English Translations of the Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1

Note that the numeric organization of the chapters into verses do not appear in the Great Isaiah Scroll but were introduced into the English translation by Stephen Langton (XII-XIII century), Archbishop of Canterbury. Likewise, the chapter headings, that help your reading of the text have been added by Peter W. Flint.

The Great Isaiah Scroll, translated by Peter W. Flint

(Variants from the Masoretic version are in italics.)

1 The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

The Masoretic version, JPS Electronic Edition

 

1 THE VISION of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Rebellious Judah and Desolate Jerusalem

2 Hear, O heavens, and pay attention, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: "Children have I reared and brough[t up], but they have rebelled against me.

3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's feeding-trough, - Israel does not know, and my people do not understand."

4 Ah, you sinful nation, you people burdened down with iniquity, you offspring of evildoers, you children who deal corruptly! They have abandoned the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel - they are totally estranged!

5 Why would you still be beaten? Why would you continue to rebel? The entire head is sick, and the entire heart faint.

6 From the sole of the foot right up to the head, there is no healthy spot in it, only bruises and sores and festering wounds; they have not been cleaned out or bandaged or softened with oil.

7 Your country lies desolate; your cities are burned with fire; right in front of you foreigners are devouring your land. They have brought devastation upon it, as overthrown by foreigners.

8 And Zion's daughter is left abandoned like a hut in a vineyard, or like a shelter in a cucumber field, like a city under siege.

2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for HaShem hath spoken: Children I have reared, and brought up, and they have rebelled against Me.

3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider.

4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that deal corruptly; they have forsaken HaShem, they have condemned the Holy One of Israel, they are turned away backward.

5 On what part will ye yet be stricken, seeing ye stray away more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;

6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and festering sores: they have not been pressed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oil.

7 Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by floods.

8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

Turning from Evil, Doing Good, and the Consequences

9 If the LORD of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, and we would be like Gomorrah.

10 Hear the [word] of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! And pay attention ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

11 "What is the multitude of your sacrifices to me?" says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls or lambs or goats.

12 "When you come to see my face, who has required of you this trampling of my courts?

13 Do not keep bringing meaningless offerings! Incense is detestable to me; new moon, and Sabbath, and the calling of meetings - I cannot stand iniquity with its solemn assembly.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul detests; they have become a burden to me that I am tired of carrying.

15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; multiply prayers, even - I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood, your fingers with iniquity.

16 Wash yourselves, and make yourselves clean; and remove the evil of your deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil,

17 learn to do good. Seek justice, alleviate oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's case in court.

18 18 "Come n[ow], let us reason together," says the LORD: "even though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; even though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient, [you will e]at the best of the land.

20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

9 Except HaShem of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of HaShem, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our G-d, ye people of Gomorrah.

11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? saith HaShem; I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.

12 When ye come to appear before Me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample My courts?

13 Bring no more vain oblations; it is an offering of abomination unto Me; new moon and sabbath, the holding of convocations-- I cannot endure iniquity along with the solemn assembly.

14 Your new moons and your appointed seasons My soul hateth; they are a burden unto Me; I am weary to bear them.

15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood.

16 Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes, cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith HaShem; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land;

20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of HaShem hath spoken.

Judgement and Restoration

21 Alas, she has become a prostitute – the faithful city! She who used to be full of justice; righteousness used to live [in her – but now] murderers!

22 Your silver has become dross, your best wine diluted with water.

23 Your rulers are r[ebels and companions of] thieves. All of them are lovers of a bribe and runners after rewards. They do not bring just[ice] to the fatherless, nor does the widow's [case] reach them in court.

24 Therefore the Lord declares, the LORD of hosts, [the Mighty One of Israel]: "Ah, I will take vengeance on his enemies and I will avenge myself on his foes.

25 And turning my hand against you, I will re[fine] your dross like lye], and I will remove all your alloy.

26 And let me restore your judges as in former times, [and your counselors] as at the beginning. Afterward people will call you "City of Righteousness," "Faithful Town."

27 Zion will be redeemed by justice, and her repentant ones by righteousness.

28 But rebels and sinners together will become a wreck, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.

29 For they will be ashamed of the oak trees that you desired, and you will blush at the gardens that you chose.

30 For you will be like an oak whose leaves are withering, and like a garden without water.

31 And your mighty one will be like tinder, and your work a spark; and both of them will burn together, with no one to quench them.

21 How is the faithful city become a harlot! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.

22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.

23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards; they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

24 Therefore saith the L-rd, HaShem of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah, I will ease Me of Mine adversaries, and avenge Me of Mine enemies;

25 And I will turn My hand upon thee, and purge away thy dross as with lye, and will take away all thine alloy;

26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning; afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, the faithful city.

27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and they that return of her with righteousness.

28 But the destruction of the transgressors and the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake HaShem shall be consumed.

29 For they shall be ashamed of the terebinths which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.

30 For ye shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

31 And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

Chapter 2

1 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

The Glorified Jerusalem

2 It will come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house will be established on the peak of mountains, and will be raised up above the hills; and all the nations will stream over it.

3 Many peoples will come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob, so that they may teach us his ways and so we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion instruction will go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 And he will judge between the nations, and will decide disputes for many peoples; they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; and nation will not take up the sword against nation, nor will they learn warfare any more.

2 And it shall come to pass in the end of days, that the mountain of HaShem's house shall be established as the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

3 And many peoples shall go and say: 'Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of HaShem, to the house of the G-d of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of HaShem from Jerusalem.

4 And He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Judgment Against Jacob

5 O house of Jacob – Come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

6 But you, house of Jacob, have abandoned your people. For they take their fill from the east, and they are fortune-tellers like the Philistines; they even shake hands with the children of foreigners.

7 Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no limit to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no limit to their chariots.

8 Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their own hands, to what their own fingers have made.

9 So mortals are humbled, and each human being is brought low.

5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of HaShem.

6 For Thou hast forsaken Thy people the house of Jacob; for they are replenished from the east, and with soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the brood of aliens.

7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land also is full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots.

8 Their land also is full of idols; every one worshippeth the work of his own hands, that which his own fingers have made.

9 And man boweth down, and man lowereth himself; and Thou canst not bear with them.

The Coming Day of the LORD

10 [Not included in the Great Isaiah Scroll]
 

11 And the haughty looks of mortals will be brought low, and people's arrogance will be humbled; and the LORD alone will be exalted on that day.

12 For the LORD of hosts will have his day: against everything that is proud and arrogant and lifted up, and it will be brought low;

13 against all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty, and against all the oaks of Bashan;

14 against all the [hig]h mountains, and against all the lofty hills;

15 against every high tower, and against every fortified [wall];

16 against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the stately vessels.

17 And the haughtiness of mortals will be humbled, and human arrogance will be brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted on that day.

18 The idols will vanish completely.

19 And people will go into caves in the rocks and into holes in the ground, before the [terror of the LO]RD, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises up to terrify the earth.

20 [On t]hat [day] mortals will throw away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which their [fin]gers [have made] to worship, to the moles and to the bats,

21 so as to enter caverns [in the rocks and cl]efts in the cliffs, before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises up to terrify the earth.

22 Stop focusing on mortals, who have only breath in their nostrils – for what are they really worth?

10 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, from before the terror of HaShem, and from the glory of His majesty.

11 The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and HaShem alone shall be exalted in that day.

12 For HaShem of hosts hath a day upon all that is proud and lofty, and upon all that is lifted up, and it shall be brought low;

13 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan;

14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up;

15 And upon every lofty tower, and upon every fortified wall;

16 And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all delightful imagery.

17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and HaShem alone shall be exalted in that day.

18 And the idols shall utterly pass away.

19 And men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of HaShem, and from the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake mightily the earth.

20 In that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
 

21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the crevices of the crags, from before the terror of HaShem, and from the glory of His majesty, when he ariseth to shake mightily the earth.

22 Cease ye from man, in whose nostrils is a breath; for how little is he to be accounted!

Chapter 3

Judgement Against Judah and Its Leaders

1 For now the Lord, the LORD of hosts is removing from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support – the entire supply of food, and the entire supply of water;

2 soldier and man of war, judge and prophet, diviner and elder,

3 captain of fifty and dignitary, counsellor and skillful magician, and expert charm-whisperer.

4 And I will make boys their princes, and infants will rule over them.

5 And the people will be oppressed, one by another and neighbour by neighbour. Young people will be disrespectful to the old, and nobodies will disrespect honourable folk.

6 For a man will even grab his brother in his father's house, saying: "You have a cloak – you be our leader, and let this heap of ruins be under your rule"!

7 But on that day he will cry out, saying: "I will not be a doctor – for in my house there is neither food or clothing. You cannot make me leader of the people."

8 For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their actions are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.

9 The expressions on their faces bear witness against them; they parade their sin like Sodom, and they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought disaster on themselves.

1 For, behold, the L-rd, HaShem of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah stay and staff, every stay of bread, and every stay of water;

2 The mighty man, and the man of war; the judge, and the prophet, and the diviner, and the elder;

3 The captain of fifty, and the man of rank, and the counsellor, and the cunning charmer, and the skillful enchanter.

4 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

5 And the people shall oppress one another, every man his fellow, and every man his neighbour; the child shall behave insolently against the aged, and the base against the honourable,

6 For a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father: 'Thou hast a mantle, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand.'

7 In that day shall he swear, saying: 'I will not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor a mantle; ye shall not make me ruler of a people.'

8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against HaShem, to provoke the eyes of His glory.

9 The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have wrought evil unto themselves.

Word of Encouragement and Warning

10 Say to the righteous that all will be well, for they will eat the fruit of their deeds.

11 Woe to the wicked! It will be disastrous, for the recompense of his hand will be paid back to him.

12 As for my people – children are their oppressors, and women rule over them! My people, your guides lead astray, and devour the courses of your paths.

13 The LORD rises to argue his case; he stands to judge the peoples.

14 The LORD enters into judgement against the elders of his people, and his princes: "It is you who have devoured the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses.

15 What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the faces of the poor?" declares {my Lord}, the LORD of hosts.

10 Say ye of the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for the work of his hands shall be done to him.

12 As for My people, a babe is their master, and women rule over them. O My people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

13 HaShem standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the peoples.

14 HaShem will enter into judgment with the elders of His people, and the princes thereof: 'It is ye that have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses;

15 What mean ye that ye crush My people, and grind the face of the poor?' saith the L-rd, the GOD of hosts.

Judgement Against the Daughters of Zion

16 The LORD said: "Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, walking around with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, prancing along as they go, and making tinkling noises with their feet,

17 the {LORD} will afflict the heads of Zion's daughters with scabs, and my Lord will lay bare their private parts.

18 On that day the {my Lord} will snatch away their glamour – the ankle bracelets and headbands, crescent ornaments,

19 and earrings and bracelets, veils

20 and headdresses, armlets and sashes, perfume boxes, charms,

21 and signet rings and nose rings,

22 and fine robes, mantles, purses,

23 mirrors, fine linens, tiaras, and shawls.

24 Then, instead of the perfume they will be a stench; and instead of a sash, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a sackcloth girdle; but instead of beauty, shame.

25 Your men shall will by the sword and your forces in battle.

26 And her gates will lament and mourn; and she will be cleaned out and sit on the ground."

16 Moreover HaShem said: because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched-forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet;

17 Therefore the L-rd will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and HaShem will lay bare their secret parts.

18 In that day the L-rd will take away the bravery of their anklets, and the fillets, and the crescents;

19 the pendants, and the bracelets, and the veils;

20 the headtires, and the armlets, and the sashes, and the corselets, and the amulets;

21 the rings, and the nose-jewels;

22 the aprons, and the mantelets, and the cloaks, and the girdles;

23 and the gauze robes, and the fine linen, and the turbans, and the mantles.

24 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet spices there shall be rottenness; and instead of a girdle rags; and instead of curled hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; branding instead of beauty.

25 Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.

26 And her gates shall lament and mourn; and utterly bereft she shall sit upon the ground.

Chapter 4

1 And seven women will grab hold of one man on that day, saying, "We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!"

1 And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying: 'We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name; take thou away our reproach.'

The Branch of the LORD and the future Glory of Zion's Survivors

2 On that day the branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and boast of the survivors of Israel and Judah.

3 Then, whoever is left in Zion and whoever remains in Jerusalem will be called holy – everyone who has been inscribed for life in Jerusalem –

4 – once my Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed Jerusalem's bloodstains from its midst by a spirit of judgement and by a spirit of storm.

5 Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its meeting-places a cloud by day

6     from the heat, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

2 In that day shall the growth of HaShem be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written unto life in Jerusalem;

4 when the L-rd shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of destruction.

5 And HaShem will create over the whole habitation of mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory shall be a canopy.

6 And there shall be a pavilion for a shadow in the day-time from the heat, and for a refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Chapter 5

1 I will sing for my beloved my love-song about his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

2 He dug it out, cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines. He built a watchtower within it and also hewed out a winepress in it. Then he waited for it to produce grapes, but it produced wild grapes.

3 Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.

4 What more could have been done in my vineyard than what I have done for it? Why, when I expected it to produce grapes, did it raise wild grapes?

5 Now I will tell you what I intend to do to my vineyard. I will take away its hedge, and it will be devoured. I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled down.

6 I will make it a waste. It will not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns will spring up. I will command the clouds to drop no rain upon it.

1 Let me sing of my well-beloved, A song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well-beloved had a vineyard In a very fruitful hill;

2 And he digged it, and cleared it of stones, And planted it with the choicest vine, And built a tower in the midst of it, And also hewed out a vat therein; And he looked that it should bring forth grapes, And it brought forth wild grapes.

3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, That I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, Brought it forth wild grapes?

5 And now come, I will tell you What I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, And it shall be eaten up; I will break down the fence thereof, And it shall be trodden down;

6 And I will lay it waste: It shall not be pruned nor hoed, But there shall come up briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds That they rain no rain upon it.

7 Now, the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his delightful plant. He expected justice, but there was bloodshed; righteousness, but there was an outcry.

8 Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, till there is no more room, and you place yourselves alone in the midst of the land!

9 In my hearing, the LORD of hosts declared, Surely many houses will be desolate, large and beautiful houses without inhabitant.

10 For ten acres of vineyard will yield only one bath, and a [homer of] see[d will yie]ld only an ephah.

11 W[oe to those who rise early in the] morning to pursue strong drink, holding on in the darkness while wine inflames them.

12 They have banquets with [lyre and harp, timbrel and flu]te, [and] wine, but they pay no attention to the deeds of the LORD, nor [do they consider] the work of [his hands].

7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah the plant of His delight; And He looked for justice, but behold violence; For righteousness, but behold a cry.

8 Woe unto them that join house to house, That lay field to field, Till there be no room, and ye be made to dwell Alone in the midst of the land!

9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts: Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, Even great and fair, without inhabitant.

10 For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, And the seed of a homer shall yield an ephah.

11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, That they may follow strong drink; That tarry late into the night, Till wine inflame them!

12 And the harp and the psaltery, the tabret and the pipe, And wine, are in their feasts; But they regard not the work of the LORD, Neither have they considered the operation of His hands.

13 [Therefore] my people are [exil]ed without knowledge. My nobles die of hunger, and their multitude is [parched with thirst.

14 Therefore] Sheol has increased its appetite and opened its mouth without limit. Splendor and multitude, the uproarious and jubil[ant] descend into it.

15 People are bowed down, humans are humbled, the eyes of the haughty are lowered.

16 But the LORD of hosts is lifted up in justice; the holy God proves himself holy in righteousness.

17 Then the lambs will feed as in their pasture, and the fatlings and the aliens will eat among the waste places.

13 Therefore My people are gone into captivity, For want of knowledge; And their honourable men are famished, And their multitude are parched with thirst.

14 Therefore the nether-world hath enlarged her desire, And opened her mouth without measure; And down goeth their glory, and their tumult, and their uproar, And he that rejoiceth among them.

15 And man is bowed down, And man is humbled, And the eyes of the lofty are humbled;

16 But the LORD of hosts is exalted through justice, And God the Holy One is sanctified through righteousness.

17 Then shall the lambs feed as in their pasture, And the waste places of the fat ones shall wanderers eat.

18 Woe to those who pull iniquity with ropes of falsehood, sin with a cart rope,

19 who say, "Let him hurry, let him expedite his work, so that we can see it. Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel happen, so that we can recognize it."

20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and discerning in their own sight!

22 Woe to those who are mighty at drinking wine and powerful at mixing strong drinks,

23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe and remove the innocent status of the righteous from him!

18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, And sin as it were with a cart rope,

19 That say: 'Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, That we may see it; And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, That we may know it! '

20 Woe unto them that call evil good, And good evil; That change darkness into light, And light into darkness; That change bitter into sweet, And sweet into bitter!

21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!

22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, And men of strength to mingle strong drink;

23 That justify the wicked for a reward, And take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

24 Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble and as fire sinks down in the flames, just so their root will become rotten and their blossom will go up like dust, because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

25 Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he stretched out his hands against them and afflicted them. The mountains tremble, and their corpses are like refuse in the middle of the streets. For all this his anger has not turned away, his hands are stretched out still.

24 Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, And as the chaff is consumed in the flame, So their root shall be as rottenness, And their blossom shall go up as dust; Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, And contemned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against His people, And He hath stretched forth His hand against them, and hath smitten them, And the hills did tremble, And their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.

26 He will send up a signal to the nations far away and will whistle for them from the end of the earth. And, indeed, they come speedily and swiftly.

27 No one is weary or stumbles. And no one slumbers or sleeps. The belts around their waists will not come undone, nor will their sandal-thongs break.

28 Their arrows are sharpened and all their bows bent. Their horses' hooves are like flint and their chariots like a whirlwind.

29 With a roar like a lion, they roar. And like young lions, they growl, lay hold of the prey, and carry it off, and there is no one to rescue it.

30 They will roar over it on that day like the roaring of the sea. If one looks to the land, there is darkness and distress. The light grows dark in the clouds.

26 And He will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, And will hiss unto them from the end of the earth; And, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly;

27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; None shall slumber nor sleep; Neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, Nor the latchet of their shoes be broken;

28 Whose arrows are sharp, And all their bows bent; Their horses'hoofs shall be counted like flint, And their wheels like a whirlwind;

29 Their roaring shall be like a lion, They shall roar like young lions, yea, they shall roar, And lay hold of the prey, and carry it away safe, And there shall be none to deliver.

30 And they shall roar against them in that day Like the roaring of the sea; And if one look unto the land, Behold darkness and distress, And the light is darkened in the skies thereof.

Chapter 6

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw my Lord sitting on his throne, high and exalted, and the skirts of his robe filled the temple.

2 Seraphs stood above him, each with six wings. With two they covered their face, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

3 They called to each other: "Holy, holy is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

4 The foundations of the thresholds shook when they called, and the house was full of smoke.

5 Then I said, "Woe is me! for I am lost; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips. [In]deed my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.

2 Above Him stood the seraphim; each one had six wings: with twain he covered his face and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

3 And one called unto another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory.

4 And the posts of the door were moved at the voice of them that called, and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then said I: Woe is me! for I am undone; Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For mine eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.

6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal in his hand, which he had taken fr[o]m the [altar] with tongs.

7 He [touched my mouth and] said, "Now this has touched your lips; your iniquity is removed, and your sins forgiven."

8 And I heard the voice of my Lord saying, "Whom will I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I; send me."

6 Then flew unto me one of the seraphim, with a glowing stone in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar;

7 and he touched my mouth with it, and said: Lo, this hath touched thy lips; And thine iniquity is taken away, And thy sin expiated.

8 And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send, And who will go for us? Then I said: 'Here am I; send me.'

9 So he said, "Go, and say to this people: Hear indeed, but do not understand; see indeed, but do not comprehend.

10 Make the heart of this people fat, dull their ears, and blind their eyes; so they do not see with their eyes, or hear with their ears, with their heart understand, or turn back and be healed."

9 And He said: 'Go, and tell this people: Hear ye indeed, but understand not; And see ye indeed, but perceive not.

10 Make the heart of this people fat, And make their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they, seeing with their eyes, And hearing with their ears, And understanding with their heart, Return, and be healed.'

11 Then I said, "How long, LORD?" And he answered, "Until cities lie waste, without inhabitant, and houses without occupant, and the land becomes utterly desolate,

12 and the LORD banishes the inhabitants, and desolate places are multiplied in the midst of the land.

13 Even if a tenth remain in it, it too will in turn be burnt, like a terebinth or oak, the stump of which, felled, remains." The holy seed is its stump.

11 Then said I: 'Lord, how long?' And He answered: 'Until cities be waste without inhabitant, And houses without man, And the land become utterly waste,

12 And the LORD have removed men far away, And the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land.

13 And if there be yet a tenth in it, it shall again be eaten up; as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remaineth, when they cast their leaves, so the holy seed shall be the stock thereof.'

Chapter 7

1 In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to attack Jerusalem, but they were unsuccessful.

2 When it was reported to the house of David that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim, the heart of his people trembled, as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind.

1 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Aram, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it; but could not prevail against it.

2 And it was told the house of David, saying: 'Aram is confederate with Ephraim.' And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest are moved with the wind.

3 Then the LORD said to Isaiah, Go meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the fuller's field.

4 Say to him, "Take care, be calm, and do not be afraid. Do not lose heart over these two smoldering stumps of torches, because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah,

5 because Aram, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted against you, saying,

6 'Let us go up against Judah and terrify it. Let us conquer it for ourselves and install the son of Tabeel as king in it.'

7 Thus says my Lord, the LORD: It will not stand. It will not happen.

8 For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin—within sixty-[fiv]e years Ephraim will be shattered, no longer a people—

9 the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of [Samaria is] Remaliah's [son]; if you will not believe, surely you will not be established."

3 Then said the LORD unto Isaiah: 'Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and aShear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fullers'field;

4 and say unto him: Keep calm, and be quiet; fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram, and of the son of Remaliah.

5 Because Aram hath counselled evil against thee, Ephraim also, and the son of Remaliah, saying:

6 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set up a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeel;

7 thus saith the Lord GOD: It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

8 For the head of Aram is Damascus, And the head of Damascus is Rezin; And within threescore and five years Shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people;

9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, And the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not have faith, surely ye shall not be established.'

10 [The LORD again] spoke to Ahaz,

11 "Ask for a sign from the LORD your God, [one as deep as Sh]eol or as high as heaven above."

12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask. [I will] not [test] the LORD."

13 So he answered, "Listen, house of David! Is it not enough that you [weary] people; must you weary my God also?

14 Therefore the LORD himself will give y[ou a sign. Loo]k, the young woman has conceived and is bearing a son, and his name will be Immanuel.

