, young camels [strong and fast] of Midian [a son of Abraham, a desert tribe] and Ephah [a place in the desert], and all [everything, the whole] from Sheba [a region in southern Arabia, a tribe] will come, bearing [bringing, carrying] gold [a valuable metal, brilliant] and frankincense [a white resin, used for incense] and proclaiming [shewing forth, announcing] the praises [songs of praise] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study 7 All [every single one] the flocks [sheep or goats] of Kedar [a son of Ishmael] will be gathered [assembled, collected] to you; the rams [strong male sheep] of Nebaioth [a son of Ishmael] will serve [minister, worship] you and go up [ascend, rise] on My altar [a place of sacrifice, worship] with acceptance [favor, delight]; I will adorn [beautify, glorify] My glorious [beautiful, honorable] house [temple, dwelling place]. word study 8 Who [whose origin is unknown] are these [coming swiftly] who fly [moving swiftly, like a thick cloud] like clouds [dark masses of water vapor], like doves [pigeons] to their shelters [windows, lattices, or dove cots, places of rest]? word study 9 Surely the islands [coastlands, distant shores] will wait for Me, with the ships of Tarshish [merchant vessels, first in line] in the lead, to bring your children [sons, descendants] from afar [a distant land, far away], with their silver [wealth, precious metal] and gold [valuable treasure], to the honor of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God [Elohim, the one true God], the Holy One [set apart, sacred] of Israel [God’s chosen people], for He has glorified [made beautiful, bestowed honor upon] you. word study 10 Foreigners [from strange countries, sons of strangers] will rebuild [build up, establish] your walls [of protection, like the walls of Jerusalem], and their kings [royal persons, rulers] will serve [minister, work for] you. Although I struck [smote, hit] you in anger [wrath, rage], yet in favor [acceptance, delight] I will show [have] you mercy [compassion, love, pity]. word study 11 Your gates [city entrances, temple doors] will always stand open; they will never be shut, day [by day, daily] or night [period of darkness], so that the wealth [riches, strength] of the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrews] may be brought into you, with their kings [royal leaders, rulers] being led [guided, brought] in procession [a grand parade]. word study 12 For [because of, due to] the nation [Gentile, non-Hebrew people] or kingdom [dominion, ruler’s power] that will not [refuse to, fail to] serve [obey, work for] you will perish [be destroyed, lost]; it will be [become, rendered] utterly [completely, totally] destroyed [wasted, desolate]. word study 13 The glory [great honor, splendor] of Lebanon [a mountain range in Israel, known for its white snow or limestone peaks] will come to you— its cypress [a type of evergreen tree], elm [a durable tree, possibly an oak], and boxwood [a box tree, possibly a cedar] together [in unity]— to adorn [beautify, make glorious] the place [location, location of the sanctuary] of My sanctuary [holy place, set apart for God], and I will glorify [honor, make weighty] the place [location] of My feet [the foot, the leg]. word study 14 The sons [descendants, children] of your oppressors [those who afflicted thee, persecuted you] will come and bow down [bending, prostrate themselves] to you; all [everything, every one] who reviled [despised, scorned] you will fall facedown [at the soles of thy feet, in humble submission] at your feet and call you the City [town, settlement] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], Zion [a mountain in Jerusalem, the city of God] of the Holy One [set apart, sacred] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 15 Whereas you have been [completely] forsaken [abandoned, left behind] and despised [hated, intensely disliked], with no one [not a single person] passing through, I will make you an everlasting [eternal, age-during] pride [excellency, majesty], a joy [rejoicing, delight] from age to age [generation to generation, forever]. word study 16 You will drink the milk of nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew people] and nurse at the breasts [swollen with abundance] of royalty [kings, royal persons]; you will know [ascertain by seeing, learn, perceive] that I, the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], am your Savior [deliverer, redeemer from trouble] and your Redeemer [kinsman, buying back your freedom], the Mighty One [strong and powerful] of Jacob [the son of Isaac and Rebekah]. word study 17 Instead of bronze [a base metal] I will bring you gold [a valuable metal]; I will bring silver [a precious metal] in place of iron [a strong metal], bronze [copper, a durable material] instead of wood [a natural resource], and iron [a sturdy element] instead of stones [rocks]. I will appoint peace [shalom, completeness and wellness] as your governor [ruler, leader] and righteousness [justice and morality] as your ruler [overseer, guiding principle]. word study 18 No longer [not at all, never again] will violence [cruelty, injustice, or destruction] be heard [perceived or known] in your land [country, territory, or region], nor [neither] ruin [desolation, wasting] or destruction [breaking, shattering] within your borders [boundaries, limits]. But you will name [call, proclaim] your walls [barriers, fortifications] Salvation [deliverance, victory] and your gates [entrances, doors] Praise [thanksgiving, adoration]. word study 19 No longer [to no further extent] will the sun [the celestial body] be your light [source of illumination, understanding] by day [the period of daylight, daily life], nor the brightness [radiance, splendor] of the moon [the natural satellite] shine on your night [the period of darkness, time of rest]; for the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] will be your everlasting [eternal, forever] light [guiding presence, spiritual illumination], and your God [Elohim, the supreme Being] will be your splendor [beauty, glory, honor]. word study 20 Your sun [the celestial body] will no longer set [go down, cease to shine], and your moon [lunar cycle, beacon in darkness] will not wane [decrease, lose light]; for the LORD [Yehovah, the eternal Covenant Keeper] will be your everlasting [forever, age-during] light [source of spiritual illumination, happiness], and the days [periods of time, seasons] of your sorrow [mourning, grief] will cease [come to an end, be completed]. word study 21 Then all [every single one, the entirety of] your people will be righteous [just, upright, having God’s nature]; they will possess [inherit, take control of] the land [earth, territory, region] forever [for all eternity, always]; they are the branch [sprout, descendant] of My planting [garden, cultivation], the work [deed, action] of My hands [power, direction], so that I may be glorified [honored, beautified, exalted]. word study 22 The least [smallest, most insignificant] of you will become a thousand [a large number, a company of people], and the smallest [little, young] a mighty [strong, powerful] nation [Gentile, a large group]. I [the first person singular, emphasizing God’s personal involvement] am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; in its time [at the right moment, in due time] I will accomplish it quickly [hasten, make haste, with eagerness and excitement]. word study