53 Will anyone believe
    the news that we have to tell people?^[a]
Will anyone understand
    how the Lord has used his great power?
² God's servant grew up in front of him,
    like a young, green plant,
    with its roots in dry ground.
He was not handsome.
    He did not seem like a great king.
    We did not see him as a special person.
There was nothing to see
    that would make us want to be with him.
³ People did not respect him.
    They refused to accept him.
He was a man who received much pain.
    He knew what it felt like to be weak and ill.
People did not even want to look at him.
    They did not respect him.
We decided that he was worth nothing.