15 He will eat cur[ds and honey] by the time he knows to refuse evil and choose good.

16 For before the child knows to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.

17 And the LORD will bring on you, your people, and your father's house days that have not come since the day that Ephraim separated from Judah—the king of Assyria."

10 And the LORD spoke again unto Ahaz, saying:

11 'Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God: ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.'

12 But Ahaz said: 'I will not ask, neither will I try the LORD.'

13 And he said: 'Hear ye now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my God also?

14 Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: behold, the young woman shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name bImmanuel.

15 Curd and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

16 Yea, before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou hast a horror of shall be forsaken.

17 The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.'

18 On that day, the LORD will whistle for the fly that is at the end of the rivers of Egypt and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

19 They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the clefts of the rocks and on all thorn bushes and in all pastures.

20 On that day the LORD will shave with a razor hired from the region beyond the River—with the king of Assyria—the head and the hair of the feet, and it will cut off the beard as well.

21 On that day, a man will keep alive a young heifer and two sheep.

22 And from the abundance of milk which they produce he will eat curds. Indeed, the one left within the land will eat curds and honey.

23 On that day, every place where there once were a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver will be grown over with briers and thorn bushes.

24 With bows and arrows, people will go out, because the entire land will be briers and thorns.

25 As for all the hills that used to be cultivated with a hoe, you will not go near for fear of iron briers and thorns, but they will be rangeland for cattle and sheep to trample.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, That the LORD shall hiss for the fly That is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, And for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.

19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them In the rugged valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, And upon all thorns, and upon all brambles.

20 In that day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired in the parts beyond the River, even with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet; and it shall also sweep away the beard.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall rear a young cow, and two sheep; 22and it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give, he shall eat curd; for curd and honey shall every one eat that is left in the midst of the land.

23 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, shall even be for briers and thorns.

24 With arrows and with bow shall one come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.

25 And all the hills that were digged with the mattock, thou shalt not come thither for fear of briers and thorns, but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of sheep.

Chapter 8

1 The LORD said to me, Take a large tablet and write on it in ordinary script, "For Maher-shalal-hash-baz,"

2 and call faithful witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah, to testify for me.

1 And the LORD said unto me: 'Take thee a great tablet, and write upon it in common script: The spoil speedeth, the prey hasteth;

2 and I will take unto Me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.'

3 I went in to the prophet, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

4 For before the child can call his father or his mother, the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.

3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bore a son. Then said the LORD unto me: 'Call his name aMaher-shalal-hashbaz.

4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry: My father, and: My mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be carried away before the king of Assyria.'

5 The LORD spoke to me yet again, saying,

6 Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently and rejoice in Rezin and [Remaliah's] son

7 now then, the LORD God will indeed bring up against them the waters of the River, [strong and many—the kin]g of Assyria and all his glory—and it will rise [above all its channels and overflow all] its banks.

8 It will sweep into Judah; it will overflow and pass through. It will reach up to the neck, and its outstretched wings will fill the breadth of your land. Immanuel!

5 And the LORD spoke unto me yet again, saying:

6 Forasmuch as this people hath refused The waters of Shiloah that go softly, And rejoiceth with Rezin and Remaliah's son;

7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them The waters of the River, mighty and many, Even the king of Assyria and all his glory; And he shall come up over all his channels,

And go over all his banks;

8 And he shall sweep through Judah Overflowing as he passeth through He shall reach even to the neck; And the stretching out of his wings Shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

9 Band together, nations, but be shattered. Listen, all distant countries, gird yourselves but be shattered.

10 Take counsel together, but it will be brought to nothing. Speak a word, but it will not stand. For Immanuel!

11 For the LORD spoke to me with great power, instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

12 Do not call a conspiracy everything that this people calls a conspiracy. Do revere or be in awe of what they revere.

13 The LORD of hosts—consider him holy, revere him, be in awe of him.

14 He will be a sanctuary but also a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15 Many among them will stumble and fall, be broken, snared, and captured.

9 Make an uproar, O ye peoples, and ye shall be broken in pieces; And give ear, all ye of far countries; Gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

10 Take counsel together, and it shall be brought to nought; Speak the word, and it shall not stand; For God is with us.

11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, admonishing me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:

12 'Say ye not: A conspiracy, concerning all whereof this people do say: A conspiracy; neither fear ye their fear, nor account it dreadful.

13 The LORD of hosts, Him shall ye sanctify; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.

14 And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.'

16 Bind up the testimony, and seal the instruction among my disciples.

17 I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope for him.

18 Here I am, with the children the LORD has given me as a sign and a wonder in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells in Mount Zion.

16 'Bind up the testimony, seal the instruction among My disciples.'

17 And I will wait for the LORD, that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him.

18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me shall be for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwelleth in mount Zion.

19 When they say to you, "Consult the ghosts and familiar spirits which chirp and mutter. Should not a people consult their god, or the dead for the sake of the living,

20 for instruction and testimony?"—surely there will be no dawn for one who speaks like th

21 They will go through it, while severely distressed and hungry. When he is hungry, he will become angry and curse by his king and by his god, and look up.

22 Then he will look to the land, and there will be distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. Then they will be driven into darkness.

19 And when they shall say unto you: 'Seek unto the ghosts and the familiar spirits, that chirp and that mutter; should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living unto the dead

20 for instruction and for testimony?'—Surely they will speak according to this word, wherein there is no light.—

21 And they shall pass this way that are sore bestead and hungry; and it shall come to pass that, when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse by their king and by their God, and, whether they turn their faces upward,

22 or look unto the earth, behold distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish, and outspread thick darkness.

23 For is there no gloom to her that was stedfast? Now the former hath lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but the latter hath dealt a more grievous blow by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in the district of the nations.

Chapter 9

1 For one who was in anguish there will be no gloom. In the former time he treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but in the latter time he will make it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

1 The people that walked in darkness Have seen a great light; They that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them hath the light shined.

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. On those who lived in the land of deep shadows, light has shined.

3 You have expanded the nation, you have increased its joy. They rejoice in your presence, as with the joy at harvest, as people cheer when they divide spoil.

4 For the yoke of their burden and the pole on their shoulder, the rod of their oppressors, and you have broken, as in the day of Midiam.

5 For every boot tramping in the tumult and the garments rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for fire.

2 Thou hast multiplied the nation, Thou hast increased their joy; They joy before Thee according to the joy in harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

3 For the yoke of his burden, And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, Thou hast broken as in the day of Midian. For every boot stamped with fierceness, And every cloak rolled in blood, Shall even be for burning, for fuel of fire.

5 For a child is born unto us, A son is given unto us; And the government is upon his shoulder; And his name is called Pele-joez-el-gibbor- Abi-ad-sar-shalom;

6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will be on his shoulders. He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

7 His government will expand, and peace will be endless for the throne of David and his kingdom, to establish it and to sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do th

6 That the government may be increased, And of peace there be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To establish it, and to uphold it Through justice and through righteousness From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts doth perform this.

7 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, And it hath lighted upon Israel.

8 The LORD sent a word against Jacob, and it fell upon Israel.

9 All the people were evil—Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who said in arrogance and pride of heart,

10 "The bricks have fallen, but we will build with hewn stone. The sycamores have been cut down, but we will substitute cedars."

11 The L[ORD] raised the adversaries of Rezin against him and spurred his enemies on—

12 Aram from the east and the Philis[tines from the w]est—and they devoured Israel with an open mouth. And for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hands are stretched out still.

8 And all the people shall know, Even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, That say in pride and in arrogancy of heart:

9 'The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stones; The sycamores are cut down, but cedars will we put in their place.'

10 Therefore the LORD doth set upon high the adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies;

11 The Arameans on the east, and the Philistines on the west; And they devour Israel with open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.

12 Yet the people turneth not unto Him that smiteth them, Neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.

13 The people did not turn to him who afflicted them, nor did they seek the LORD of hosts.

14 So the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.

15 The elder and dignitary is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.

16 Those who guide this people mislead, and those who are guided by them are confused.

17 For that reason my Lord does not spare their young men or have compassion on their orphans and widows. For everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks profanity. For all this, his anger is not turned away, his hands are stretched out still.

13 Therefore the LORD doth cut off from Israel head and tail, Palm-branch and rush, in one day.

14 The elder and the man of rank, he is the head; And the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

15 For they that lead this people cause them to err; And they that are led of them are destroyed.

16 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, Neither shall He have compassion on their fatherless and widows; For every one is ungodly and an evil-doer, And every mouth speaketh wantonness. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.

17 For wickedness burneth as the fire; It devoureth the briers and thorns; Yea, it kindleth in the thickets of the forest, And they roll upward in thick clouds of smoke.

18 For evil consumed like a fire. It devoured the briers and thorns. It kindled in the thickets of the forest, and they rolled upward in a column of smoke.

19 From the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land was burned up, and the people were like the fuel for a fire—no one spared his neighbor.

20 On the right hand, they snatched but remained hungry. On the left, they ate but were not satisfied. Everyone ate the flesh of his own arm.

21 Manasseh devoured Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, and together they went against Judah. And for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hands are stretched out still.

18 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land burnt up; The people also are as the fuel of fire; No man spareth his brother.

19 And one snatcheth on the right hand, and is hungry; And he eateth on the left hand, and is not satisfied; They eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

20 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; And they together are against Judah. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.

Chapter 10

1 Woe to ones enacting iniquitous decrees and writing oppressive documents,

2 to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, so that widows may be their spoil, so that they may make orphans their booty!

3 What will you do in the day of punishment, when the calamity comes from far away? To whom will you run for help, where will you leave your wealth,

4 to keep from sinking down under those in fetters and falling under the slain? And for all this his anger is not turned away, his hands are stretched out still.

1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, And to the writers that write iniquity;

2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, And to take away the right of the poor of My people, That widows may be their spoil, And that they may make the fatherless their prey!

3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, And in the ruin which shall come from far? To whom will ye flee for help? And where will ye leave your glory?

4They can do nought except crouch under the captives, And fall under the slain. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.

5 Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger! The staff in their hands is my punishing wrath.

6 Against an ungodly nation I will send him, and against the people of my fury I will command him to take spoil and to seize booty and to trample them down like the mire of the streets.

7 This is not what he intends nor is he aware of this; rather he intends to destroy and to cut off many nations.

8 For he says, "Are not my commanders all kings?

9 Was not Calno just like Carchemish? Was not [Ha]math just like Arpad? Was not Samaria just like Damascus?

10 Because my power has found the kingdoms of the worthless gods, whose images were greater than those of Jerusalem and of Samaria,

11 will I not do to Jerusalem and her idols as I have done to Samaria and her worthless gods?"

5 O Asshur, the rod of Mine anger, In whose hand as a staff is Mine indignation!

6 I do send him against an ungodly nation, And against the people of My wrath do I give him a charge, To take the spoil, and to take the prey, And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, Neither doth his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, And to cut off nations not a few.

8 For he saith: 'Are not my princes all of them kings?

9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus?

10 As my hand hath reached the kingdoms of the idols, Whose graven images did exceed them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, So do to Jerusalem and her idols?'

12 For my Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem; I will punish the product of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and his haughty boasting.

13 For he says, "I have done this with my own strength and understanding—[fo]r I am intelligent. I have moved the boundaries of nations and pl[u]ndered their treasuries. [Like a bull,] I have brought down those [who sit on thrones].

14 My hand has found the wealth of the peoples like a nest. Just as they gather [abandoned] eggs, I myself have gathered [the entire wor]ld, and none moved a wing or opened a mouth to chirp."

15 Does the ax vaunt itself over the one who chops with it, or the saw think itself better than the one who uses it? As if a rod raised the person who lifted it, or a staff lifted one that is not wood!

12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed His whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks.

13 For he hath said: By the strength of my hand I have done it, And by my wisdom, for I am prudent; In that I have removed the bounds of the peoples, And have robbed their treasures, And have brought down as one mighty the inhabitants;

14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the peoples; And as one gathereth eggs that are forsaken, Have I gathered all the earth; And there was none that moved the wing, Or that opened mouth, or chirped.

15 Should the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Should the saw magnify itself against him that moveth it? As if a rod should move them that lift it up, Or as if a staff should lift up him that is not wood.

16 Therefore my Lord, the LORD of hosts, will send leanness to those who are fat, and under their weight will kindle a flame, burning like fire.

17 The light of Israel will become a fire and his holy one a flame, and it will burn and consume its thorns and thistles in a single day.

18 He will destroy the bounty of its forest and farm land, both soul and body, and it will be like a sick person wasting away.

19 So few trees will remain of its forest that a child could record them.

16 Therefore will the Lord, the LORD of hosts, Send among his fat ones leanness; And under his glory there shall be kindled A burning like the burning of fire.

17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, And his Holy One for a flame; And it shall burn and devour his thorns And his briers in one day.

18 And the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, He will consume both soul and body; And it shall be as when a sick man wasteth away.

19 And the remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few, That a child may write them down.

20 From that day, what remains of Israel and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped will never again rely on the one who beat them, but will sincerely rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.

21 Only a remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

22 For though your people, Israel, were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overwhelming victory.

23 For my Lord, the LORD of hosts will execute the decreed annihilation, throughout the land.

20 And it shall come to pass in that day, That the remnant of Israel, And they that are escaped of the house of Jacob, Shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; But shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.

21 aA remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, Unto God the Mighty.

22 For though thy people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, Only a remnant of them shall return; An extermination is determined, overflowing with righteousness. a Heb. shear jashub.

23 For an extermination wholly determined Shall the Lord, the GOD of hosts, make in the midst of all the earth.

24 Therefore thus says my Lord, the LORD of hosts: My people living in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrian, of the rod that strikes you or the staff lifted up against you, in the fashion of Egypt.

25 For very soon, my indignation will cease. Then my anger will be directed to his destruction.

26 The LORD of hosts will brandish a whip against it, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Horeb. His rod will be against the sea, and he will lift it up, as he did against Egypt.

27 On that day, his burden will be removed from your shoulder and his [y]oke from your neck, and the yoke will be broken because of fatness.

24 Therefore thus saith the Lord, the GOD of hosts: O My people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of Asshur, though he smite thee with the rod, and lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.

25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall be accomplished, and Mine anger shall be to their destruction.

26 And the LORD of hosts shall stir up against him a scourge, as in the slaughter of Midian at the Rock of Oreb; and as His rod was over the sea, so shall He lift it up after the manner of Egypt.

27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that His burden shall depart from off thy shoulder, And his yoke from off thy neck, And the yoke shall be destroyed by reason of fatness.

28 He has come on Aiath. He has passed through Migron. At Michmash he stored his baggage.

29 He has crossed by the pass. He has lodged at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saul has fled.

30 Cry aloud, daughter of Gallim! Listen, Laish! Answer her, Anathoth!

31 Marmenah retreated. The inhabitants of Gebim fled for safety.

32 This very day he will halt at Nob. He will shake his fists at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

33 See, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, will lop off treetops with terror, and the tall trees will be hewn down, and the lofty will be brought lo

34 He will cut down the thick[et]s of the forest with an ax, and Lebanon in its majesty will fall.

28 He is come to Aiath, He is passed through Migron; At Michmas he layeth up his baggage;

29 They are gone over the pass; They have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah trembleth; Gibeath-shaul is fled.

30 Cry thou with a shrill voice, O daughter of Gallim!

Hearken, O Laish! O thou poor Anathoth!

31 Madmenah is in mad flight; The inhabitants of Gebim flee to cover.

32 This very day shall he halt at Nob, Shaking his hand at the mount of the daughter of Zion, The hill of Jerusalem.

33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, Shall lop the boughs with terror; And the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, And the lofty shall be laid low.

34 And He shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, And Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.

Chapter 11

1 A shoot will come forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

2 The spirit of the LORD will rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and mig[h]t, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

3 His delight will be in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by appearances, nor decide by what he hears,

4 but with righteousness he will obtain justice for the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the land. He will strike the land with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips the wicked will be killed.

5 Righteousness will be the belt around his waist and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

1 And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, And a twig shall grow forth out of his roots.

2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD; And he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, Neither decide after the hearing of his ears;

4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the land; And he shall smite the land with the rod of his mouth, And with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, And faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

6 The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion will graze together, and a little child will herd them.

7 The cow and the bear will graze together, and their young will lie down, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

8 A baby will play on the viper's hole, and the toddler will put his hand on the dens of adders.

9 They will not hurt or destroy on my holy mountain. For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

6 And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, And the leopard shall lie down with the kid; And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.

7 And the cow and the bear feed; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, And the weaned child shall put his hand on the basilisk's den.

9 They shall not hurt nor destroy In all My holy mountain; For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea

10 On that day, the root of Jesse, which stands as a signal for the peoples—the nations will seek him, and his dwelling will be honored.

11 On that day, my Lord will extend his hand a second time to recover the remnant of his people that are left, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Nubia, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the coastlands.

12 He will raise a signal for the nations and assemble the banished of Israel and gather the dispersed of Judah from the corners of the earth.

13 Ephraim's envy will cease, and Judah's hostility will end. Ephraim will not envy Judah, and Judah will not be hostile toward Ephraim.

14 They will swoop down on the back of the Philistines in the west together, and they will plunder the peoples of the east, extending their hand against Edom and Moab. And the Ammonites will obey them.

15 The LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea, and with a scorching wind he will wave his hands over the River and split it into seven streams, so that people can march over in sandals.

16 There will be a highway for the remnant of his people who remain from Assyria, just as there was for Israel on the day that it came up out of the land of Egypt.

10 And it shall come to pass in that day,

That the root of Jesse, that standeth for an ensign of the peoples, Unto him shall the nations seek; And his resting-place shall be glorious.

11 And it shall come to pass in that day, That the Lord will set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people, That shall remain from Assyria, and from Egypt, And from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, And from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

12 And He will set up an ensign for the nations, And will assemble the dispersed of Israel, And gather together the scattered of Judah From the four corners of the earth.

13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, And they that harass Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, And Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

14 And they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines on the west; Together shall they spoil the children of the east; They shall put forth their hand upon Edom and Moab; And the children of Ammon shall obey them.

15 And the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; And with His scorching wind will He shake His hand over the River, And will smite it into seven streams, And cause men to march over dry-shod.

16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of His people, That shall remain from Assyria, Like as there was for Israel In the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

Chapter 12

1 On that day you will say, I [give thanks] to you, LORD. You had been angry with me, but your anger turned and you comforted me.

2 God, God is truly my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid, because the LORD is my strength and song; he has become my salvation.

3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

1 And in that day thou shalt say: 'I will give thanks unto Thee, O LORD; For though Thou was angry with me, Thine anger is turned away, and Thou comfortest me.

2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; For GOD the LORD is my strength and song; And He is become my salvation.'

3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water Out of the wells of salvation.

4 On that day you will say, I give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, declare his deeds among the peoples, celebrate that his name is exalted.

5 Sing to the LORD, because he has done excellent things. This should be known through all the earth.

6 Shout and cheer, inhabitant of Zion, because great in your presence is the Holy One of Israel.

4 And in that day shall ye say: 'Give thanks unto the LORD, proclaim His name, Declare His doings among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.

5 Sing unto the LORD; for He hath done gloriously; This is made known in all the earth.

6 Cry aloud and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.'

Chapter 13

1 The oracle of Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.

2 Raise a signal on a windswept mountain, shout to them, wave your hand, for him to enter the gates of the nobles.

3 I have commanded my holy ones; I have called my warriors to carry out my wrath, my proudly [b]oasting ones.

4 The roar of a mob on the mountains, like a large army! The noise of kingdoms, nations gathering together! The LORD of hosts is mustering an army for battle,

5 coming from a far country, from the end of the heavens, the LORD and the instruments of his wrath, to destroy the whole earth.

6 Wail, because the day of the LORD is near, like destruction from the Almighty it comes.

7 Therefore all hands will be weak, and all human courage will fail.

8 They will be terrified. Seized by pangs and throes, they will writhe like a woman in childbirth. They will look at one another in astonishment, and their faces will be afire.

1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

2 Set ye up an ensign upon the high mountain, Lift up the voice unto them, Wave the hand, that they may go Into the gates of the nobles.

3 I have commanded My consecrated ones, Yea, I have called My mighty ones for mine anger, Even My proudly exulting ones.

4 Hark, a tumult in the mountains, Like as of a great people! Hark, the uproar of the kingdoms Of the nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts mustereth The host of the battle.

5 They come from a far country, From the end of heaven, Even the LORD, and the weapons of His indignation, To destroy the whole earth.

6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; As destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

7 Therefore shall all hands be slack, And every heart of man shall melt.

8 And they shall be affrighted; Pangs and throes shall take hold of them; They shall be in pain as a woman in travail; They shall look aghast one at another; Their faces shall be faces of flame.

9 Indeed, the day of the LORD is coming, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make earth desolate and to destroy sinners from it.

10 Indeed the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not shine their light—when it rises, the sun will be dark, and the moon will not glow.

11 I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their sins. I will end the pride of the insolent and lay low the haughtiness of the tyrants.

12 I will make people scarcer than fine gold, mortals than the pure gold of Ophir.

13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth will be dislodged by the wrath of the LORD of hosts, on the day of his rage.

14 Like a hunted gazelle and like unherded sheep, all will seek their own people and flee to their own land.

15 Everyone who is found will be [thrust throu]gh, and everyone who is captured will fall by the sword.

16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, and their houses will be plundered, and their wives [tak]en.

17 Indeed, I am stirring up the Medes against them, people [w]ho have no regard for silver and no pleasure in gold.

18 Their bows will destroy the youth, and on infants they will have no pity, and their eyes will have no compassion on children.

19 Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty and pride of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God over[thr]ew them.

20 It will never again be inhabited; it will not be lived in from generation to generation. Arabs will not pitch tents there; shepherds will not make their flocks lie down there.

21 Rather wild creatures will lie down there, and their houses will be full of jackals. Ostriches will live there, and wild goats will dance there.

22 Wolves will howl in their towers and jackals in their luxurious palaces. Its time is drawing near, and its days will not be drawn out any further.

9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, Cruel, and full of wrath and fierce anger; To make the earth a desolation, And to destroy the sinners thereof out of it,

10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof Shall not give their light; The sun shall be darkened in his going forth, And the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

11 And I will visit upon the world their evil, And upon the wicked their iniquity; And I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, And will lay low the haughtiness of the tyrants.

12 I will make man more rare than fine gold, Even man than the pure gold of Ophir.

13 Therefore I will make the heavens to tremble, And the earth shall be shaken out of her place, For the wrath of the LORD of hosts, And for the day of His fierce anger.

14 And it shall come to pass, that as the chased gazelle, And as sheep that no man gathereth, They shall turn every man to his own people, And shall flee every man to his own land.

15 Every one that is found shall be thrust through; And every one that is caught shall fall by the sword.

16 Their babes also shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes; Their houses shall be spoiled, And their wives ravished.

17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, Who shall not regard silver, And as for gold, they shall not delight in it.

18 And their bows shall dash the young men in pieces; And they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; Their eye shall not spare children.

19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans'pride, Shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

20 It shall never be inhabited, Neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation; Neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; Neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

21 But wild-cats shall lie there; And their houses shall be full of ferrets; And ostriches shall dwell there, And satyrs shall dance there.

22 And jackals shall howl in their castles, And wild-dogs in the pleasant palaces; And her time is near to come, And her days shall not be prolonged.

Chapter 14

1 For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land; and the sojourner will join himself with them, and they will cleave to the house of Jacob.

2 And many peoples will take them and bring them to their land and their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the land of the LORD as servants and as handmaids. They will take captive those whose captives they were, and will be rulers over their oppressors.

1 For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land; and the stranger shall join himself with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.

2 And the peoples shall take them, and bring them to their place; and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and for handmaids; and they shall take them captive, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.

3 And then, on the day the LORD will give you rest from your sorrow, from your trouble, and from the hard service with which they made you serve,

4 you will take up this parable against the king of Babylon, saying:

3 And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy travail, and from thy trouble, and from the hard service wherein thou wast made to serve,

4 that thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say:

How the oppressor has ceased! How (his) assault has ceased!

5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers

6 who smote the peoples in anger with unending blows, who ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that no one could restrain.

7 The whole earth is at rest and is quiet; they break forth into singing.

8 Indeed, the fir trees rejoice at you, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, "Since you have been laid low, and no hewer has come up against us."

9 Sheol from below is excited over you to meet you at your arrival. It stirs up the dead for you, even all the chief ones of the earth; it has raised up all the kings of the nations from their thrones.

10 They will all answer and say to you, "Have you also become as weak as we are? Have you become like us?"

11 Your pomp and the noise of your harps have been brought down to Sheol; the worm has spread under you, and your covering is a worm.

How hath the oppressor ceased! The exactress of gold ceased!

5 The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, The sceptre of the rulers,

6 That smote the peoples in wrath With an incessant stroke, That ruled the nations in anger, With a persecution that none restrained.

7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet; They break forth into singing.

8 Yea, the cypresses rejoice at thee, And the cedars of Lebanon: 'Since thou art laid down, No feller is come up against us.'

9 The nether-world from beneath is moved for thee To meet thee at thy coming; The shades are stirred up for thee, Even all the chief ones of the earth; All the kings of the nations Are raised up from their thrones.

10 All they do answer And say unto thee: 'Art thou also become weak as we? Art thou become like unto us?

11 Thy pomp is brought down to the nether-world, And the noise of thy psalteries; The maggot is spread under thee, And the worms cover thee.'

12 How you are fallen from the heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! How you have been cut down to the ground—you who laid low the nation!

13 You said in your heart, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit upon the mount of gathering in the furthest parts of the north.

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High."

15 Yet you will be brought down to Sheol, to the uttermost parts of the Pit.

16 They who see you will gaze at you; they will think about you, saying, "Is this the man, the one who made the earth tremble, the one who shook kingdoms,

17 who made the world like a wilderness (and) overthrew its cities, who did not release his prisoners to their homes?"

18 All the kings of the nations sleep in glory, each in his own house.

19 But you have been cast away from your grace like a reprehensible branch, clothed with the slain who have been pierced through with the sword, who go down to the Pit, just like a dead body trodden underfoot.

20 You will not be under with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land and have slain your people; the seed of evildoers will never be remembered again.

21 Prepare slaughter for his children because of their ancestors' iniquity, so that they will not rise up and possess the earth, and cover the surface of the world with cities.

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, That didst cast lots over the nations!

13 And thou saidst in thy heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, Above the stars of God Will I exalt my throne, And I will sit upon the mount of meeting, In the uttermost parts of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.'

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to the nether-world, To the uttermost parts of the pit.

16 They that saw thee do narrowly look upon thee, They gaze earnestly at thee: 'Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, That did shake kingdoms;

17 That made the world as a wilderness, And destroyed the cities thereof; That opened not the house of his prisoners?'

18 All the kings of the nations, All of them, sleep in glory, Every one in his own house.

19 But thou art cast forth away from thy grave Like an abhorred offshoot, In the raiment of the slain, that are thrust through with the sword, That go down to the pavement of the pit, As a carcass trodden under foot.

20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, Bbecause thou hast destroyed thy land, Thou hast slain thy people; The seed of evil-doers shall not Be named for ever.

21 Prepare ye slaughter for his children For the iniquity of their fathers; That they rise not up, and possess the earth, And fill the face of the world with cities.

22 I will rise up against them, says the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and offspring (and) posterity, says the LORD.

23 I will also make (it) a possession for the hedgehog, pools of water; and I will sweep (it) with the broom of destruction, says the LORD of hosts.

24 The LORD of hosts has sworn: Surely as I have thought, so will she be; and as I have purposed, so it will stand.

25 I will defeat the Assyrian in my land, and tread him underfoot on my mountains. Then his yoke will depart from you, and his burden from your shoulder.

26 This is the plan that has been imposed on the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.

27 For the LORD of hosts has planned this, so who will cancel it? His hands are stretched out, so who will turn it back?

22 And I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and offshoot and offspring, saith the LORD.

23 I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water; and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.

24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; And as I have purposed, so shall it stand,

25 That I will break Asshur in My land, And upon My mountains tread him under foot; Then shall his yoke depart from off them, And his burden depart from off their shoulder.

26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth; And this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.

27 For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, And who shall disannul it? And His hand is stretched out, And who shall turn it back?

28 This oracle happened in the year that king Ahaz died.

29 Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod which struck you has been broken; for an adder will come forth from the serpent's, and its issue will be a fiery flying serpent.

30 The firstborn of the poor will feed, and the needy will lie down in safety; and I will kill your root with famine, and I will slay your remnant.

31 Wail, O gate; cry, O city. You have melted away, all you Philistines; for smoke is coming out of the north, and there is none who metes out payment among its kinsmen.

28 In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.

29 Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of thee, Because the rod that smote thee is broken: For out of the serpent's root shall come forth a basilisk, And his fruit shall be a flying serpent.

30And the first-born of the poor shall feed, And the needy shall lie down in safety; And I will kill thy root with famine, And thy remnant shall be slain

31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; Melt away, O Philistia, all of thee; For there cometh a smoke out of the north, And there is no straggler in his ranks.

32 What then will they say to the kings of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, and in it the afflicted of his people take refuge.

32 What then shall one answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, And in her shall the afflicted of His people take refuge.

Chapter 15

1 The oracle concerning Moab: Yes, in a night Ar of Moab has been laid waste and brought to nothing; yes, in a night the city of Moab has been laid waste and brought to nothing.

2 They have gone up to Bayith and Dibon, to the high places to weep; Moab wails over Nebo, and over Medeba. There is baldness on all its head, and every beard is cut off.

3 In its streets they dress themselves with sackcloth; on its housetops and in its open squares everyone is wailing and melting into tears.

4 Heshbon and Elealeh are crying out, their voice is heard as far as Jahaz; this is why the armed men of Moab cry aloud, each man's soul trembles within him.

1 The burden of Moab. For in the night that Ar of Moab is laid waste, He is brought to ruin; For in the night that Kir of Moab is laid waste, He is brought to ruin.

2 He is gone up to Baith, and to Dibon, Tto the high places, to weep; Upon Nebo, and upon Medeba, Moab howleth; On all their heads is baldness, Every beard is shaven.

3 In their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth; On their housetops, and in their broad places, Every one howleth, weeping profusely.

4 And Heshbon crieth out, and Elealeh; Their voice is heard even unto Jahaz; Therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; His soul is faint within him.

5 My heart cries out for Moab; her nobles are fleeing to Zoar, to Eglath-shelishiyah. For they go up with weeping by the ascent of Luhith; for they raise up a cry of destruction in the road of Horonaim.

6 For the waters of Nimrim will be deserted; the grass has withered away, the tender grass is gone, and nothing green remains.

7 Therefore they will carry away over the Brook of the Arabs the wealth they have amassed and what they have accumulated.

8 For the cry has traveled around the borders of Moab, whose wail has reached Eglaim, whose wail has reached Beer-elim.

9 For the waters of Dibon are full of blood; indeed, I will bring still more upon Dibon, like a lion upon the Moabites who escape, upon those who remain in the land.

5 My heart crieth out for Moab; Her fugitives reach unto Zoar, A heifer of three years old; For by the ascent of Luhith With weeping they go up; For in the way of Horonaim They raise up a cry of destruction.

6 For the Waters of Nimrim shall be desolate; For the grass is withered away, the herbage faileth, There is no green thing.

7 Therefore the abundance they have gotten, And that which they have laid up, Shall they carry away to the brook of the willows.

8 For the cry is gone round about The borders of Moab; The howling thereof unto Eglaim, And the howling thereof unto Beer-elim.

9 For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; For I will bring yet more upon Dimon, A lion upon him that escapeth of Moab, And upon the remnant of the land.

Chapter 16

1 Send the lambs for the ruler of the land from Selah to the wilderness, to Mount Zion's daughter.

2 For the daughters of Moab will be like wandering birds, like a scattered nest, at the fords of the (river) Arnon.

3 Give counsel and execute justice; make your shade like the night in the middle of the day; hide outcasts and do not betray fugitives.

4 Let my outcasts dwell with you. As for Moab, be a hiding-place to him from the destroyer's presence.

1 Send ye the lambs for the ruler of the land From the crags that are toward the wilderness, Unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.

2 For it shall be that, as wandering birds, As a scattered nest, So shall the daughters of Moab be At the fords of Arnon.

3 'Give counsel, execute justice; Make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; Hide the outcasts; betray not the fugitive.

4 Let mine outcasts dwell with thee; As for Moab, be thou a covert to him from the face of the spoiler.'

For the extortioner has been brought to nothing, destruction ceases, the oppressor is eliminated from the land.

5 Then a throne will be established in mercy, and one will sit upon it in truth, in the tent of David, judging, seeking justice, and being quick to do what is right.

For the extortion is at an end, spoiling ceaseth, They that trampled down are consumed out of the land;

5 And a throne is established through mercy, And there sitteth thereon in truth, in the tent of David, One that judgeth, and seeketh justice, and is ready in righteousness.

6 We have heard of the pride of Moab, how he became very proud; (we have heard) of his arrogance, his pride, and his anger—indeed, of his boastings.

7 Therefore let not Moab wail, (but) let everyone wail for Moab! You will mourn for the raisin-cakes of Kir-hareseth, being utterly devastated.

8 For the fields of Heshbon and the vineyards of Sibmah languish.

9 I will water you with my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh, for the battle cry has fallen upon your summer fruits and upon your harvest.

10 Gladness has been taken away, as well as joy from the fruitful field; in the vineyards people will sing no songs and there will be no joyful noise. No treader will tread out wine in the presses; I have made the vintage cry out to end.

11 Therefore my heart sounds like a harp for Moab, and my innermost being for Kir-heres.

6 We have heard of the pride of Moab; He is very proud; Even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his arrogancy, His ill-founded boastings.

7 Therefore shall Moab wail for Moab, Every one shall wail; for the sweet cakes of Kir-hareseth shall ye mourn, Sorely stricken.

8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, And the vine of Sibmah, Whose choice plants did overcome The lords of nations; They reached even unto Jazer, They wandered into the wilderness; Her branches were spread abroad, They passed over the sea.

9 Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer For the vine of Sibmah; I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh; For upon thy summer fruits and upon thy harvest The battle shout is fallen.

10 And gladness and joy are taken away Out of the fruitful field; And in the vineyards there shall be no singing, Neither shall there be shouting; No treader shall tread out wine in the presses; I have made the vintage shout to cease.

11 Wherefore my heart moaneth like a harp for Moab, And mine inward parts for Kir-heres.

12 When Moab presents himself—when he comes upon the high place and comes to its sanctuary to pray—he will not prevail.

12 And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab hath wearied himself upon the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail

13 This is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Moab in times past.

14 But now the LORD has spoken again: Within three years, just like the years of a hired laborer, Moab's glory will be disgraced together with all its great multitude; and the remnant will be very small and of no account.

13 This is the word that the LORD spoke concerning Moab in time past.

14 But now the LORD hath spoken, saying: 'Within three years, as the years of a hireling, and the glory of Moab shall wax contemptible for all his great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and without strength.'

Chapter 17

1 The oracle concerning Dramascus: See, Dramascus is eliminated from being a city but will be a heap of ruins.

2 The cities of Oraru are deserted; they will be places for flocks, which will lie down with no one to make them afraid.

3 Fortresses will come to an end in Ephraim, and the kingdom in Dramascus. As for the remnant of Syria, it will be like the glory of the children of Israel, says the LORD of hosts.

1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, And it shall be a ruinous heap.

2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken; They shall be for flocks, Which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

3 The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, And the kingdom from Damascus; And the remnant of Aram shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, Sith the LORD of hosts.

4 On that day the glory of Jacob will be diminished, and the health of his body will be reduced.

5 It will be like when harvesters gather standing grain, and their arms reap the ears of corn; indeed, it will be like when people glean corn in the valley of Rephaim.

6 Yet gleanings will be left in them, just like the shaking of an olive tree, with two or three berries on the top of the highest bough and four or five on the branches of a fruitful tree, says the LORD, the God of Israel.

4 And it shall come to pass in that day, That the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, And the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

5 And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the standing corn, And reapeth the ears with his arm; Yea, it shall be as when one gleaneth ears In the valley of Rephaim.

6 Yet there shall be left therein gleanings, As at the beating of an olive-tree, Two or three berries In the top of the uppermost bough, Four or five in the branches of the fruitful tree, Saith the LORD, the God of Israel.

7 On that day people will look to their Maker, and their eyes will concentrate on the Holy One of Israel.

8 They will not look upon the altars, their works; they will not concentrate on what their fingers have made, (whether) the Asherim or the sun-images.

9 On that day their strong cities will be like the deserted places of the Hivites and the Amorites, which were deserted before the Israelites; it will all be desolation.

7 In that day shall a man regard his Maker, And his eyes shall look to the Holy One of Israel.

8 And he shall not regard the altars, The work of his hands, Neither shall he look to that which his fingers have made, Either the Asherim, or the sun-images.

9 In that day shall his strong cities be as the forsaken places, which were forsaken from before the children of Israel, after the manner of woods and lofty forests; and it shall be a desolation.

10 For you have forgotten the God of your salvation, and have not remembered the rock of your strength; this is why you plant attractive plants but dress them with foreign slips.

11 At the time when you plant you hedge it in, and in the morning you make your seed blossom—but the harvest flees away at the time of grief and tragic sorrow.

10 For thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, And thou hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy stronghold; Therefore thou didst plant plants of pleasantness, And didst set it with slips of a stranger;

11 In the day of thy planting thou didst make it to grow, And in the morning thou didst make thy seed to blossom— A heap of boughs in the day of grief And of desperate pain.

12 Ah yes, the cries of many peoples who cry out like the roaring of the seas; and the tumult of nations who rush along like the rushing of mighty waters!

13 The nations will be in tumult like the rushing of many waters, but he will rebuke them; and they will flee far away and will be chased like mountain-chaff before the wind, and like the whirling dust before a storm.

14 At dusk—look, there is terror! And before morning comes and they are no more. This is the portion of those who despoil us, and the lot of those who rob us.

12 Ah, the uproar of many peoples, That roar like the roaring of the seas; And the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!

13 The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters; But He shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, And shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, And like the whirling dust before the storm.

14 At eventide behold terror; And before the morning they are not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, And the lot of them that rob us.

Chapter 18

1 Ah, the land of the rustling of wings, beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,

2 which sends out ambassadors by sea in vessels of papyrus upon the waters, saying, Go, swift messengers, to a tall and handsome nation, to a people that were frightening from their very beginning, a nation that metes out and tramples, whose land is divided by the rivers!

Ah, land of the buzzing of wings, Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia;

2 That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, Even in vessels of papyrus upon the waters! Go, ye swift messengers, To a nation tall and of glossy skin, To a people terrible from their beginning onward; A nation that is sturdy and treadeth down, Whose land the rivers divide!

3 All you inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth: when a signal is lifted up on the mountains, then watch; and when the trumpet is sounded, then listen!

4 For this is what the LORD has told me: I will be still, and I will watch in my dwelling-place, like clear heat in sunshine and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.

5 For before the harvest, when the budding is over and the blossoms become ripening grapes, he will cut off the sprigs with pruning-hooks, and take away and cut down the spreading branches.

6 And they will be left together for the ravenous mountain birds and for the wild animals; the ravenous birds will feast all summer long on them, and all the wild animals will feast all the winter on them.

3 All ye inhabitants of the world, and ye dwellers on the earth, When an ensign is lifted up on the mountains, see ye; And when the horn is blown, hear ye.

4 For thus hath the LORD said unto me: I will hold Me still, and I will look on in My dwelling-place, Like clear heat in sunshine, Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.

5 For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, And the bud becometh a ripening grape, He will cut off the sprigs with pruning-hooks, And the shoots will He take away and lop off.

6 They shall be left together unto the ravenous birds of the mountains, And to the beasts of the earth; And the ravenous birds shall summer upon them, And all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.

7 At that time a present will be brought to the LORD of hosts from a tall and handsome people, from a people that were frightening from their very beginning, a nation that metes out and tramples, whose land is divided by the rivers, to the place of the name of the LORD, to Mount Zion.

7 In that time shall a present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people tall and of glossy skin, and from a people terrible from their beginning onward; a nation that is sturdy and treadeth down, whose land the rivers divide, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.

Chapter 19

1 The oracle concerning Egypt: See, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence; and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.

2 And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians; everyone will fight against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor, and city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

3 The spirit of the Egyptians will fail within them, and I will confound their plans. They will consult idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.

4 I will deliver the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master; a fierce king will rule over them, says the LORD GOD of hosts.

1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, And cometh unto Egypt; And the idols of Egypt shall be moved at His presence, And the heart of Egypt shall melt within it.

2 And I will spur Egypt against Egypt; And they shall fight every one against his brother, And everyone against his neighbour; City against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

3 And the spirit of Egypt shall be made empty within it; And I will make void the counsel thereof; And they shall seek unto the idols, and to the whisperers, And to the ghosts, and to the familiar spirits.

4 And I will give over the Egyptians Iinto the hand of a cruel lord; And a fierce king shall rule over them, Saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

5 The waters of the Nile will dry up, and the riverbed will become parched and dry.

6 And the canals will become foul; and the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up, reeds and rushes, and they will wither away.

7 The reeds along the Nile, on the brink of the Nile, and all the sown fields of the Nile, will dry up and be driven away, and there will be nothing in it.

8 Those who fish will mourn, and all who cast hooks into the Nile will lament, and those who spread nets upon the waters will pine away.

9 Those who work with combed flax and the weavers of white cloth will be in despair.

10 Its weavers will be broken in pieces, and all who work for wages will be sick at heart.

5 And the waters shall fail from the sea, And the river shall be drained dry,

6 And the rivers shall become foul; The streams of Egypt shall be minished and dried up; The reeds and flags shall wither.

7 The mosses by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, And all that is sown by the Nile, Shall become dry, be driven away, and be no more.

8 The fishers also shall lament, And all they that cast angle into the Nile shall mourn, And they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.

9 Moreover they that work in combed flax, And they that weave cotton, shall be ashamed.

10 And her foundations shall be crushed, All they that make dams shall be grieved in soul.

11 The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the advice of Pharaoh's wisest counselors has become stupid. How can you say to Pharaoh, I am one of the wise men, a disciple of ancient kings?

12 Where are your wise men now? Please let them tell you and make known what the LORD has planned against Egypt.

13 The princes of Zoan have become fools, the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are the cornerstones of her peoples led Egypt astray.

14 The LORD has mixed in its midst a spirit of confusion; and they have led Egypt astray in everything it does, like a drunkard staggers around in his own vomit.

15 And there will be no work for Egypt which its head or tail, palm branch or rush, can do.

11 The princes of Zoan are utter fools; The wisest counsellors of Pharaoh are a senseless counsel; How can ye say unto Pharaoh: 'I am the son of the wise, The son of ancient kings'?

12 Where are they, then, thy wise men? And let them tell thee now; And let them know what the LORD of hosts Hath purposed concerning Egypt.

13 The princes of Zoan are become fools, The princes of Noph are deceived; They have caused Egypt to go astray, That are the corner-stone of her tribes.

14 The LORD hath mingled within her A spirit of dizziness; And they have caused Egypt to stagger in every work thereof, As a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.

15 Neither shall there be for Egypt any work, Which head or tail, palm-branch or rush, may do.

16 On that day the Egyptians will be like women; they will tremble and be afraid at the uplifted hand of the LORD of hosts when he brandishes his hand against her.

17 The land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be afraid, because of the plan that the hand of the LORD of hosts is planning against them.

18 On that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of the Sun.

16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women; and it shall tremble and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He shaketh over it.

17 And the land of Judah shall become a terror unto Egypt, whensoever one maketh mention thereof to it; it shall be afraid, because of the purpose of the LORD of hosts, which He purposeth against it.

18 In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called The city of destruction.

19 In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.

19 On that day will there be an altar to the LORD in the heart of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border.

20 It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for when they cry to the LORD because of their oppressors he will send them a savior and he will go down and will rescue them.

21 So the LORD will make himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will acknowledge the LORD on that day. They will even worship with sacrifices and burnt offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and will carry them out.

22 The LORD will strike Egypt, striking but healing. Then they will return to the LORD, and he will respond to them and will heal them.

20 And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and He will send them a saviour, and a defender, who will deliver them.

21 And the LORD shall make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day; yea, they shall worship with sacrifice and offering, and shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and shall perform it.

22 And the LORD will smite Egypt, smiting and healing; and they shall return unto the LORD, and He will be entreated of them, and will heal them.

23 On that day will there be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will come to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria, and they will worship with the Assyrians.

24 On that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,

25 whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my heritage.

23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and the Egyptians shall worship with the Assyrians.

24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth; 25for that the LORD of hosts hath blessed him, saying: 'Blessed be Egypt My people and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel Mine inheritance.'

Chapter 20

1 In the year that the supreme commander, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked Ashdod and took it—

2 at that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz: Go and loosen the sackcloth from your hips, and take your sandals off your feet. And he did so, walking around naked and barefoot.

1 In the year that Tartan came into Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it;

2 at that time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying: 'Go, and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put thy shoe from off thy foot.' And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

3 Then the LORD said, Just as my servant Isaiah has walked around naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Ethiopia,

4 so the king of Assyria will lead away the Egyptians as captives and the Ethiopians as exiles, both young and old—naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks bared, to the shame of Egypt.

5 And they will be afraid and put to shame because of Ethiopia their hope and Egypt their boast.

6 At that time the inhabitants of this coastland will say, "See, this is what has happened to those we relied on and on whom we rely for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we ourselves escape?"

3 And the LORD said: 'Like as My servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot to be for three years a sign and a wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia,

4 so shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt, and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

5 And they shall be dismayed and ashamed, because of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.

6 And the inhabitant of this coast-land shall say in that day: Behold, such is our expectation, whither we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?'

Chapter 21

1 The oracle concerning the pasture by the sea: As whirlwinds in the Negev sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a distant land.

2 A dire vision has been shown to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam, lay siege, Media! I am bringing to an end all the groaning she has caused.

3 Therefore my loins are racked with pain; pangs have seized me like the pangs of a woman in labor. I am so staggered that I cannot hear, I am so bewildered I cannot see as I reel.

4 And as for my mind, horror has appalled me; the twilight of my desire has been turned into trembling for me.

5 They set the tables, they prepare the rugs, they eat, they drink! Rise up, you commanders, oil the shields!

1 The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweeping on, It cometh from the wilderness, from a dreadful land.

2 A grievous vision is declared unto me: 'The treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam! besiege, O Media! All the sighing thereof have I made to cease.'

3 Therefore are my loins filled with convulsion; Pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail; I am bent so that I cannot hear; I am affrighted so that I cannot see.

4 My heart is bewildered, terror hath overwhelmed me; The twilight that I longed for hath been turned for me into trembling.

5 They prepare the table, they light the lamps, they eat, they drink— 'Rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.'

6 For this is what the LORD said to me: Go, post a lookout, and let him announce what he sees.

7 When he sees chariots, each man with a pair of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently.

8 The lookout shouted, O LORD, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and am stationed at my post throughout the night.

9 Look, there comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs. Then he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon, and they have shattered all the images of her gods to the ground.

10 O my threshed one and child of my stone wall, I am telling you what I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel.

6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Go, set a watchman; let him declare what he seeth!

7 And when he seeth a troop, horsemen by pairs, A troop of asses, a troop of camels, He shall hearken diligently with much heed.

8 And he cried as a lion: 'Upon the watch-tower, O Lord, I stand continually in the daytime, And I am set in my ward all the nights.'

9 And, behold, there came a troop of men, horsemen by pairs. And he spoke and said: 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon; And all the graven images of her gods are broken unto the ground.'

10 O thou my threshing, and the winnowing of my floor, That which I have heard from the LORD of hosts, The God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

11 The oracle concerning Dumah. Someone is calling to me from Seir: Watchman, what (is left) of the night? Watchman, what (is left) of the night?

12 The watchman says, Morning is coming but also the night. If you would inquire, then inquire; come back again.

11 The burden of Dumah. One calleth unto me out of Seir: 'Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?'

12 The watchman said: 'The morning cometh, and also the night— If ye will inquire, inquire ye; return, come.'

13 The oracle concerning Arabia. You will lodge in the scrub in Arabia, you caravans of Dedanites.

14 Bring water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema, meet the fugitive with bread.

15 For he has fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle.

13 The burden upon Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.

14 Unto him that is thirsty bring ye water! The inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitive with his bread.

15 For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, And from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

16 This is what the LORD says to me: Within three years, according to the years of a hired worker, the pomp of Kedar will come to an end.

17 The surviving numbers of the bowmen, the warriors of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.

16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me: 'Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail;

17 and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished; for the LORD, the God of Israel, hath spoken it.'

Chapter 22

1 The oracle concerning the Valley of Vision: What troubles you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops,

2 you that were full of noise, tumultuous city, joyful town? Your slain have not been killed with the sword, nor are they dead in battle.

3 All your rulers have fled together; she is captured without any bow. All of you who were found were captured, although they fled (while the enemy was) still far away.

4 Therefore I said, Look away from me, and let me weep bitterly. Do not try to console me over the destruction of my beloved people.

1The burden concerning the Valley of Vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops,

2Thou that art full of uproar, a tumultuous city, a joyous town? Thy slain are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.

3All thy rulers are fled together, Without the bow they are bound; All that are found of thee are bound together, they are fled afar off.

4Therefore said I: 'Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; Strain not to comfort me, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.'

5 For the LORD GOD of hosts has a day of tumult and trampling and confusion in the Valley of Vision, a battering down of his holiness on the mountains.

6 Elam bore the quiver with charioteers and cavalry, and Kir uncovered the shield.

7 And it comes to pass that your choicest valleys were full of chariots, and the cavalry took their positions at the gate.

8 He has taken away the defense of Judah. On that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest,

9 and you saw that the breaches in the city of David were many, and you stored up the waters of the lower pool.

10 Then you counted the houses of Jerusalem, and broke down the houses in order to fortify the wall.

11 You also made a reservoir between the walls for the waters of the old pool. But you did not look upon the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago.

5For it is a day of trouble, and of trampling, and of perplexity, From the Lord, the GOD of hosts, in the Valley of Vision; Kir shouting, and Shoa at the mount.

6And Elam bore the quiver, with troops of men, even horsemen; And Kir uncovered the shield.

7 And it came to pass, when thy choicest valleys were full of chariots, And the horsemen set themselves in array at the gate,

8 And the covering of Judah was laid bare, that thou didst look in that day to the armour in the house of the forest.

9 And ye saw the breaches of the city of David, that they were many; and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool.

10 And ye numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and ye broke down the houses to fortify the wall;

11 ye made also a basin between the two walls for the water of the old pool— But ye looked not unto Him that had done this, Neither had ye respect unto Him that fashioned it long ago.

12 And in that day the LORD GOD of hosts, called (you) to weeping and mourning, to baldness and putting on sackcloth;

13 but see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die!

14 But the LORD of hosts has revealed himself in my hearing: Surely for you this iniquity will not be forgiven you until you die, says the LORD GOD of hosts.

12 And in that day did the Lord, the GOD of hosts, call To weeping, and to lamentation, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth;

13 And behold joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating flesh and drinking wine— 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die! '

14 And the LORD of hosts revealed Himself in mine ears: Surely this iniquity shall not be expiated by you till ye die, Saith the Lord, the GOD of hosts.

15 This is what the LORD GOD of hosts says: Come, go to this steward, to Shebna who is in charge of the household, and say,

16 What are you doing here, and who are your relatives here that you have cut out a tomb here for yourself, cutting your tomb on the height and chiseling a resting-place for yourself in the rock?

17 Beware, the LORD is about to hurl you away violently, my strong fellow. And he is about to seize you firmly,

18 whirl you round and round, and toss you like a ball into a large country. There you will die, and there your splendid chariots will lie—you disgrace to your master's house!

19 I will depose you from your office, and you are pulled down from your position.

15 Thus saith the Lord, the GOD of hosts: Go, get thee unto this steward, Even unto Shebna, who is over the house:

16 What hast thou here, and whom hast thou here, That thou hast hewed thee out here a sepulchre, Thou that hewest thee out a sepulchre on high, And gravest a habitation for thyself in the rock?

17 Behold, the LORD will hurl thee up and down with a man's throw; Yea, He will wind thee round and round;

18 He will violently roll and toss thee like a ball into a large country; There shalt thou die, and there shall be the chariots of thy glory, Thou shame of the lord's house.

19 And I will thrust thee from thy post, And from thy station shalt thou be pulled down.

20 On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah,

21 and will clothe him with your robes and fasten your girdle on him. I will entrust your authority into his hand, and he will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.

22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; he will open and no one will shut it, he will shut and no one will open it.

23 And I will fasten him like a peg in a firm place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house.

24 So they will hang on him all the glory of his father's house: its offspring and issue—every lesser vessel, from the cups to all the flagons.

20 And it shall come to pass in that day, That I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah;

21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, And bind him with thy girdle, And I will commit thy government into his hand; And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.

22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; And he shall open, and none shall shut; And he shall shut, and none shall open.

23 And I will fasten him as a peg in a sure place; And he shall be for a throne of honour to his father's house.

24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels cups even to all the vessels of flagons.

25 On that day, says the LORD of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a firm place will give way; it will be cut down and will fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off. The LORD has spoken.

25 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the peg that was fastened in a sure place give way; and it shall be hewn down, and fall, and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off; for the LORD hath spoken it.

Chapter 23

1 The oracle concerning Tyre: Wail, you ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is destroyed and left without house or harbor. From the land of Cyprus it was reported to them.

2 Be silent, O you inhabitants of the coast, you merchants of Sidon, whose messengers crossed over the sea

3 and were on many waters. Her revenue was the grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, and she became the marketplace of nations.

1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, For it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in; From the land of Kittim it is revealed to them.

2 Be still, ye inhabitants of the coast-land; Thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.

3 And on great waters the seed of Shihor, The harvest of the Nile, was her revenue; And she was the mart of nations.

4 Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea: I have neither labored nor given birth, I have neither reared young men nor brought up young women.

5 When the report comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report concerning Tyre.

6 O you crossing over to Tarshish; wail, you inhabitants of the coast!

7 Is this your happy city whose origin is from days of old, and whose feet carried her to settle far away?

8 Who has planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honored of the earth?

9 The LORD of hosts has planned it, to defile all the pride of glory, to shame all the honored of the earth.

10 Cultivate your own land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish, for there is no longer a harbor.

11 He has stretched out his hand over the sea, he has made the kingdoms tremble; the LORD has given orders concerning Canaan to destroy her fortresses.

12 He said, You will rejoice no longer, O crushed virgin daughter of Sidon; get up, cross over to Cyprus—even there you will find no rest.

4 Be thou ashamed, O Zidon; for the sea hath spoken, The stronghold of the sea, saying: 'I have not travailed, nor brought forth, Neither have I reared young men, nor brought up virgins.'

5 When the report cometh to Egypt, They shall be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

6 Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the coast-land.

7 Is this your joyous city, Whose feet in antiquity, In ancient days, Carried her afar off to sojourn?

8 Who hath devised this against Tyre, the crowning city, Whose merchants are princes, Whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?

9 The LORD of hosts hath devised it, To pollute the pride of all glory, To bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

10 Overflow thy land as the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish! there is no girdle any more.

11 He hath stretched out His hand over the sea, He hath shaken the kingdoms; The LORD hath given commandment concerning Canaan, To destroy the strongholds thereof;

12 And He said: 'Thou shalt no more rejoice.' O thou oppressed virgin daughter of Zidon, Arise, pass over to Kittim;

13 Look at the land of the Chaldeans, this is the people; it was not Assyria. They made Tyre (a place) for desert creatures; they erected her siege towers, they stripped her palaces, they made her a ruin.

14 Wail, you ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is destroyed.

15 And it will happen at that time to Tyre as in the song of the prostitute:

16 Take up a harp, walk about the city, you forgotten prostitute! Make sweet melody, sing many songs, so that you will be remembered.

13 Behold, the land of the Chaldeans—this is the people that was not, when Asshur founded it for shipmen—they set up their towers, they overthrew the palaces thereof; it is made a ruin.

14 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, For your stronghold is laid waste.

15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king; after the end of seventy years it shall fare with Tyre as in the song of the harlot:

16 Take a harp, Go about the city, Thou harlot long forgotten; Make sweet melody, Sing many songs, That thou mayest be remembered.

17 At the end of seventy years the LORD will deal with Tyre. Then she will return to her trade, and will prostitute herself with the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

18 Yet her merchandise and her earnings will be set apart for the LORD; they will not be stored or hoarded but her merchandise will become abundant food and choice attire for those who dwell in the presence of the LORD.

17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will remember Tyre, and she shall return to her hire, and shall have commerce with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

18 And her gain and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD; it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her gain shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat their fill, and for stately clothing.

Chapter 24

1 See, the LORD is about to lay waste the land and devastate it; he will turn it upside down and scatter abroad its inhabitants.

2 And as it will be with the people, so with the priest; as with the slave, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with his debtor.

3 The earth will be totally emptied and completely laid waste; for the LORD has spoken this word.

1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty and maketh it waste, And turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; As with the servant, so with his master; As with the maid, so with her mistress; As with the buyer, so with the seller; As with the lender, so with the borrower; As with the creditor, so with the debtor.

3 The earth shall be utterly emptied, and clean despoiled; For the LORD hath spoken this word.

4 The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and fades away; heaven fades away together with the earth.

5 The earth also lies polluted under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore a curse consumes, and those dwelling in it are held guilty; therefore the inhabitants of earth are burned up, and few people are left.

7 The new wine dries up, the vine, the oil decays, all the merrymakers groan.

8 The gaiety of timbrels ceases, the noise of merrymakers ends, the mirth of the harp is silent.

9 No longer do they drink wine with singing, and strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.

10 The chaotic city is broken down; every house is shut up so that no one can enter.

11 There is an outcry for wine in the streets; all gaiety turns to gloom, the gladness of the land is banished.

12 Desolation is left in the city, its gate is battered to ruins.

13 For so it will be on the earth and among the peoples, as when an olive tree is beaten, or as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is ended.

4 The earth fainteth and fadeth away, The world faileth and fadeth away, The lofty people of the earth do fail.

5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; Because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statute, Broken the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore hath a curse devoured the earth, And they that dwell therein are found guilty; Therefore the inhabitants of the earth waste away, And men are left few.

7 The new wine faileth, the vine fadeth; All the merry-hearted do sigh.

8 The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, The noise of them that rejoice endeth, The joy of the harp ceaseth.

9 They drink not wine with a song; Strong drink is bitter to them that drink it.

10 Broken down is the city of wasteness; Every house is shut up, that none may come in.

11 There is a crying in the streets amidst the wine; All joy is darkened, The mirth of the land is gone.

12 In the city is left desolation, And the gate is smitten unto ruin.

13 For thus shall it be in the midst of the earth, among the peoples, As at the beating of an olive-tree, As at the gleanings when the vintage is done.

14 They lift up their voices, they shout for joy; they cry out from the west over the majesty of the LORD.

15 Therefore in the east glorify the LORD, in the coastlands of the sea glorify the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

16 From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise: Glory to the Righteous One. But I say, I am pining away, I am pining away. Woe is me! For the treacherous deal treacherously—the treacherous deal very treacherously!

17 Terror, and the pit, and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth!

18 Then whoever flees at the sound of the terror will fall into the pit, and whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in the snare. For the windows above are opened, and the foundations of the earth shake.

19 The earth is utterly broken, the earth is torn asunder, the earth is violently shaken.

20 The earth staggers like a drunkard, it sways to and fro and like a hut. Its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls—never to rise again.

14 Those yonder lift up their voice, they sing for joy; For the majesty of the LORD they shout from the sea:

15 'Therefore glorify ye the LORD in the regions of light, Even the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the isles of the sea.'

16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs: 'Glory to the righteous.' But I say: I waste away, I waste away, woe is me! The treacherous deal treacherously; Yea, the treacherous deal very treacherously.

17 Terror, and the pit, and the trap, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the terror shall fall into the pit; And he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the trap; For the windows on high are opened, And the foundations of the earth do shake;

19 The earth is broken, broken down, The earth is crumbled in pieces, The earth trembleth and tottereth;

20 The earth reeleth to and fro like a drunken man, And swayeth to and fro as a lodge; And the transgression thereof is heavy upon it, And it shall fall, and not rise again.

21 On that day the LORD will punish the host of the high ones in heaven, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

22 They will be gathered together in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison, and after many days will be punished.

23 Then the moon will be abashed and the sun will be ashamed; for the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his elders there will be glory.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, That the LORD will punish the host of the high heaven on high, And the kings of the earth upon the earth.

22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the dungeon, And shall be shut up in the prison, And after many days shall they be punished.

23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; For the LORD of hosts will reign in mount Zion, And in Jerusalem, and before His elders shall be Glory.

Chapter 25

1 O LORD, you are my God! I will exalt you and praise your name, for you have done marvelous things, plans formed long in faithfulness and truth.

2 For you have made the city a heap of rubble, the fortified city a ruin, the foreigners' palace a city no more—it will never be built.

3 Therefore strong peoples will glorify you, cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

4 For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,

5 like heat in a dry place. You subdue the uproar of foreigners like heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless will be stilled.

1 O LORD, Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name, For Thou hast done wonderful things; Even counsels of old, in faithfulness and truth.

2 For Thou hast made of a city a heap, Of a fortified city a ruin; A castle of strangers to be no city, It shall never be built.

3 Therefore shall the strong people glorify Thee, The city of the terrible nations shall fear Thee.

4 For Thou hast been a stronghold to the poor, A stronghold to the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat; For the blast of the terrible ones was as a storm against the wall.

5 As the heat in a dry place, Thou didst subdue the noise of strangers; As the heat by the shadow of a cloud, the song of the terrible ones was brought low.

6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of aged wine, of choice meats filled with marrow, of refined and aged wines.

7 And on this mountain he will destroy the shroud that covers all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations;

8 he has swallowed up death forever. Then the LORD GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth—for the LORD has spoken.

9 And you will say on that day: See, the LORD—THIS IS OUR GOD; WE HAVE WAITED FOR HIM SO THAT HE MIGHT SAVE US. THIS IS THE LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and we will rejoice in his salvation!

10 For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

6 And in this mountain will the LORD of hosts make unto all peoples A feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, Of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

7 And He will destroy in this mountain The face of the covering that is cast over all peoples, And the veil that is spread over all nations.

8 He will swallow up death for ever; And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; And the reproach of His people will He take away from off all the earth; For the LORD hath spoken it.

9 And it shall be said in that day: 'Lo, this is our God, For whom we waited, that He might save us; This is the LORD, for whom we waited, We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.'

10 For in this mountain will the hand of the LORD rest,

The Moabites will be trodden down in their place, just as straw is trodden down in the water of a manure pit.

11 They will spread forth his hands in the midst of it, as swimmers spread out their hands to swim, but the LORD will lay low their pride together with the cleverness of their hands.

12 He brings down the high fortifications of your walls and lays them low; he will cast them to the ground, even to the very dust.

And Moab shall be trodden down in his place, Even as straw is trodden down in the dunghill.

11 And when he shall spread forth his hands in the midst thereof, As he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim, His pride shall be brought down together with the cunning of his hands.

12 And the high fortress of thy walls will He bring down, lay low, And bring to the ground, even to the dust.

Chapter 26

1 On that day one will sing that song in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes victory its walls and ramparts.

2 Open your gates, so that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.

3 You will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is fixed on you, because he is in you.

4 Trust in the LORD forever, for in the LORD GOD we have an everlasting rock.

5 For he has made drunk those who dwell on high; as for the lofty city, he lays it low to the ground and casts it to the dust.

6 The feet of the oppressed trample—the footsteps of the needy.

1 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; Walls and bulwarks doth He appoint for salvation.

2 Open ye the gates, That the righteous nation that keepeth faithfulness may enter in.

3 The mind stayed on Thee Thou keepest in perfect peace; Because it trusteth in Thee.

4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever, For the LORD is GOD, an everlasting Rock.

5 For He hath brought down them that dwell on high, The lofty city, laying it low, laying it low even to the ground, Bringing it even to the dust.

6 The foot shall tread it down, Even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.

7 The way of righteousness is level; O Upright One, you bring to safety the path of justice.

8 Yes, LORD, we wait in the path of your judgments; your name and your law are our soul's desire.

9 My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me diligently seeks you; for when your judgments are on the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

10 Although favor is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in the land of uprightness they act perversely and do not see the majesty of the LORD.

11 O LORD, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. And let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame; yes, let the fire reserved for your adversaries consume them.

12 LORD, you will decide peace for us, for all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

13 O LORD our God, other lords besides you have had dominion over us, but through you alone we acknowledge your name.

14 The dead will not live, and the departed spirits will not rise. You punished and destroyed them, and imprisoned all memory of them.

15 But you have enlarged the nation, O LORD, you have enlarged the nation. You are glorified; you have enlarged all the borders of the land.

7 The way of the just is straight; Thou, Most Upright, makest plain the path of the just.

8 Yea, in the way of Thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for Thee; To Thy name and to Thy memorial is the desire of our soul.

9 With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; Yea, with my spirit within me have I sought Thee earnestly; For when Thy judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

10 Let favour be shown to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness will he deal wrongfully, And will not behold the majesty of the LORD.

11 LORD, Thy hand was lifted up, yet they see not; They shall see with shame Thy zeal for the people; Yea, fire shall devour Thine adversaries.

12 LORD, Thou wilt establish peace for us; For Thou hast indeed wrought all our works for us.

13 O LORD our God, other lords beside Thee have had dominion over us; But by Thee only do we make mention of Thy name.

14 The dead live not, the shades rise not; To that end hast Thou punished and destroyed them, And made all their memory to perish.

15 Thou hast gotten Thee honour with the nations, O LORD, Yea, exceeding great honour with the nations; Thou art honoured unto the farthest ends of the earth.

16 O LORD, in distress they sought you; they were distressed, they poured out their magical prayer when your chastenings were upon them.

17 Like a woman with child who writhes in pain and cries out in her pangs as she approaches her time, so have we been before you, O LORD.

18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, but we gave birth only to wind. We have not won your deliverance for the earth, nor have inhabitants of the world been born.

19 But your dead will live, their dead bodies will rise. The dwellers in the dust will awake and shout for joy! For your dew is like the dew of the dawn, and the earth will give birth to the dead.

16 LORD, in trouble have they sought Thee, Silently they poured out a prayer when Thy chastening was upon them.

17 Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, Is in pain and crieth out in her pangs; So have we been at Thy presence, O LORD.

18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, We have as it were brought forth wind; We have not wrought any deliverance in the land; Neither are the inhabitants of the world come to life.

19 Thy dead shall live, my dead bodies shall arise— Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust— For Thy dew is as the dew of light, And the earth shall bring to life the shades.

20 Come, my people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves for a little moment until the wrath is past.

21 For the LORD is coming from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their sins; the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no longer conceal its slain.

20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, And shut thy doors about thee; Hide thyself for a little moment, Until the indignation be overpast.

21 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of His place To visit upon the inhabitants of the earth their iniquity; The earth also shall disclose her blood, And shall no more cover her slain.

Chapter 27

1 On that day the LORD will punish with his cruel and great and strong sword Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent, and he will kill the dragon that is in the sea.

1 In that day the LORD with His sore and great and strong sword will punish leviathan the slant serpent, and leviathan the tortuous serpent; and He will slay the dragon that is in the sea.

2 On that day: A diminishing vineyard, sing about it!

3 I the LORD am its keeper; every moment I water it. I guard it night and day so that no one can harm it.

4 I have no anger. If only there were briers and thorns confronting me in battle! I would march against them, and I would set them all on fire

5 Or else let it rely on my protection; let it make peace with me, let it make peace with me.

2 In that day sing ye of her: 'A vineyard of foaming wine! '

3 I the LORD do guard it, I water it every moment; Lest Mine anger visit it, I guard it night and day.

4 Fury is not in Me; Would that I were as the briers and thorns in flame! I would with one step burn it altogether.

5 Or else let him take hold of My strength, That he may make peace with Me; yea, let him make peace with Me.

6 In days to come Jacob will take root, and Israel will blossom and put forth shoots, and fill the whole world with fruit.

7 Has (the LORD) struck them down as he struck down those who struck them? Or have they been slain as their slayers were slain?

8 By banishment, by exile you contended with them; he removed them in the day of the east wind with his fierce blast.

9 Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be forgiven, and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: when he makes all the altar stones like pulverized chalkstones, no Asherim or incense-altars will remain standing.

10 For the fortified city is desolate, a habitation abandoned and forsaken like the desert; there the calves graze, there they lie down and strip its branches bare.

11 When its boughs are dry, they are broken off; women make a fire of them. For this is a people without understanding; so he who made them will not have compassion upon them, and he that formed them will show them no favor.

6 In days to come shall Jacob take root, Israel shall blossom and bud; And the face of the world shall be filled with fruitage.

7 Hath He smitten him as He smote those that smote him? Or is he slain according to the slaughter of them that were slain by Him?

8 In full measure, when Thou sendest her away, Thou dost contend with her; He hath removed her with His rough blast in the day of the east wind.

9 Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be expiated, And this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: When he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in pieces, So that the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.

10 For the fortified city is solitary, A habitation abandoned and forsaken, like the wilderness; There shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, And consume the branches thereof

11 When the boughs thereof are withered, They shall be broken off; The women shall come, and set them on fire; For it is a people of no understanding; Therefore He that made them will not have compassion upon them, And He that formed them will not be gracious unto them.

12 And on that day the LORD will thresh from the river Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you will be gathered one by one, O people of Israel.

13 And on that day a great trumpet will be sounded, and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of Egypt will come and bow down to the LORD in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.

12 And it shall come to pass in that day, That the LORD will beat off [His fruit] From the flood of the River unto the Brook of Egypt, And ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.

13 And it shall come to pass in that day, That a great horn shall be blown; And they shall come that were lost in the land of Assyria, And they that were dispersed in the land of Egypt; And they shall worship the LORD in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.

Chapter 28

1 Woe to the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which is on the head of the bloated valley of those overcome with wine!

2 See, the LORD has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty overflowing waters and he will bring it forcefully to the ground.

3 The proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trampled underfoot.

4 And the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which is on the head of the bloated valley, will be like a first-ripe fig before the summer; when someone sees it, he swallows it as soon as it is in his hand.

1 Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, And to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, Which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are smitten down with wine!

2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, As a storm of hail, a tempest of destruction, As a storm of mighty waters overflowing, That casteth down to the earth with violence.

3 The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim Shall be trodden under foot;

4 And the fading flower of his glorious beauty, Which is on the head of the fat valley, Shall be as the first-ripe fig before the summer, Which when one looketh upon it, While it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

5 In that day the LORD of hosts will be a glorious crown and a beautiful diadem for the remnant of his people,

6 and a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

5 In that day shall the LORD of hosts be For a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, Unto the residue of His people;

6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, And for strength to them that turn back the battle at the gate.

7 These reel with wine and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed up with wine and stagger with strong drink; they err in vision and stumble in judgment.

8 For all the tables are covered with vomit and filth, so that no place is clean.

7 But these also reel through wine, And stagger through strong drink; The priest and the prophet reel through strong drink, They are confused because of wine, They stagger because of strong drink; They reel in vision, they totter in judgment.

8 For all tables are full of filthy vomit, and no place is clean.

9 To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he interpret the message? Those who are weaned from milk, and taken from the breast?

10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.

9 Whom shall one teach knowledge? And whom shall one make to understand the message? Them that are weaned from the milk, Them that are drawn from the breasts?

10 For it is precept by precept, precept by precept, Line by line, line by line; Here a little, there a little.

11 But by men of strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people,

12 to whom he said, This is the rest, give rest to him that is weary, and this is the refreshing; yet they would not listen.

13 Therefore the word of the LORD will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little—so that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

11 For with stammering lips and with a strange tongue Shall it be spoken to this people;

12 To whom it was said: 'This is the rest, Give ye rest to the weary; And this is the refreshing'; Yet they would not hear.

13 And so the word of the LORD is unto them Precept by precept, precept by precept, Line by line, line by line; Here a little, there a little; That they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, And snared, and taken.

14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people that is in Jerusalem.

15 Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and we are in agreement with Sheol; when the overflowing scourge examines, it will not come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hid ourselves.

16 Therefore thus says the LORD, Behold, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of sure foundation; whoever believes will not be in panic.

17 And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding-place.

18 And your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trodden down by it.

19 As often as it passes through, it will take you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night—sheer terror to understand the message.

20 For the bed is too short for people to stretch themselves on it, and the covering to wrap themselves in it.

21 For the LORD will rise up on Mount Perazim; he will be angry in the valley of Gibeon, so that he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

22 But as for you, do not be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the LORD of hosts, upon the whole earth.

14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scoffers, The ballad-mongers of this people which is in Jerusalem:

15 Because ye have said: 'We have made a covenant with death, And with the nether-world are we at agreement; When the scouring scourge shall pass through, It shall not come unto us; For we have made lies our refuge, And in falsehood have we hid ourselves';

16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a costly corner-stone of sure foundation; He that believeth shall not make haste.

17 And I will make justice the line, And righteousness the plummet; And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.

18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled And your agreement with the nether-world shall not stand; When the scouring scourge shall pass through, Then ye shall be trodden down by it,

19 As often as it passeth through, it shall take you; For morning by morning shall it pass through, By day and by night; And it shall be sheer terror to understand the message.

20 For the bed is too short for a man to stretch himself; And the covering too narrow when he gathereth himself up.

21 For the LORD will rise up as in mount Perazim, He will be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon; That He may do His work, strange is His work, And bring to pass His act, strange is His act.

22 Now therefore be ye not scoffers, Lest your bands be made strong; For an extermination wholly determined have I heard from the Lord, the GOD of hosts, Upon the whole land.

23 Give ear, and hear my voice; listen, and hear my speech.

24 Does he who plows to sow plow continually? Does he continually open and harrow his ground?

25 When he has leveled its surface, does he not cast abroad the caraway, and scatter the cumin, and put in the wheat in rows, and the barley in the designated place, and the spelt as its borders?

26 For his God instructs him aright, and teaches him.

23 Give ye ear, and hear my voice; attend, and hear my speech.

24 Is the plowman never done with plowing to sow, With the opening and harrowing of his ground?

25 When he hath made plain the face thereof, Doth he not cast abroad the black cummin, and scatter the cummin, And put in the wheat in rows and the barley in the appointed place And the spelt in the border thereof?

26 For He doth instruct him aright; His God doth teach him.

27 For caraway is not threshed with a sharp threshing instrument, neither is a cartwheel rolled over the cumin; but the caraway is beaten out with a staff, and the cumin with a rod.

28 It is ground, but one does not always thresh it; although his cart and his horses may scatter it, he does not grind it.

29 This also comes from the LORD of hosts, who is distinguished in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.

27 For the black cummin is not threshed with a threshing-sledge, Neither is a cart-wheel turned about upon the cummin; But the black cummin is beaten out with a staff, And the cummin with a rod.

28 Is bread corn crushed? Nay, he will not ever be threshing it; And though the roller of his wagon and its sharp edges move noisily, He doth not crush it.

29 This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts: Wonderful is His counsel, and great His wisdom.

Chapter 29

1 Ah, Aruel, Aruel, the city where David encamped! Add year to year, let the feasts come round;

2 then I will distress Aruel, and there will be mourning and lamentation, and she will be to me as Aruel.

3 And I will encamp against you all around, and will lay siege against you with towers, and I will raise siegeworks against you.

4 And you will be brought down, and will speak from the ground, and your speech will be low from the dust; your voice will be like that of a ghost from the ground, and your speech will whisper from the dust.

1 Ah, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David encamped! Add ye year to year, Let the feasts come round!

2 Then will I distress Ariel, And there shall be mourning and moaning; and she shall be unto Me as a hearth of God.

3 And I will encamp against thee round about, And will lay siege against thee with a mound, And I will raise siege works against thee.

4 And brought down thou shalt speak out of the ground, And thy speech shall be low out of the dust; And thy voice shall be as of a ghost out of the ground, And thy speech shall chirp out of the dust.

5 But the multitude of your enemies will be like fine dust, and the multitude of the ruthless ones like chaff that blows away. Suddenly, in an instant

6 you will be punished by the LORD of hosts with thunder, with an earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.

7 And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Aruel, even all that fight against her and her fortification and distress her, will be like a dream, a vision of the night.

8 And it will be as when a hungry man dreams, and see—he eats but awakes and is empty; or it will be like when a thirsty man dreams, and see—he drinks but wakes up faint, and is still thirsty. So will the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion.

5 But the multitude of thy foes shall be like small dust, And the multitude of the terrible ones as chaff that passeth away; Yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly—

6 There shall be a visitation from the LORD of hosts With thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, With whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.

7 And the multitude of all the nations that war against Ariel, Even all that war against her, and the bulwarks about her, and they that distress her, Shall be as a dream, a vision of the night.

8 And it shall be as when a hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth, But he awaketh, and his soul is empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh, But he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite— So shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.

9 Tarry and wonder, take your pleasure and be blind; they are drunken, but not from wine; they stagger, but (not) with strong drink.

10 For the LORD has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, you prophets; and he has covered your heads, you seers.

11 And this whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which people deliver to one who is learned, saying, "Read this, I pray you"; but he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed."

12 Then they deliver the book to one who is not learned, saying, "Read this, I pray you"; but he says, "I am not learned."

9 Stupefy yourselves, and be stupid! Blind yourselves, and be blind! Ye that are drunken, but not with wine, That stagger, but not with strong drink.

10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, And hath closed your eyes; The prophets, and your heads, the seers, hath He covered.

11 And the vision of all this is become unto you as the words of a writing that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying: 'Read this, I pray thee'; and he saith: 'I cannot, for it is sealed';

12 and the writing is delivered to him that is not learned, saying: 'Read this, I pray thee'; and he saith: 'I am not learned.'

13 And the LORD said, Inasmuch as this people draw near to honor me with their mouth and with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from me, and fear of me has been like a human commandment that has been taught them;

14 therefore, see, as for me I am about to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the insights of their prudent men will be hidden.

13 And the Lord said: Forasmuch as this people draw near, And with their mouth and with their lips do honour Me, But have removed their heart far from Me, And their fear of Me is a command-ment of men learned by rote;

14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvellous work among this people, Even a marvellous work and a wonder; And the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the prudence of their prudent men shall be hid.

15 Woe to those who hide deep their counsel from the LORD, and whose works have been in the dark, and who say, "Who sees us?" and "Who has known us?"

16 He has overturned things from you. Will it be thought of like the potter's heat, so that the thing made should say of the one who made it, "He did not make me"; or the thing formed say of the ones who formed it, "He has no understanding"?

15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, And their works are in the dark, And they say: 'Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?'

16 O your perversity! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay; That the thing made should say of him that made it: 'He made me not'; Or the thing framed say of him that framed it: 'He hath no understanding?'

17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon will be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field will be regarded as a forest?

18 And on that day the deaf will hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind will see out of gloom and darkness.

19 The meek also will increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

20 For the terrible one is brought to naught, and the scoffer ceases, and all who watch for iniquity are cut off,

21 those who make a man an offender in his cause, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and turn aside the just with meaningless arguments.

17 Is it not yet a very little while, And Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, And the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of a book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.

19 The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, And the neediest among men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, And the scorner ceaseth, And all they that watch for iniquity are cut off;

21 That make a man an offender by words, And lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, And turn aside the just with a thing of nought.

22 Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob will not now be ashamed, neither will his face now grow pale.

23 But when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they will sanctify my name; yes, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.

24 Moreover, those who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who complain will receive instruction.

22 Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall not now be ashamed, Neither shall his face now wax pale;

23 When he seeth his children, the work of My hands, in the midst of him, That they sanctify My name; Yea, they shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, And shall stand in awe of the God of Israel.

24 They also that err in spirit shall come to understanding, And they that murmur shall learn instruction.

Chapter 30

1 ¶ Woe to the rebellious children, says the LORD, who take counsel, but not of me; and who make a league, but not of my spirit, so that they may add sin to sin;

2 who set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked my counsel; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!

3 Therefore the strength of Pharaoh will be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt will be your longing.

4 For their princes is at Zoan, and their ambassadors have come to Hanes.

5 Destruction is odious to a people that cannot profit them, that are not a help nor profit, but a shame and also a reproach.

1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, That take counsel, but not of Me; And that form projects, but not of My spirit, That they may add sin to sin;

2 That walk to go down into Egypt, And have not asked at My mouth; To take refuge in the stronghold of Pharaoh, And to take shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

3 Therefore shall the stronghold of Pharaoh turn to your shame, And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your confusion.

4 For his princes are at Zoan, And his ambassadors are come to Hanes.

5 They shall all be ashamed of a people that cannot profit them, That are not a help nor profit, But a shame, and also a reproach.

6 ¶ The oracle concerning the beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and dryness and anguish, where there is no water, the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, which carries their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the humps of camels, to a people that will not profit them.

7 For Egypt helps in vain and to no purpose; therefore I have called her "Rahab who sits still."

6 The burden of the beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, From whence come the lioness and the lion, The viper and flying serpent, They carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, And their treasures upon the humps of camels, To a people that shall not profit them.

7 For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose; Therefore have I called her arrogancy that sitteth still.

8 ¶ Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, so that it may be for times to come forever and ever.

9 For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the LORD,

10 who say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy right things to us; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits,

11 get out of the way, turn aside from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease before us."

12 Therefore, thus says the Holy One of Israel: Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and you rejoice, and rely on it,

13 therefore this iniquity will be to you like a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose crash comes suddenly, in an instant.

14 And he will break it like a potter's vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing, so that there will not be found among its pieces a shard with which to take fire from a hearth, or to scoop up water from a cistern.

8 Now go, write it before them on a tablet, And inscribe it in a book, That it may be for the time to come For ever and ever.

9 For it is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children that refuse to hear the teaching of the LORD;

10 That say to the seers: 'See not', And to the prophets: 'Prophesy not unto us right things, Speak unto us smooth things, prophesy delusions;

11 Get you out of the way, Turn aside out of the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease from before us.'

12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel: Because ye despise this word, And trust in oppression and perverseness, And stay thereon;

13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you As a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, Whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

14 And He shall break it as a potter's vessel is broken, Breaking it in pieces without sparing; So that there shall not be found among the pieces thereof a sherd To take fire from the hearth, Or to take water out of the cistern.

15 ¶ For thus said the LORD, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you will be saved; in quietness and in confidence will be your strength. But you were unwilling;

16 but you said, "No, for we will flee upon horses." Therefore you will flee; and, "We will ride upon the swift"; therefore those who pursue you will be swift.

17 One thousand will flee before one; at the threat of five you will flee, until you are left like a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and like an ensign on a hill.

15 For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: In sitting still and rest shall ye be saved, In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength; And ye would not.

16 But ye said: 'No, for we will flee upon horses'; Therefore shall ye flee; And: 'We will ride upon the swift'; Therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one, At the rebuke of five shall ye flee; Till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, And as an ensign on a hill.

18 ¶ And therefore the LORD will wait, so that he may be gracious to you; and therefore he will be exalted, so that he may have mercy upon you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, And therefore will He be exalted, that He may have compassion upon you; For the LORD is a God of justice, Happy are all they that wait for Him.

19 ¶ For the people will dwell in Zion and in Jerusalem; you will weep no more, the LORD will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears, he will answer you.

20 And although the LORD gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not hide themselves anymore, but your eyes will see your teachers.

21 And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it"; when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.

22 And you will defile your graven images overlaid with silver, and your molten images plated with gold: you will cast them away like an unclean thing; you will say to them, "Away with you!"

19 For, O people that dwellest in Zion at Jerusalem, Thou shalt weep no more; He will surely be gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry, When He shall hear, He will answer thee.

20 And though the Lord give you sparing bread and scant water, Yet shall not thy Teacher hide Himself any more, But thine eyes shall see thy Teacher;

21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying: 'This is the way, walk ye in it, When ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.'

22 And ye shall defile thy graven images overlaid with silver, And thy molten images covered with gold; Thou shalt put them far away as one unclean; Thou shalt say unto it: 'Get thee hence.'

23 ¶ And he will give the rain for your seed, with which you will sow the ground, and bread of the increase of the ground; it will be abundant and plenteous. On that day your cattle will feed in large pastures;

24 the oxen likewise and the young asses that till the ground will eat leavened fodder, which one winnows with shovels and forks.

25 And there will be upon every lofty mountain, and upon every high hill, brooks and canals of water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

26 Moreover, the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days, on the day when the LORD binds up the hurt of his people, and heals the wound he has inflicted.

23 And He will give the rain for thy seed, wherewith thou sowest the ground, And bread of the increase of the ground, and it shall be fat and plenteous; In that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.

24 The oxen likewise and the young asses that till the ground Shall eat savoury provender, Wwhich hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.

25 And there shall be upon every lofty mountain, and upon every high hill Streams and watercourses, In the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, And the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of the seven days, In the day that the LORD bindeth up the bruise of His people, And healeth the stroke of their wound.

27 ¶ See, the name of the LORD comes from afar, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke. His lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is like a devouring fire,

28 and his breath is like an overflowing stream; and it reaches even to the neck, to winnow the nations with the sieve of destruction; and a bridle that causes people to err will be in the mouths of the peoples.

27 Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, With His anger burning, and in thick uplifting of smoke; His lips are full of indignation, And His tongue is as a devouring fire;

28 And His breath is as an overflowing stream, That divideth even unto the neck, To sift the nations with the sieve of destruction; And a bridle that causeth to err shall be in the jaws of the peoples.

29 ¶ You will have a song as in the night when people keep a holy feast, and gladness of heart as when one goes with a pipe to come to the LORD's mountain, to the Rock of Israel.

30 And the LORD will make heard, make heard his glorious voice, and will show the descending blow of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and the flame of a devouring fire, with a blast, a tempest, and hailstones.

31 For through the voice of the LORD the Assyrians will be dismayed, with his rod he will smite them.

32 And every stroke of the staff of his foundation, which the LORD will lay upon them, will be with the sound of timbrels and harps, and in battles with the brandishing of his arm he will fight with her.

33 For an opening place has been prepared of old; yes, it was for the king; it will be made ready, he has made it deep and large, and its pile is fire and much wood. The breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, kindles it.

29 Ye shall have a song As in the night when a feast is hallowed; And gladness of heart, as when one goeth with the pipe To come into the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.

30 And the LORD will cause His glorious voice to be heard, And will show the lighting down of His arm, With furious anger, and the flame of a devouring fire, With a bursting of clouds, and a storm of rain, and hailstones.

31 For through the voice of the LORD shall Asshur be dismayed, The rod with which He smote.

32 And in every place where the appointed staff shall pass, Which the LORD shall lay upon him, It shall be with tabrets and harps; And in battles of wielding will He fight with them.

33 For a hearth is ordered of old; Yea, for the king it is prepared, Deep and large; The pile thereof is fire and much wood; The breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

Chapter 31

1 ¶ Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in the chariot because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong—but do not look to the Holy One of Israel nor seek the LORD!

2 Yet he is also wise and will bring disaster, and will not recall his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity.

3 Now the Egyptians are humans, not God; and their horses are flesh, not spirit; when the LORD stretches out his hand, both he who helps will stumble, and he who is helped will fall; they all will be consumed together.

1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, And trust in chariots, because they are many, And in horsemen, because they are exceeding mighty; But they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, Neither seek the LORD!

2 Yet He also is wise, And bringeth evil, And doth not call back His words; But will arise against the house of the evil-doers, And against the help of them that work iniquity.

3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, And their horses flesh, and not spirit; So when the LORD shall stretch out His hand, Both he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, And they all shall perish together.

4 ¶ For thus says the LORD to me: Just as the lion or the young lion growling over his objects of prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor daunted at their noise, so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight upon Mount Zion and upon its hill.

5 Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it, and he will pass over and bring it to safety.

4 For thus saith the LORD unto me: Like as the lion, or the young lion, growling over his prey, Though a multitude of shepherds be called forth against him, Will not be dismayed at their voice, Nor abase himself for the noise of them; So will the LORD of hosts come down To fight upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof.

5 As birds hovering, So will the LORD of hosts protect Jerusalem; He will deliver it as He protecteth it, He will rescue it as He passeth over.

6 ¶ Turn back to him whom, to him whom you have deeply betrayed, O children of Israel.

7 For on that day everyone will cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have sinfully made for you.

6 Turn ye unto Him Against whom ye have deeply rebelled, O children of Israel.

7 For in that day they shall cast away every man his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, Which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.

8 ¶ And the Assyrians will fall by a sword not of man; and a sword not of men will devour them; and they will flee not before the sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor.

9 And their rock will pass away by reason of terror, and their princes will be dismayed at the banner, says the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

8 Then shall Asshur fall with the sword, not of man, And the sword, not of men, shall devour him; And he shall flee from the sword, And his young men shall become tributary.

9 And his rock shall pass away by reason of terror, And his princes shall be dismayed at the ensign, Saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, And His furnace in Jerusalem.

Chapter 32

1 ¶ Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice.

2 And each will be like a refuge from the wind and a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, in the shade of a great rock in a weary land.

3 And the eyes of those who see will not be dim, and the ears of those who hear will listen.

4 And the heart of the rash will understand knowledge, and the tongues of stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.

5 People will no longer call a fool noble, nor a villain said to be honorable.

6 For a fool speaks nonsense, and his heart plans iniquity, in order to practice profaneness and to speak error against the LORD, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.

7 And the villainies of a villain are evil; and he devises evil plans to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the needy ones speak what is right.

8 But the noble person devises noble things, and by noble deeds he stands.

1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, And as for princes, they shall rule in justice.

2 And a man shall be as in a hiding-place from the wind, And a covert from the tempest; As by the watercourses in a dry place, As in the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

3 And the eyes of them that see shall not be closed, And the ears of them that hear shall attend.

4 The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, And the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.

5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, Nor the churl said to be noble.

6 For the vile person will speak villainy, And his heart will work iniquity, To practise ungodliness, and to utter wickedness against the LORD, To make empty the soul of the hungry, And to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

7 The instruments also of the churl are evil; He deviseth wicked devices To destroy the poor with lying words, And the needy when he speaketh right.

8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things; And by liberal things shall he stand.

9 ¶ Rise up, you women who are at ease, and hear my voice; you careless daughters, give ear to my speech.

10 For days beyond a year you will be troubled, you careless women; for the vintage will fail, the ingathering will not come.

11 Tremble, you women who are at ease; be troubled, you careless ones; strip yourselves and make yourselves bare, and put on sackcloth and beat your breasts around your loins.

12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,

13 for the soil of my people growing up in thorns and briers; yes, for all the joyous houses in the jubilant city.

14 For the palace will be forsaken, the populous city will be deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a delight of wild asses, a pasture for flocks;

15 until a spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is considered a forest.

16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness will abide in the fruitful field.

17 The effect of righteousness will be for peace, and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

18 And my people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

19 But it will hail when the forest comes down, and the wood will be completely laid low.

20 Happy will be you who sow beside every stream, and who let out freely the ox and the donkey.

9 Rise up, ye women that are at ease, and hear my voice; Ye confident daughters, give ear unto my speech.

10 After a year and days shall ye be troubled, ye confident women; For the vintage shall fail, the ingathering shall not come.

11 Tremble, ye women that are at ease; Be troubled, ye confident ones; Strip you, and make you bare, And gird sackcloth upon your loins,

12 Smiting upon the breasts For the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine;

13 For the land of my people Whereon thorns and briers come up; Yea, for all the houses of joy And the joyous city.

14 For the palace shall be forsaken; The city with its stir shall be deserted; The mound and the tower shall be for dens for ever, A joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;

15 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness become a fruitful field, And the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

16 Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness shall abide in the fruitful field.

17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; And the effect of righteousness quietness and confidence for ever.

18 And my people shall abide in a peaceable habitation, And in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.

19 And it shall hail, in the downfall of the forest; But the city shall descend into the valley.

20 Happy are ye that sow beside all waters, That send forth freely the feet of the ox and the ass.

Chapter 33

1 ¶ Woe to you, O destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed; woe to you, O traitor, with whom no one has dealt treacherously! When you have sunk down in destroying, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished dealing treacherously, you will be dealt with treacherously.

1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; And dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! When thou hast ceased to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; And when thou art weary with dealing treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

2 ¶ O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. And be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.

3 At the sound of tumult peoples fled; at your silence nations scattered.

4 And your spoil is gathered like the caterpillar gathers; like locusts leap men have leapt upon it.

5 The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

6 There will be stability in your times, abundance and salvation, wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is your treasure.

2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; We have waited for Thee; Be Thou their arm every morning, Our salvation also in the time of trouble.

3 At the noise of the tumult the peoples are fled; At the lifting up of Thyself the nations are scattered.

4 And your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathereth; As locusts leap do they leap upon it.

5 The LORD is exalted, for He dwelleth on high; He hath filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

6 And the stability of thy times shall be A hoard of salvation—wisdom and knowledge, And the fear of the LORD which is His treasure.

7 ¶ Look, their brave men cry out in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly.

8 The highways lie deserted, travelers have left the road; (the enemy) has broken the covenant, has despised witnesses and has regard for no one.

9 The land mourns and languishes; Lebanon is ashamed and withers, Sharon is like a desert, Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.

7 Behold, their valiant ones cry without; The ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.

8 The highways lie waste, The wayfaring man ceaseth; He hath broken the covenant, He hath despised the cities, He regardeth not man.

9 The land mourneth and languisheth; Lebanon is ashamed, it withereth; Sharon is like a wilderness; And Bashan and Carmel are clean bare.

10 ¶ Now will I arise, the LORD has said, now will I lift myself up; now I will be exalted.

11 You conceive chaff, you bring forth stubble; your breath is a fire that will devour you.

12 And the peoples will be like the burnings of lime, like thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire.

10 Now will I arise, saith the LORD; Now will I be exalted; Now will I lift Myself up.

11 Ye conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble; Your breath is a fire that shall devour you.

12 And the peoples shall be as the burnings of lime; As thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire.

13 ¶ Those who are far away have heard what I have done; and those that are near have acknowledged my might.

14 The sinners in Zion are afraid, trembling has seized the godless: Who among us can live with the devouring fire? Who among us can live with everlasting burnings?

15 The one who walks righteously and he has spoken uprightly; the one who despises the gain of oppression, who waves his hand from taking a bribe, who blocks his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and who shuts his eyes from looking on evil—

16 such a person will dwell on high; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks, his bread will be given him, his waters will be sure.

13 Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; And, ye that are near, acknowledge My might.

14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; Trembling hath seized the ungodly: 'Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?'

15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; He that despiseth the gain of oppressions, That shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, That stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, And shutteth his eyes from looking upon evil;

16 He shall dwell on high; His place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; His bread shall be given, his waters shall be sure.

17 ¶ Your eyes will see the king in his beauty; they will behold a land that reaches afar.

18 Your heart will muse on the terror: Where is that one who counted? Where is the one who weighed the tribute? Where is the one who counted the towers?

19 You will not see the fierce people, a people of a deep speech that you cannot comprehend, of a strange tongue that you cannot understand.

17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty; They shall behold a land stretching afar.

18 Thy heart shall muse on the terror: 'Where is he that counted, where is he that weighed? Where is he that counted the towers?'

19 Thou shalt not see the fierce people; A people of a deep speech that thou canst not perceive, Of a stammering tongue that thou canst not understand.

20 ¶ Look on Zion, the city of our appointed festivals! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful habitation, a tent that will not be removed; its stakes will never be pulled up, nor any of its cords be broken.

21 But there the LORD in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor any stately ship can pass.

22 For the LORD is our judge, and the LORD is our lawgiver, and the LORD is our king, and he will save us.

20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemn gatherings; Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a peaceful habitation, A tent that shall not be removed, The stakes whereof shall never be plucked up, Neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.

21 But there the LORD will be with us in majesty, In a place of broad rivers and streams; Wherein shall go no galley with oars, Neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.

22 For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us.

23 ¶ Your rigging hangs loose; it cannot hold indeed the base of the mast, nor keep the sail spread out. Then prey and abundant spoil will be divided; even the lame will carry off plunder.

24 And no inhabitant will say, "I am sick"; the people who live there will be forgiven their iniquity.

23 Thy tacklings are loosed; They do not hold the stand of their mast, They do not spread the sail; Then is the prey of a great spoil divided; The lame take the prey.

24 And the inhabitant shall not say: 'I am sick'; The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

Chapter 34

1 ¶ Come near, nations, to hear; and pay attention, peoples. Let the earth hear and everything in it, the world and all that it brings forth.

2 For the LORD is angry against all the nations and furious at all their host. He has doomed them and has determined that they be slaughtered.

3 Their slain and their corpses will be cast down, and their stench will rise up. The mountains will be soaked with their blood.

4 The valleys will be split, all the host of the heavens will fall, and the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll. All their host will wither, like a leaf withering off the vine or like withering off the fig tree.

5 Indeed my sword will be seen in the heavens. Watch, it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have doomed for judgment.

6 The LORD has a sword filled with blood, gorged with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of rams' kidneys. Indeed the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

7 The wild oxen will fall with them and the young bulls with the mighty steers. Their land will be drunk with blood and their soil saturated with fat.

1 Come near, ye nations, to hear, And attend, ye peoples; Let the earth hear, and the fulness thereof, The world, and all things that come forth of it.

2 For the LORD hath indignation against all the nations, And fury against all their host; He hath utterly destroyed them, He hath delivered them to the slaughter.

3 Their slain also shall be cast out, And the stench of their carcasses shall come up, And the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

4 And all the host of heaven shall moulder away, And the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; And all their host shall fall down, As the leaf falleth off from the vine, And as a falling fig from the fig-tree.

5 For My sword hath drunk its fill in heaven; Behold, it shall come down upon Edom, And upon the people of My ban, to judgment.

6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, It is made fat with fatness, With the blood of lambs and goats, With the fat of the kidneys of rams; For the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, And a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

7 And the wild-oxen shall come down with them, And the bullocks with the bulls; And their land shall be drunken with blood, And their dust made fat with fatness.

8 ¶ Indeed the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

9 Its streams will be turned into pitch, and its soil into sulfur, and its land will become pitch.

10 It will burn night and day and will never be extinguished. Its smoke will go up from generation to generation, and it will lie waste forever and ever. No one will pass through it.

11 The pelican and the porcupine will possess it, and the owl and the raven will dwell in it. Over it he will stretch a line, and chaos, and plumb lines of emptiness, and its nobles.

12 They will call it No Kingdom There, and all its princes will be nothing.

13 Thorns will grow in its palaces, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It will be a habitation of jackals, an abode for ostriches.

14 Desert cats will meet hyenas, and goat-demons will call to each other. There too, liliths will settle, and they will find themselves a place of rest.

15 The owl will make its nest there, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shade; indeed, indeed, buzzards will gather there, every one with its mate.

8 For the LORD hath a day of vengeance, A year of recompense for the controversy of Zion.

9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, And the dust thereof into brimstone, And the land thereof shall become burning pitch.

10 It shall not be quenched night nor day, The smoke thereof shall go up for ever; From generation to generation it shall lie waste: None shall pass through it for ever and ever.

11 But the pelican and the bittern shall possess it, And the owl and the raven shall dwell therein; And He shall stretch over it The line of confusion, and the plummet of emptiness.

12 As for her nobles, none shall be there to be called to the kingdom; And all her princes shall be nothing.

13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces, Nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; And it shall be a habitation of wild-dogs, An enclosure for ostriches.

14 And the wild-cats shall meet with the jackals, And the satyr shall cry to his fellow; Yea, the night-monster shall repose there, And shall find her a place of rest.

15 There shall the arrowsnake make her nest, and lay, And hatch, and brood under her shadow; Yea, there shall the kites be gathered, Every one with her mate.

16 ¶ Study and read from the book of the LORD: and not one will be missing, each its mate. For it is his mouth that has commanded, and it is his spirit that has gathered them.

17 It is he who has cast the lot for them, and his hands divided it for them with the line forever.

16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read; No one of these shall be missing, None shall want her mate; For My mouth it hath commanded, And the breath thereof it hath gathered them.

17 And He hath cast the lot for them, And His hand hath divided it unto them by line; They shall possess it for ever, From generation to generation shall they dwell therein.

Chapter 35

3 ¶ Strengthen the weak hands, support the stumbling knees.

4 Say to those who are disheartened, "Be strong, do not fear; see, your God will bring vengeance, he will bring divine recompense to save you."

5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will unclose.

6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing. Yes, water will burst out in the wilderness, and streams will run through the desert.

7 The scorching desert will become a pool, and the thirsting ground fountains of water; in the habitation of jackals, a grassy resting place with reeds and rushes.

8 A highway will be there, and they will call it The Holy Way. The unclean will not pass over it; it and for whomever is traveling, even fools, will not go astray.

9 There will be no lion or violent beast there; it will not come up on it, and it will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk,

10 and the ransomed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing. Everlasting joy will be upon their heads. They will attain joy and happiness, and sorrow and mourning will flee away.

1 The wilderness and the parched land shall be glad; And the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice, Even with joy and singing; The glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, The excellency of Carmel and Sharon; They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God.

3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, And make firm the tottering knees.

4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart: 'Be strong, fear not'; Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God He will come and save you.

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6 Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, And the tongue of the dumb shall sing; For in the wilderness shall waters break out, And streams in the desert.

7 And the parched land shall become a pool, And the thirsty ground springs of water; In the habitation of jackals herds shall lie down, It shall be an enclosure for reeds and rushes.

8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, And it shall be called The way of holiness; The unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those; The wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein.

9 No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon, They shall not be found there; But the redeemed shall walk there;

10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come with singing unto Zion, And everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; They shall obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Chapter 36

1 ¶ In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.

2 The king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to King Hezekiah with a very large army. He stood by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway of Fuller's Field.

3 Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder came out to him.

4 The Rabshakeh said to them, "Say to Hezekiah king of Judah, 'Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: What is this source of confidence that you yourself are trusting in?

5 Do you think that words alone equate to counsel and strength for battle? Now in whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?

6 Indeed, you are depending on Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which pierces the palm of anyone who leans on it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.'

1 Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.

2 And the king of Assyria sent Rab-shakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fullers'field.

3 Then came forth unto him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

4 And Rab-shakeh said unto them: 'Say ye now to Hezekiah: Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria: What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

5 I said: It is but vain words; for counsel and strength are for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?

6 Behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it; so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust on him.

7 ¶ "But if you say to me, 'We trust in the LORD our God'—is he not the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, after which he said to Judah and Jerusalem, 'You will worship before this altar in Jerusalem?'—

8 come now, make a wager with my lord, the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to supply riders for them.

9 How can you reject one captain from among the least of my master's servants, and entrust yourselves to Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

10 Now do you think that it is without the LORD that I have come up against this land to destroy it? It was the LORD who said to me, 'Go up to this land to destroy it.'"

11 Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to him, "Please speak with your servants in Aramaic since we understand it. But do not speak this message so that the men sitting on the wall can hear."

7 But if thou say unto me: We trust in the LORD our God; is not that He, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and to Jerusalem: Ye shall worship before this altar?

8 Now therefore, I pray thee, make a wager with my master, the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

9 How then canst thou turn away the face of one captain, even of the least of my master's servants? yet thou puttest thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen!

10 And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? The LORD said unto me: Go up against this land, and destroy it.'

11 Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rab-shakeh: 'Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Aramean language, for we understand it; and speak not to us in the Jews'language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.'

12 ¶ But the Rabshakeh said, "Was it to you and against your lord that my lord sent me to speak this message? Was it not rather against the men sitting on the wall, who will have to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?"

13 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Judean. He said, "Listen to the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.

14 Thus says the king of Assyria, 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you.

15 Do not let Hezekiah compel you to trust in the LORD, thinking, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the power of the king of Assyria.'

16 Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: 'Make your peace with me, and come out to me; then everyone will eat from his vine and everyone from his fig tree, and everyone will drink from the water of his own cistern

17 until I come and take you to a land like your own land, to a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

18 Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you by saying, The LORD will deliver us. Has any of the gods of the nations saved his land from the power of the king of Assyria?

19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharyaim? Have they saved Samaria from my power?

20 Which among all the gods of those countries has delivered their country from my power, so that the LORD might deliver Jerusalem from my power?'"

21 But they did not speak or answer at all, for the king's command was: "Do not respond to him."

22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and reported the words of the Rabshakeh to him.

12 But Rab-shakeh said: 'Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water with you?'

13 Then Rab-shakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews'language, and said: 'Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.

14 Thus saith the king: Let not Hezekiah beguile you, for he will not be able to deliver you;

15 neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying: The LORD will surely deliver us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

16 Hearken not to Hezekiah; for thus saith the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig-tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;

17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

18 Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying: The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?

20 Who are they among all the gods of these countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?'

21 But they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying: 'Answer him not.'

22 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rab-shakeh.

Chapter 37

1 ¶ When Hezekiah the king heard this, he rent his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

2 He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz.

3 They said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah: This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of disgrace; for children are at the point of birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth.

4 Perhaps the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to scorn the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard: therefore lift up a prayer for the remnant that is left in this city."

5 So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

6 And Isaiah said to them, "Thus you will say to your master, 'Thus says the LORD: Do not be afraid of the words that you have heard, those with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he will hear a rumor, and he will return to his own land; I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.'"

1 And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

3 And they said unto him: 'Thus saith Hezekiah: This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of contumely; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

4 It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rab-shakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to taunt the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD thy God hath heard; wherefore make prayer for the remnant that is left.'

5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

6 And Isaiah said unto them: 'Thus shall ye say to your master: Thus saith the LORD: Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return unto his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.'

8 ¶ So the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting Libnah; for he had heard that he had left Lachish.

9 He heard a report about Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, "He is coming out to fight you." When he heard this, he returned and sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

10 "Say this to Hezekiah king of Judah, 'Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by saying, Jerusalem will not be delivered into the power of the king of Assyria.

11 Indeed, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, absolutely annihilating them. Will you be rescued?

12 Have the gods of the nations rescued them, those nations which my fathers destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?

13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of Lair and of Sepharyaim and of Na, Ivvah, and Samaria?'"

8 So Rab-shakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

9 And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia: 'He is come out to fight against thee.' And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying:

10 'Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: Let not thy God in whom thou trustest beguile thee, saying: Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

11 Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?

12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed, Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden that were in Telassar?

13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?'

14 ¶ Hezekiah received the letters from the messengers and read them. Then Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.

15 Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying,

16 "LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth; you made heaven and earth.

17 Incline your ear, LORD, and listen. Open your eyes, LORD, and see. Listen to every word of Sennacherib, which he sent to mock the living God.

18 Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated all the lands,

19 and they have cast their gods into the fire—for they were not gods but the works of human hands, wood and stone; thus they have destroyed them.

20 Now, LORD our God, I will save us from his power, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God."

14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.

15 And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying:

16 'O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, that sittest upon the cherubim, Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; Thou hast made heaven and earth.

17 Incline Thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open Thine eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who hath sent to taunt the living God.

18 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the countries, and their land,

19 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them.

20 Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Thou art the LORD, even Thou only.'

21 ¶ Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel to whom you prayed about Sennacherib king of Assyria;

22 this is the word which the LORD spoke concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and mocked you. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you.

23 Whom have you mocked and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and arrogantly lifted up your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel.

24 By your servants you have reviled my Lord and said, 'With my many chariots I myself have climbed the highest mountains, to the farthest parts of Lebanon where I cut it down, its tallest cedars and its choicest cypresses. I entered its highest point, its most fertile forest.

25 I myself cried out and drank foreign waters, and with the sole of my foot I dried up all the rivers of Egypt.'

26 Did you not hear how in the distant past I decided to do it, in ancient times planned it? Now I have made it happen that fortified cities should become devastated, besieged heaps.

27 Their inhabitants had little power. They were dismayed and ashamed. They were wild plants, grassy sprouts, grass on the roofs, scorched by the east wind.

28 But I know your rising up and sitting down, your going out and coming in, and your raging against me.

29 I have heard of your arrogance, so I will put my hook in your nose and my bit on your lips, and I will turn you back on the way on which is destruction.

21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying: 'Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: Whereas thou hast prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria,

22 this is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion Hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem Hath shaken her head at thee.

23 Whom hast thou taunted and blasphemed? And against whom hast thou exalted thy voice? Yea, thou hast lifted up thine eyes on high, Even against the Holy One of Israel!

24 By thy servants hast thou taunted the Lord, And hast said: With the multitude of my chariots Am I come up to the height of the mountains, To the innermost parts of Lebanon; And I have cut down the tall cedars thereof, And the choice cypress-trees thereof; And I have entered into his farthest height, The forest of his fruitful field.

25 I have digged and drunk water, And with the sole of my feet have I dried up All the rivers of Egypt.

26 Hast thou not heard? Long ago I made it, In ancient times I fashioned it; Now have I brought it to pass, Yea, it is done; that fortified cities Should be laid waste into ruinous heaps.

27 Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, They were dismayed and confounded; They were as the grass of the field, And as the green herb, As the grass on the housetops, And as a field of corn before it is grown up.

28 But I know thy sitting down, and thy going out, and thy coming in, And thy raging against Me.

29 Because of thy raging against Me, And for that thine uproar is come up into Mine ears, Therefore will I put My hook in thy nose, And My bridle in thy lips, And I will turn thee back by the way By which thou camest.

30 ¶ "This will be the sign for you: Eat this year what grows of itself and in the second year what springs from that. In the third year sow seed, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.

31 The escapees of the house of Judah will gather and those who are found will take root below ground and bear fruit above.

32 For a remnant will go forth out of Zion and escapees from Jerusalem. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform th

30 And this shall be the sign unto thee: ye shall eat this year that which groweth of itself, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.

31 And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.

32 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of mount Zion they that shall escape; the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall perform this.

33 ¶ "Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He will not enter this city, nor build up a siege-mound against it, nor shoot an arrow there, nor oppose it with a shield.

34 By the way he came, he will return. He will not enter this city, says the LORD.

35 I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for my servant David's sake."

33 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come unto this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast a mound against it.

34 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and he shall not come unto this city, saith the LORD.

35 For I will defend this city to save it, for Mine own sake, and for My servant David's sake.'

36 ¶ Then the angel of the LORD went out, and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. When morning came, there they were, all of them dead bodies.

37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp, left, and returned, and remained at Nineveh.

38 As he was worshiping in the temple of Nisroch his god, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

36 And the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went, and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

38 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sarezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 38

1 ¶ In those days Hezekiah became deathly ill. Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, because you are going to die, you will not live."

1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him: 'Thus saith the LORD: Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.'

2 ¶ Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the LORD,

3 and said, "Remember, LORD, how I have conducted myself before you faithfully and wholeheartedly and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, 3and said: 'Remember now, O LORD, I beseech Thee, how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a whole heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight.' And Hezekiah wept sore.

4 ¶ Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah,

5 "Go, tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, and I have seen your tears. See now, I will add fifteen years to your life.

6 Moreover I will rescue you and this city from the power of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and my servant David's sake.'

7 This will be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD does this thing which he has spoken:

8 See now, I will make the shadow on the steps of the upper dial of Ahaz, marking the setting sun, return backward ten steps." Then the sun returned ten steps on the dial, steps on which it had descended.

4 Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying:

5 'Go, and say to Hezekiah: Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father: I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears; behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

6 And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.

7 And this shall be the sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that He hath spoken:

8 behold, I will cause the shadow of the dial, which is gone down on the sun-dial of Ahaz, to return backward ten degrees.' So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.

9 ¶ A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, after he had been sick and recovered from his illness:

9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness.

10 ¶ I said, At the height of my life I must go. I must visit the gates of Sheol—bitter are my years.

11 I said, I will not see the LORD in the land of the living. And I, among the inhabitants of the grave, will no longer look upon humans.

12 My dwelling is pulled up and vanishes from me like a shepherd's tent. Like a weaver, I make an accounting of my life. My threads are cut from the loom. Day and night you bring me to the finish.

13 I am laid bare until morning. Just like a lion, he breaks all my bones. Day and night you bring me to the finish.

14 Like a swallow or a crane I chirp, I moan like a dove. My eyes look feebly on high. My Lord, I am in distress; so be my security.

15 What can I say, I tell myself, since he has done this to me? I will walk slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.

16 My Lord is against them yet they live, and all of them who live have his spirit. Now you have restored my health and let me live.

17 Indeed, for my own good it was exceedingly bitter for me. You yourself loved my life, delivering it from the pit of its confinement. Yes, you have tossed all my sins behind your back.

18 For Sheol cannot glorify you, death cannot praise you, and those who descend into the grave cannot hope for your loyalty.

19 The living, it is the living who will praise you, as I do this day. Parents will make your faithful God known to their children.

20 O LORD, save me! The living, the living will praise you, as I do this day. Parents will make your loyalty known to their children. O LORD, save me! And we will make music with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the house of the LORD.

10 I said: In the noontide of my days I shall go, Even to the gates of the nether-world; I am deprived of the residue of my years.

11 I said: I shall not see the LORD, Even the LORD in the land of the living; I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.

12 My habitation is plucked up and carried away from me As a shepherd's tent; I have rolled up like a weaver my life; He will cut me off from the thrum; From day even to night wilt Thou make an end of me.

13 The more I make myself like unto a lion until morning, The more it breaketh all my bones; From day even to night wilt Thou make an end of me.

14 Like a swallow or a crane, so do I chatter, I do moan as a dove; Mine eyes fail with looking upward. O LORD, I am oppressed, be Thou my surety.

15 What shall I say? He hath both spoken unto me, And Himself hath done it; I shall go softly all my years for the bitterness of my soul.

16 O Lord, by these things men live, And altogether therein is the life of my spirit; Wherefore recover Thou me, and make me to live.

17 Behold, for my peace I had great bitterness; But Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it From the pit of corruption; For Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.

18 For the nether-world cannot praise Thee, Death cannot celebrate Thee; They that go down into the pit cannot hope for Thy truth.

19 The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, As I do this day; The father to the children shall make known Thy truth.

20 The LORD is ready to save me; Therefore we will sing songs to the stringed instruments All the days of our life in the house of the LORD.

21 ¶ Isaiah said, "Have them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil so that he may recover."

22 Hezekiah said, "What will be the sign for me to go up to the house of the LORD?"

21 And Isaiah said: 'Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover.'

22 And Hezekiah said.' What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?'

Chapter 39

1 ¶ At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, when he heard that he had been sick but he lived.

2 Hezekiah was delighted that they came and showed them all of his treasure-houses: the silver, gold, spices, precious oil, all his armor, and everything that was in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or his entire kingdom that Hezekiah failed to show them.

3 Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and said to him, "What did these men say, and where did they come from to visit you?" Hezekiah said, "From a far country—they came to visit me from Babylon."

4 Then he said, "What did they see in your palace?" Hezekiah answered, "They saw everything in my palace. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them."

5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Listen to the word of the LORD of hosts:

6 The time will indeed come when everything that is in your palace and that your ancestors have stored up till now will be carried to Babylon. They will come in, and nothing will be left, says the LORD.

7 Some of your own sons who will have come from your loins, whom you will have begotten, they will take away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."

8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good," since he thought, "There will be peace and stability in my lifetime."

1 At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent a letter and a present to Hezekiah; for he heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.

2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them his treasure-house, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures; there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.

3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him: 'What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee?' And Hezekiah said: 'They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.'

4 Then said he: 'What have they seen in thy house?' And Hezekiah answered: 'All that is in my house have they seen; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.'

5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah: 'Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:

6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be officers in the palace of the king of Babylon.'

8 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah: 'Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken.' He said moreover: 'If but there shall be peace and truth in my days.'

Chapter 40

1 ¶ Comfort, comfort my people! says your God.

2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and declare to her that her hard service is completed, that her punishment is accepted. Indeed she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

1 Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, Saith your God.

2 Bid Jerusalem take heart, And proclaim unto her, That her time of service is accomplished, That her guilt is paid off; That she hath received of the LORD'S hand Double for all her sins.

3 ¶ A voice cries out, "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, and in the desert make a smooth highway for our God.

4 Let every valley be raised and every mountain and hill be lowered. Let the uneven spots be leveled and the rough places made a plain.

5 The glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh together will see it. The mouth of the LORD has spoken."

3 Hark! one calleth: 'Clear ye in the wilderness the way of the LORD, Make plain in the desert A highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be lifted up, And every mountain and hill shall be made low; And the rugged shall be made level, And the rough places a plain;

5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.'

6 ¶ A voice says, "Proclaim!" So I said, "What am I to proclaim?" "All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flowers of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flowers fade, when the breath of • • • • blows on it." (Surely the people are the grass.)

8 The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God, but the word of our God stands forever.

6 Hark! one saith: 'Proclaim! ' And he saith: 'What shall I proclaim?' 'All flesh is grass, And all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field;

7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; Because the breath of the LORD bloweth upon it— Surely the people is grass.

8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; But the word of our God shall stand for ever.'

9 ¶ Climb up a high mountain, messenger to Zion! Raise your voice powerfully, messenger to Jerusalem! Raise it; do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!"

10 Look, the Lord GOD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. Look, his payment is with him, and his reward before him.

11 Like a shepherd he pastures his flock; he gathers the lambs in his arms, carries them near his heart, and gently leads the nursing sheep.

9 O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, Get thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, Lift up thy voice with strength; Lift it up, be not afraid; Say unto the cities of Judah: 'Behold your God! '

10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come as a Mighty One, And His arm will rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His recompense before Him.

11 Even as a shepherd that feedeth his flock, That gathereth the lambs in his arm, And carrieth them in his bosom, And gently leadeth those that give suck.

12 ¶ Who has measured the waters of the sea in his palm? marked out the heavens with his compass and measured out the dust of the earth in a measuring bowl? weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?

13 Who has directed the spirit of the LORD, or as his counselor has taught him?

14 With whom did he consult, to instruct him and guide him in the ways of justice? or taught him knowledge or showed him the ways of wisdom?

15 Look, the nations are like a drop from a bucket and are considered but dust on the balance. Look, he even lifts up the islands like powder.

16 Lebanon is not sufficient fuel, nor are its beasts a sufficient burnt offering.

17 All the nations are as nothing to him, and he considers them as nothingness and chaos.

12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, And meted out heaven with the span, And comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, And weighed the mountains in scales, And the hills in a balance?

13 Who hath meted out the spirit of the LORD? Or who was His counsellor that he might instruct Him?

14 With whom took He counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of right, And taught Him knowledge, And made Him to know the way of discernment?

15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, And are counted as the small dust of the balance; Behold the isles are as a mote in weight.

16 And Lebanon is not sufficient fuel, Nor the beasts thereof sufficient for burnt-offerings.

17 All the nations are as nothing before Him; They are accounted by Him as things of nought, and vanity.

18 ¶ To whom will you compare me—God? or what likeness will you compare to me?

19 The idol?—a craftsman made the image, and a smith with gold and hammered it out and cast silver chains;

20 the poor person an offering, wood that will not rot, and chooses a skillful artisan and seeks to set up an image that will not topple.

18 To whom then will ye liken God? Or what likeness will ye compare unto Him?

19 The image perchance, which the craftsman hath melted, And the goldsmith spread over with gold, The silversmith casting silver chains?

20 A holm-oak is set apart, He chooseth a tree that will not rot; He seeketh unto him a cunning craftsman To set up an image, that shall not be moved.

21 ¶ Have you not known? Have you not heard? Have you not been told from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 He is the one who dwells above the disk of the earth, whose inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He is the one who stretches the skies like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in,

23 who brings princes to nothing, who makes the judges of the earth like a void.

24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely are they sown, scarcely have their stalk taken root in the earth, and then he blows on them and they wither, and the whirlwind carries them away like stubble.

21 Know ye not? hear ye not? Hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood the foundations of the earth?

22 It is He that sitteth above the circle of the earth, And the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; That stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, And spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in;

23 That bringeth princes to nothing; He maketh the judges of the earth as a thing of nought.

24 Scarce are they planted, Scarce are they sown, Scarce hath their stock taken root in the earth; When He bloweth upon them, they wither, And the whirlwind taketh them away as stubble.

25 ¶ To whom will you compare me that I should be similar? says the Holy One.

26 Raise your eyes heavenward and see: Who has created these? He who draws out their host by number, who calls them all by name, by his great might and his powerful strength, and not one is missing.

27 Why do you say, Jacob, and claim, Israel, "My way is ignored by the LORD, and my case is passed over by my God?"

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the eternal God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint, he does not grow weary, and his understanding is unfathomable.

29 The one who gives might to the faint will make power abound in those without strength.

30 Even youths faint and grow weary and young men collapse,

31 but those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength. Then they will ascend with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will march and not faint.

25 To whom then will ye liken Me, that I should be equal? Saith the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high, And see: who hath created these? He that bringeth out their host by number, He calleth them all by name; By the greatness of His might, and for that He is strong in power, Not one faileth.

27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, And speakest, O Israel: 'My way is hid from the LORD, And my right is passed over from my God'?

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard That the everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Fainteth not, neither is weary? His discernment is past searching out.

29 He giveth power to the faint; And to him that hath no might He increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall;

31 But they that wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; They shall walk, and not faint.

Chapter 41

1 ¶ Be silent before me, coastlands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come near then speak together; let us approach for a ruling.

2 Who has roused victory from the east and summoned it to his path and delivers nations before him and brings down kings, and makes their swords like dust, their bows like wind-driven chaff?

3 And he pursues them and travels on safely, by a way that his feet had not known.

4 Who has acted and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first and with the last, I am he.

1 Keep silence before Me, O islands, And let the peoples renew their strength; Let them draw near, then let them speak; Let us come near together to judgment.

2 Who hath raised up one from the east, At whose steps victory attendeth? He giveth nations before him, And maketh him rule over kings; His sword maketh them as the dust, His bow as the driven stubble.

3 He pursueth them, and passeth on safely; The way with his feet he treadeth not.

4 Who hath wrought and done it? He that called the generations from the beginning. I, the LORD, who am the first, And with the last am the same.

5 ¶ The coastlands have seen and are afraid. The ends of the earth, together; they have drawn near and come.

6 They all help their neighbor. They say to each other, "Take heart."

7 The carpenter encourages the smith, and the one who smoothes with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil. He says of the soldering, "It is good," and reinforces it with nails, so that it cannot loosen.

5 The isles saw, and feared; The ends of the earth trembled; They drew near, and came.

6 They helped every one his neighbour; And every one said to his brother: 'Be of good courage.'

7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, And he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth the anvil, Saying of the soldering: 'It is good'; And he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.

8 ¶ But you, Israel my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, seed of Abraham my friend,

9 you whom I encouraged at the ends of the earth and called from its corners and said to you, "You are my servant. I have chosen you, and I have not rejected you."

10 Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be anxious, for I am your God. I strengthen you. I indeed help you. I indeed hold you up with my vindicating right hand.

11 Look! All who are incensed at you will be disgraced and put to shame. Those who contend with you will all die.

12 Those who quarrel with you will be nothing, and non-existent those who fight you.

13 For I am the LORD your God, who strengthens your right hand, who says to you, "Do not be afraid. I will help you."

14 Do not fear, you worm Jacob and people of Israel. I will help you, says the LORD and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

8 But thou, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The seed of Abraham My friend;

9 Thou whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, And called thee from the uttermost parts thereof, And said unto thee: 'Thou art My servant, I have chosen thee and not cast thee away';

10 Fear thou not, for I am with thee, Be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I strengthen thee, yea, I help thee; Yea, I uphold thee with My victorious right hand.

11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee Shall be ashamed and confounded; They that strove with thee Shall be as nothing, and shall perish.

12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, Even them that contended with thee; They that warred against thee Shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

13 For I the LORD thy God Hold thy right hand, Who say unto thee: 'Fear not, I help thee.'

14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, And ye men of Israel; I help thee, saith the LORD, And thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

15 ¶ See, I will make you into a new, sharp, multi-edged thresher. You will thresh and crush mountains and turn the hills to chaff.

16 You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away, and the whirlwind will scatter them. You will rejoice in the LORD, and you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

15 Behold, I make thee a new threshing-sledge Having sharp teeth; Thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, And shalt make the hills as chaff.

16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, And the whirlwind shall scatter them; And thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, Thou shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

17 ¶ The poor, the needy, those seeking water when there is none, whose tongues are parched with thirst—I, the LORD, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them.

18 I will open up rivers on the bare heights and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs of water.

19 In the wilderness, I will put the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; in the desert, I will set the cypress, the yew, and the elm together;

20 so that together they may see and recognize, consider and comprehend, that the hand of the LORD has done this, and the Holy One of Israel created it.

17 The poor and needy seek water and there is none, And their tongue faileth for thirst; I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers on the high hills, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water.

19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia-tree, And the myrtle, and the oil-tree; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane-tree, and the larch together;

20 That they may see, and know, And consider, and understand together, That the hand of the LORD hath done this, And the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

21 ¶ Present your case, says the LORD. Submit your arguments, says the King of Jacob.

22 Let them approach and tell us what will happen. The former things, what were they? Tell us, so that we may consider them and know. Or the latter things or the things to come, let us hear.

23 Report on what is to come in the future, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do good or do evil, so that we together may hear and see it.

24 Indeed, you and your work are nothing, and whoever chooses you is an abomination.

25 You are stirring one up from the north, and they are coming from the rising of the sun. And he is called by his name. Rulers will come like mire and like the potter, and he will trample the clay.

26 Who has declared it from the beginning, that we may know? beforehand, that we may say,"It is right"? Indeed, no one declared it, no one made a proclamation, no one heard your words.

27 First, for Zion, there is slumber. To Jerusalem, I will send a messenger.

28 When I look, no one is there among them, no one gives counsel or responds when I inquire of them.

29 Indeed, none of them exists, and their works are nothing. Their molten images are formless wind.

21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; Bring forth your reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

22 Let them bring them forth, and declare unto us The things that shall happen; The former things, what are they? Declare ye, that we may consider, And know the end of them; Or announce to us things to come.

23 Declare the things that are to come hereafter, That we may know that ye are gods; Yea, do good, or do evil, That we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

24 Behold, ye are nothing, And your work a thing of nought; An abomination is he that chooseth you.

25 I have roused up one from the north, and he is come, From the rising of the sun one that calleth upon My name; And he shall come upon rulers as upon mortar, And as the potter treadeth clay.

26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? And beforetime, that we may say that he is right? Yea, there is none that declareth, Yea, there is none that announceth, Yea, there is none that heareth your utterances.

27 A harbinger unto Zion will I give: 'Behold, behold them', And to Jerusalem a messenger of good tidings.

28 And I look, but there is no man; Even among them, but there is no counsellor, That, when I ask of them, can give an answer.

29 Behold, all of them, Their works are vanity and nought; Their molten images are wind and confusion.

Chapter 42

1 ¶ Here is my servant, whom I support, my chosen, in whom my soul delights. I have placed my spirit on him so that he may deliver his justice to the nations.

2 He will not cry out or raise his voice or make it heard in the street.

3 A crushed reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench. He will truly bring forth justice.

4 And he will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice on earth; and the coastlands will inherit his law.

1Behold My servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My spirit upon him, He shall make the right to go forth to the nations.

2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, Nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

3 A bruised reed shall he not break, And the dimly burning wick shall he not quench; He shall make the right to go forth according to the truth.

4 He shall not fail nor be crushed, Till he have set the right in the earth; And the isles shall wait for his teaching.

5 ¶ Thus says the God, and God who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its produce, who gives breath to the people upon it, and spirit to those who walk on it:

6 I have called you in righteousness and have taken hold of your hand. I have preserved you and established you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations,

7 to open blind eyes, to lead those bound out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out of the prison.

5 Thus saith God the LORD, He that created the heavens, and stretched them forth, He that spread forth the earth and that which cometh out of it, He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, And spirit to them that walk therein:

6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, And have taken hold of thy hand, And kept thee, and set thee for a covenant of the people, For a light of the nations;

7 To open the blind eyes, To bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, And them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.

8 ¶ I the LORD am the one, and I will not give my name or my glory to another nor my praise to idols.

9 See, the former things have come about, and I am announcing the new things. Before they unfold I am making you aware of them.

8 I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory will I not give to another, Neither My praise to graven images.

9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, And new things do I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.

10 ¶ Sing to the LORD a new song and his praise from the end of the earth, you who travel the sea and everything in it, coastlands and their inhabitants.

11 Let the desert cry out, its cities and the villages that Kedar inhabits, and let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy. Let them shout aloud from the tops of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory to the LORD and declare his praise in the coastlands.

10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, And His praise from the end of the earth; Ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein, The isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, The villages that Kedar doth inhabit; Let the inhabitants of Sela exult, Let them shout from the top of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, And declare His praise in the islands.

13 ¶ The LORD goes forth like a warrior. He fires up his furor like a man of war. Showing his anger, he shouts aloud. He prevails against his enemies.

14 Certainly I have kept silent for a long time. I have kept still and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a woman giving birth; I will gasp and pant together.

15 I will devastate mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation. I will make the rivers islands and dry up the ponds.

16 I will help the blind walk by a way that they do not know. In paths they do not know I will lead them. I will make the dark places before them light and rough places level. I will do these things and I will not abandon them.

17 Those who trust in idols will be turned back and utterly shamed, who say to images, "You are our gods."

13 The LORD will go forth as a mighty man, He will stir up jealousy like a man of war; He will cry, yea, He will shout aloud, He will prove Himself mighty against His enemies.

14 I have long time held My peace, I have been still, and refrained Myself; Now will I cry like a travailing woman, Gasping and panting at once.

15 I will make waste mountains and hills, And dry up all their herbs; And I will make the rivers islands, And will dry up the pools.

16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not, In paths that they knew not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and rugged places plain. These things will I do, And I will not leave them undone.

17 They shall be turned back, greatly ashamed, That trust in graven images, That say unto molten images: 'Ye are our gods.'

18 ¶ Listen, you who are deaf; look, you who are blind, and see.

19 Who is blind but my servant or deaf like my messenger whom I send? Who is blind like the one allied with me and blind like the LORD's servant?

20 You have seen many things, but you do not observe. His ears are open, but he does not hear.

18 Hear, ye deaf, And look, ye blind, that ye may see.

19 Who is blind, but My servant? Or deaf, as My messenger that I send? Who is blind as he that is wholehearted, And blind as the LORD'S servant?

20 Seeing many things, thou observest not; Opening the ears, he heareth not.

21 ¶ The LORD had desired, for the sake of his vindication, that he should increase his torah and glorify it.

22 Instead, this is a people despoiled and plundered. All of them are trapped in holes and hidden in prisons. They have become prey whom no one rescues, a spoil and no one says, "Restore."

23 Who is among you that will hear this? Indeed let him pay attention and listen for the time to come.

24 Who gave Jacob over to be despoiled and Israel to plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they were not willing to walk and whose instruction they would not obey?

25 So he poured upon him the heat of his anger and the fierceness of war. It set hi[m] on fire all around, but he did not recognize it. It burned him, but he did not think about it.

21 The LORD was pleased, for His righteousness'sake, To make the teaching great and glorious.

22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled, They are all of them snared in holes, And they are hid in prison-houses; They are for a prey, and none delivereth, For a spoil, and none saith: 'Restore.'

23 Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come?

24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the LORD? He against whom we have sinned, And in whose ways they would not walk, Neither were they obedient unto His law.

25 Therefore He poured upon him the fury of His anger, And the strength of battle; And it set him on fire round about, yet he knew not, And it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

Chapter 43

1 ¶ But now thus says the LORD who created you, Jacob, and who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.

1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, And He that formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art Mine.

2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

3 ¶ I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Redeemer. And I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and the people of Seba in exchange for you.

4 Because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you, I give people in your stead and nations in exchange for your life.

5 Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, "Give up!" and to the south, "Do not hold back!" Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth,

7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed, whom I made.

8 Bring forth the blind who have eyes and the deaf who have ears.

3 For I am the LORD thy God, The Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

4 Since thou art precious in My sight, and honourable, And I have loved thee; Therefore will I give men for thee, And peoples for thy life.

5 Fear not, for I am with thee; I will bring thy seed from the east, And gather thee from the west;

6 I will say to the north: 'Give up', And to the south: 'Keep not back, Bring My sons from far, And My daughters from the end of the earth;

7 Every one that is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, I have formed him, yea, I have made him.'

8 The blind people that have eyes shall be brought forth, And the deaf that have ears.

9 ¶ Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who is among them that could declare this or announce the former things? Let them produce their witnesses so they can be vindicated. Let them proclaim so people will say, "It is true."

9 All the nations are gathered together, And the peoples are assembled; Who among them can declare this, And announce to us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; And let them hear, and say: 'It is truth.'

10 ¶ You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you might know and trust me and understand that I am the one; before me no God was formed nor will there be after me.

11 I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.

12 I declared, I saved, I made it known. There was no strange god among you. You are my witnesses, says the LORD: I am God.

13 From this day forth, I am the one, and no one can deliver out of my hand. I work, and who can undo it?

10 Ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, And My servant whom I have chosen; That ye may know and believe Me, and understand That I am He; Before Me there was no God formed, Neither shall any be after Me.

11 I, even I, am the LORD; And beside Me there is no saviour.

12 I have declared, and I have saved, And I have announced, And there was no strange god among you; Therefore ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and I am God.

13 Yea, since the day was I am He, And there is none that can deliver out of My hand; I will work, and who can reverse it?

14 ¶ Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I will send to Babylon, and I will break down all the bars, and the Chaldeans' ringing cry will become lamentation.

15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.

16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters,

17 who brings forth chariot and horse and army and warrior together. They lie down, they cannot rise. They are extinguished, quenched like a wick.

14 Thus saith the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, And I will bring down all of them as fugitives, Even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their shouting.

15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.

16 Thus saith the LORD, who maketh a way in the sea, And a path in the mighty waters;

17 Who bringeth forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power— They lie down together, they shall not rise, They are extinct, they are quenched as a wick:

18 ¶ Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.

19 I am about to do a new thing, and it is now springing up. Do you not recognize it? I am making a road in the wilderness and paths in the desert.

20 Wild animals, jackals and ostriches, will honor me, because I am putting water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, for my people, my chosen, to drink,

21 the people which I formed for myself, and that they might speak my praise.

18 Remember ye not the former things, Neither consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I will do a new thing; Now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, And rivers in the desert.

20 The beasts of the field shall honour Me, The jackals and the ostriches; Because I give waters in the wilderness, And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, Mine elect;

21 The people which I formed for Myself, That they might tell of My praise.

22 ¶ And yet you have not invoked me, Jacob; indeed you are weary of me, Israel.

23 You have not brought me sheep for a burnt offering, nor have you honored me with your sacrifices. You have not made meal offerings for me. I have not wearied you about frankincense.

24 You have not bought me sweet cane with silver, nor satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. Instead, you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities.

22 Yet thou hast not called upon Me, O Jacob, Neither hast thou wearied thyself about Me, O Israel.

23 Thou hast not brought Me the small cattle of thy burnt-offerings; Neither hast thou honoured Me with thy sacrifices. I have not burdened thee with a meal-offering, Nor wearied thee with frankincense.

24 Thou hast bought Me no sweet cane with money, Neither hast thou satisfied Me with the fat of thy sacrifices; But thou hast burdened Me with thy sins, Thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities.

25 ¶ I, I am the one who blots out your transgression for my own sake, and I will remember your sins no longer.

26 Recall it for me. Let us argue together. Present your case, so that you may be vindicated.

27 Your first ancestor sinned, and your interpreters have transgressed against me.

28 Therefore I profaned the holy princes; I devoted Jacob to destruction, and Israel to reviling.

25 I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake; And thy sins I will not remember.

26 Put Me in remembrance, let us plead together; Declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

27 Thy first father sinned, And thine intercessors have transgressed against Me.

28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, And I have given Jacob to condemnation, And Israel to reviling.

Chapter 44

1 ¶ But now hear, Jacob my servant and Israel whom I have chosen:

2 Thus says the LORD who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you: Do not fear, Jacob my servant and Jeshurun whom I have chosen.

3 For I will pour water upon thirsty ground and streams on parched land. Just so will I pour my spirit upon your descendants and my blessing upon your posterity.

4 They will spring up like that which grows in the green grass, like willows by watercourses.

5 One will say, "I am the LORD's," and another will go by the name of Jacob, and another will have inscribed on his hand, "the LORD's," and adopt the name of Israel.

1 Yet now hear, O Jacob My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen;

2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, And formed thee from the womb, who will help thee: Fear not, O Jacob My servant, And thou, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

3 For I will pour water upon the thirsty land, And streams upon the dry ground; I will pour My spirit upon thy seed, And My blessing upon thine offspring;

4 And they shall spring up among the grass, As willows by the watercourses.

5 One shall say: 'I am the LORD'S'; And another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; And another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, And surname himself by the name of Israel.

6 ¶ Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name: I am the first and I am the last, and apart from me there is no God.

7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim and announce it and set it in order for himself, making them an ancient people. And the future let him say; what is to come let them declare to them.

6 Thus saith the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer the LORD of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, And beside Me there is no God.

7 And who, as I, can proclaim— Let him declare it, and set it in order for Me— Since I appointed the ancient people? And the things that are coming, and that shall come to pass, let them declare.

8 ¶ Do not be in awe. Do not be afraid. Have I not declared to you of old? I announced it. You are my witnesses. Is there a god besides me? I know that there is no other rock.

9 Now, all forming of images is nothing, and the things they value will not profit. Their own witnesses do not see; they do not know. So they will be put to shame.

8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid; Have I not announced unto thee of old, and declared it? And ye are My witnesses. Is there a God beside Me? Yea, there is no Rock; I know not any.

9 They that fashion a graven image are all of them vanity, And their delectable things shall not profit; And their own witnesses see not, nor know; That they may be ashamed.

10 ¶ Who would fashion a god or cast an image that is useless?

11 Certainly, all associated with it will be put to shame. The artisans, they are only human. Let them all gather together and stand up. Then let them be in awe. They will be put to shame together.

12 The ironworker prepares a tool with the coals and hammer, and fashions it, working by the strength of his arm. Yes, if he were hungry, he would have no strength. If he were to drink no water, he would become faint.

10 Who hath fashioned a god, or molten an image That is profitable for nothing?

11 Behold, all the fellows thereof shall be ashamed; And the craftsmen skilled above men; Let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; They shall fear, they shall be ashamed together.

12 The smith maketh an axe, And worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, And worketh it with his strong arm; Yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth; He drinketh no water, and is faint.

13 ¶ The woodworker stretches it out with a line; he traces its shape with a stylus. He fashions it with planes and shapes it with a compass. He makes it like a human figure, with human beauty, to dwell in a shrine.

13 The carpenter stretcheth out a line; He marketh it out with a pencil; He fitteth it with planes, And he marketh it out with the compasses, And maketh it after the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, to dwell in the house.

14 ¶ He cuts down cedars and takes a holm tree [or an o]ak. He secures for himself trees from the forest. He plants a fir tree, and the rain makes it grow.

15 He divides it up for humans to burn. He takes part of it and warms himself. He kindles a fire and bakes bread. Or perhaps he constructs a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and bows down to it.

16 Half of it he burns in the fire, and over that half is meat so he may eat. He sits by its coals, warms himself, and says, "Ah, I am warm in front of the fire."

17 The remainder of it he makes into a god. To blocks of wood he bows down to it and worships, prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god."

14 He heweth him down cedars, And taketh the ilex and the oak, And strengtheneth for himself one among the trees of the forest; He planteth a bay-tree, and the rain doth nourish it.

15 Then a man useth it for fuel; And he taketh thereof, and warmeth himself; Yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; Yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; He maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

16 He burneth the half thereof in the fire; With the half thereof he eateth flesh; He roasteth roast, and is satisfied; Yea, he warmeth himself, and saith: 'Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire';

17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image; He falleth down unto it and worshippeth, and prayeth unto it, And saith: 'Deliver me, for thou art my god.'

18 ¶ They do not know. They do not understand. For their eyes are smeared, they cannot see; and their minds, they cannot think.

19 No one gives it any thought; there is no knowledge or understanding to think to think, "Half of it I burned in the fire. I also baked food on its coals. And I roasted meat and ate it. And the rest of it I will make into abominations? Will I bow down to blocks of wood?"

20 He tends ashes. A deceived mind has turned him from the way. It cannot his life, nor does he say, "There is a lie in my right hand."

21 Remember these things, Jacob, Israel, for you are my servant. I have formed you; you are a servant to me. Israel, you must not mislead me.

18 They know not, neither do they understand; For their eyes are bedaubed, that they cannot see, And their hearts, that they cannot understand.

19 And none considereth in his heart, Neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say: 'I have burned the half of it in the fire; Yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh and eaten it; And shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?'

20 He striveth after ashes, A deceived heart hath turned him aside, That he cannot deliver his soul, nor say: 'Is there not a lie in my right hand?'

21 Remember these things, O Jacob, And Israel, for thou art My servant; I have formed thee, thou art Mine own servant; O Israel, thou shouldest not forget Me.

22 ¶ I have blotted out your transgression like a cloud and your sins like mist. Return to me; for I have redeemed you.

23 Shout, heavens, for the LORD has done it. Shout aloud, depths of the earth. Burst out with singing, mountains, forest, and every tree in it. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob and will glorify himself in Israel.

24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer and the one who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD who made everything, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth unassisted;

25 who frustrates the omens of the idle talkers and makes diviners mad, who turns the sages back and renders their knowledge foolish;

26 who confirms the word of his servant and brings to fruition the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, "It will be inhabited," and of the cities of Judah, "They will be rebuilt, and I will raise up their ruins";

27 who says to the deep, "Be dry; I will dry up your rivers";

28 who says of Cyrus, "He is my shepherd and will carry out everything I desire," saying of Jerusalem, "It will be rebuilt," and of my temple, "Your foundation will be laid again."

22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, And, as a cloud, thy sins; Return unto Me, for I have redeemed thee.

23 Sing, O ye heavens, for the LORD hath done it; Shout, ye lowest parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein; For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, And doth glorify Himself in Israel.

24 Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, And He that formed thee from the womb: I am the LORD, that maketh all things; That stretched forth the heavens alone; That spread abroad the earth by Myself;

25 That frustrateth the tokens of the imposters, And maketh diviners mad; That turneth wise men backward, And maketh their knowledge foolish;

26 That confirmeth the word of His servant, And performeth the counsel of His messengers; That saith of Jerusalem: 'She shall be inhabited'; And of the cities of Judah: 'They shall be built, And I will raise up the waste places thereof';

27 That saith to the deep: 'Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers';

28 That saith of Cyrus: 'He is My shepherd, And shall perform all My pleasure'; Even saying of Jerusalem: 'She shall be built'; And to the temple: 'My foundation shall be laid.'

Chapter 45

1 ¶ Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I have strengthened to subdue nations before him, as I expose the loins of kings, to open the doors before him and gates they cannot keep shut:

2 I myself will go before you, and he will make the mountains level. I will shatter bronze doors, cut through iron bars.

3 I will give you concealed treasures and secret riches hidden away, so that you will know that I, the LORD, who call you by name, am the God of Israel.

4 For Jacob my servant's sake, Israel my chosen, I have called you, and he has established you with a name, though you did not know me.

5 I am the LORD, and there is none else besides me; and there are no gods. I will help you, though you did not know me,

6 so that they may know from east to west that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

1 Thus saith the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, To subdue nations before him, And to loose the loins of kings; To open the doors before him, And that the gates may not be shut:

2 I will go before thee, And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, And cut in sunder the bars of iron;

3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, And hidden riches of secret places, That thou mayest know that I am the LORD, Who call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel.

4 For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel Mine elect, I have called thee by thy name, I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known Me.

5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, Beside Me there is no God; I have girded thee, though thou hast not known Me;

6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, That there is none beside Me; I am the LORD; and there is none else;

7 ¶ I form light and create darkness; I make goodness and create evil. I am the LORD, who does all these things.

8 Shout out, skies above and clouds, and let righteousness stream down. The one who says to the earth, "Let salvation blossom, and let righteousness sprout forth."

7 I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I am the LORD, that doeth all these things.

8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, that they may bring forth salvation, And let her cause righteousness to spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

9 ¶ Woe to the one who contends with his makers, being just a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth. Woe to the one who says [to] the one who [f]orms him, "What are you doing?" or "Your work has no human hands?"

10 Woe to the one who says to a father, "What are you begetting?" or to a woman, ["What are you] bearing?"

9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker, As a potsherd with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashioned it: 'What makest thou?' Or: 'Thy work, it hath no hands'?

10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father.' Wherefore begettest thou?' Or to a woman: 'Wherefore travailest thou?'

11 ¶ Thus says the LORD, the creator of the signs: Question me concerning my children, and concerning the work [of my hands co]mmand me?

12 I myself made the earth and humanity I created upon it. My own hand stretched out the skies; I commanded all [their host].

13 I have aroused him with righteousness, and I will make all his paths smooth. It is he who will rebuild [my city] and free my [ex]iles, not for price nor reward, says the LORD of hosts.

11 Thus saith the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask Me of the things that are to come; Concerning My sons, and concerning the work of My hands, command ye Me.

12 I, even I, have made the earth, And created man upon it; I, even My hands, have stretched out the heavens, And all their host have I commanded.

13 I have roused him up in victory, And I make level all his ways; He shall build My city, And he shall let Mine exiles go free, Not for price nor reward, Saith the LORD of hosts.

14 ¶ [Thus says] the LORD: The wealth of Egypt, and the merchandise of Cush, the Sabeans, men of height, will come over to you, and they will be yours. They will walk [behind you]; in chains they will come over. They will bow down to you; they will pray to you, "Surely God is in you; and there is no other [Go]d [at all]."

15 Truly you are a hidden God, O God of Israel, the Savior.

16 They will be shamed, indeed, disgraced, all of them to[gether]; the makers of idols will walk in confusion.

17 But Israel will be saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation. You will not be shamed or disgraced ever again.

14 Thus saith the LORD: The labour of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, And of the Sabeans, men of stature, Shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine; They shall go after thee, in chains they shall come over; And they shall fall down unto thee, They shall make supplication unto thee: Surely God is in thee, and there is none else, There is no other God.

15 Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.

16 They shall be ashamed, yea, confounded, all of them; They shall go in confusion together that are makers of idols.

17 O Israel, that art saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

18 ¶ For thus says the LORD who created the heavens—he is God and the one who fashioned the earth and made it; and he is the one who established it; not for chaos did he create it, but to be inhabited he formed it—I am the LORD and there is no other.

19 I have not spoken in secret, at a place in a land of darkness; I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, "Seek me in chaos"; I, the LORD, spea[k] righteousness, declaring what is right.

20 Assemble and enter; draw near and come, escapees from the nations. Those who carry their wooden idols know nothing, nor do those who pray to a god that cannot save.

21 Explain, present a case, even let them take counsel together. Who announced this long ago, declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other god besides me; a just God and Savior, and there is none besides me.

22 Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

23 By myself I have sworn, from my mouth righteousness has gone forth, a word that will not come back: that to me every knee will bow, and every tongue will swear.

24 "Only in the LORD," one will say of me, "are victories and might; to him will come all who were incensed against him and they will be shamed.

25 In the LORD all the descendants of Israel will have victory and glory."

18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens, He is God; That formed the earth and made it, He established it, He created it not a waste, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD, and there is none else.

19 I have not spoken in secret, In a place of the land of darkness; I said not unto the seed of Jacob: 'Seek ye Me in vain'; I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

20 Assemble yourselves and come, draw near together, Ye that are escaped of the nations; They have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, And pray unto a god that cannot save.

21 Declare ye, and bring them near, Yea, let them take counsel together: Who hath announced this from ancient time, And declared it of old? Have not I the LORD? And there is no God else beside Me, A just God and a Saviour; There is none beside Me.

22 Look unto Me, and be ye saved, All the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is none else.

23 By Myself have I sworn, The word is gone forth from My mouth in righteousness, And shall not come back, That unto Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall swear.

24 Only in the LORD, shall one say of Me, is victory and strength; Even to Him shall men come in confusion, All they that were incensed against Him.

25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel Be justified, and shall glory.

Chapter 46

1 ¶ Bel bows down, Nebo stoops. Their images are on beasts, on cattle. Your loads are more burdensome than their reports.

2 They stoop, they bow down together, and they are not able to rescue the burden, but themselves go into captivity.

1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth; Their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle; The things that ye carried about are made a load, A burden to the weary beast.

2 They stoop, they bow down together, They could not deliver the burden; And themselves are gone into captivity.

3 ¶ Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, carried from birth, and borne from the womb:

4 Even till old age I am he, and even till I have grown gray I will carry you. It is I who have made, and I who will bear, and I who will carry and save.

5 To whom will you liken me, and consider me equal, or compare me, that I may seem similar?

6 Those who pour gold into a purse and weigh silver in a balance hire a goldsmith, that he may make a god; and they prostrate themselves and even worship it.

7 And they lift it onto their shoulder and carry it and set it in its place. It stands there and does not move from its place. Indeed, one may cry out to it, but it cannot answer nor deliver anyone from distress.

3 Hearken unto Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, That are borne [by Me] from the birth, That are carried from the womb:

4 Even to old age I am the same, And even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; Yea, I will carry, and will deliver.

5 To whom will ye liken Me, and make Me equal, And compare Me, that we may be like?

6 Ye that lavish gold out of the bag, And weigh silver in the balance; Ye that hire a goldsmith, that he make it a god, To fall down thereto, yea, to worship.

7 He is borne upon the shoulder, he is carried, And set in his place, and he standeth, From his place he doth not remove; Yea, though one cry unto him, he cannot answer, Nor save him out of his trouble.

8 ¶ Remember this, and remain firm; recall it to mind, you sinners.

9 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me,

10 declaring from the beginning things to follow, and from ancient times things that have not yet happened, saying, My counsel will stand, and whatever I desire he will do;

11 calling a bird of prey from the east, and from a distant country a man with his purpose. Indeed, I have spoken, I will certainly bring it to pass; I planned it, I will certainly do it.

12 Listen to me, you bold-hearted, who are far from triumph:

13 my triumph is brought near, and it is not far off, and my deliverance, and it will not tarry. I will give deliverance in Zion, and to Israel my glory.

8 Remember this, and stand fast; Bring it to mind, O ye transgressors.

9 Remember the former things of old: That I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me;

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done; Saying: 'My counsel shall stand, And all My pleasure will I do';

1 1Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My counsel from a far country; Yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass, I have purposed, I will also do it.

12 Hearken unto Me, ye stout-hearted, That are far from righteousness:

13 I bring near My righteousness, it shall not be far off, And My salvation shall not tarry; And I will place salvation in Zion For Israel My glory.

Chapter 47

1 ¶ Come down and sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of the Chaldeans; for no more will they call you delicate and attractive.

2 Take the millstones and grind meal. Remove your veil, strip off your robes, uncover your leg, pass through the rivers.

3 Your nakedness will be uncovered, and your shame will also be seen. I will exact vindication, and no mortal will I spare.

4 Our Redeemer—the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

5 Sit silent, and enter into the darkness, daughter of the Chaldeans; for no more will they call you mistress of kingdoms.

6 I was angry with my people, and I profaned my heritage and gave them into your power. You showed them no mercy; upon the elderly you laid your yoke very heavily.

7 You said, "Always shall I be mistress forever." You did not take these things into your thinking nor were you mindful of their consequences.

1 Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, Sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans; For thou shalt no more be called Tender and delicate.

2 Take the millstones, and grind meal; Remove thy veil, Strip off the train, uncover the leg, Pass through the rivers.

3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, Yea, thy shame shall be seen; I will take vengeance, And will let no man intercede.

4 Our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name, The Holy One of Israel.

5 Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; For thou shalt no more be called The mistress of kingdoms.

6 I was wroth with My people, I profaned Mine inheritance, And gave them into thy hand; Thou didst show them no mercy; Upon the aged hast thou very heavily Laid thy yoke.

7 And thou saidst: 'For ever shall I be mistress'; So that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, Neither didst remember the end thereof.

8 ¶ Now hear this, voluptuous one, sitting securely enthroned, who says in her heart: "I am the one, and there will be none besides me; I will not live as a widow, nor will I see the loss of children."

9 Both these things will come upon you suddenly on a single day: childlessness and widowhood. They will come upon you in full, despite the multitude of your incantations and your very powerful spells.

10 You trusted in your knowledge. You said, "No one sees me"—but your wisdom and your knowledge have misled you. You said in your heart, "I am the one, and there will be none besides me"—

11 but evil will come upon you and you will not know how to charm it away; disaster will befall you of which you will not be able to rid yourself, and devastation will come upon you suddenly, and you will have no foreknowledge of it.

8 Now therefore hear this, thou that art given to pleasures, That sittest securely, That sayest in thy heart: 'I am, and there is none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, Neither shall I know the loss of children';

9 But these two things shall come to thee in a moment In one day, the loss of children, and widow-hood; In their full measure shall they come upon thee, For the multitude of thy sorceries, And the great abundance of thine enchantments.

10 And thou hast been secure in thy wickedness, Thou hast said: 'None seeth me'; Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, It hath perverted thee; And thou hast said in thy heart. 'I am, and there is none else beside me.'

11 Yet shall evil came upon thee; Thou shalt not know how to charm it away; And calamity shall fall upon thee; Thou shalt not be able to put it away; And ruin shall come upon thee suddenly, Before thou knowest.

12 ¶ But stand up now with your spells and with the multitude of your incantations, with which you have toiled from your youth until today

13 according to your multiple schemes. Let them stand up now and save you, those who conjure the heavens and gaze at the stars, predicting at the new moons what is about to happen to them.

14 See, they are like stubble that the fire burns. They did not deliver themselves from the power of the flame. This is no coal for warming oneself, no hearthfire to sit before.

15 So will those be to you, those with whom you have toiled, those with whom you have trafficked from your youth. They each wander on their far-off way; there is none to save you.

12 Stand now with thine enchantments, And with the multitude of thy sorceries, Wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; If so be thou shalt be able to profit, If so be thou mayest prevail.

13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels; Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, The monthly prognosticators, Stand up, and save thee From the things that shall come upon thee.

14 Behold, they shall be as stubble; The fire shall burn them; They shall not deliver themselves From the power of the flame; It shall not be a coal to warm at, Nor a fire to sit before.

15 Thus shall they be unto thee With whom thou hast laboured; They that have trafficked with thee from thy youth Shall wander every one to his quarter; There shall be none to save thee.

Chapter 48

48:1 ¶ Hear this, house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel and have come forth from the loins of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD and invoke the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness— 48:2 for they call themselves after the holy city, and rely upon the God of Israel; the LORD of hosts is his name: 48:3 I announced the former things long ago; it went forth out of my mouth, and I disclosed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.
1Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, Who are called by the name of Israel, And are come forth out of the fountain of Judah; Who swear by the name of the LORD, And make mention of the God of Israel, But not in truth, nor in righteousness. 2For they call themselves of the holy city, And stay themselves upon the God of Israel, The LORD of hosts is His name. 3I have declared the former things from of old; Yea, they went forth out of My mouth, and I announced them; Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.

48:4 ¶ Because of my knowledge that you are stubborn, that your neck is an iron sinew, and your forehead brass, 48:5 I had declared it to you long ago; before it happened I had announced it to you, lest you should say, "My idol did them; my carved or metal idol commanded them." 48:6 You had heard it. Observe all this; and yourselves, will you not declare it? From now on, I make new things known to you, hidden things which you have not known. 48:7 They are created now, not long ago. Before today you had not heard them, lest you should say, "Look, I knew them." 48:8 And neither had you heard, nor did you know, nor was your ear uncovered long ago. Indeed, I knew that you would act very deceitfully, and they would call you a rebel from the womb. 48:9 For my name's sake I delay my anger, and for my beginning I restrain it for you, so that I need not cut you off.
4Because I knew that thou art obstinate, And thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; 5Therefore I have declared it to thee from of old; Before it came to pass I announced it to thee; Lest thou shouldest say: 'Mine idol hath done them, And my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.' 6Thou hast heard, see, all this; And ye, will ye not declare it? I have announced unto thee new things from this time, Even hidden things, which thou hast not known. 7They are created now, and not from of old, And before this day thou heardest them not; Lest thou shouldest say: 'Behold, I knew them.' 8Yea, thou heardest not; Yea, thou knewest not; Yea, from of old thine ear was not opened; For I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, And wast called a transgressor from the womb. 9For My name's sake will I defer Mine anger, And for My praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.

48:10 ¶ Look, I have refined you, but not with silver; I have purified you in the furnace of affliction. 48:11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it; indeed, how can I be profaned? And my glory I will not give to another.
10Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver; I have tried thee in the furnace of affliction. 11For Mine own sake, for Mine own sake, will I do it; For how should it be profaned? And My glory will I not give to another.

48:12 ¶ Listen to these things, Jacob, and Israel whom I have called: I am he; I am the first, I am also the last. 48:13 Moreover, my hands laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens. I call to them, and they stand up at once. 48:14 Let all of them assemble and listen. Who is there among them that could declare these things? The LORD loves me, and he will accomplish my purpose against Babylon, its army the Chaldeans. 48:15 I myself have spoken; indeed, I have called and I have brought him, and his path will be successful. 48:16 Draw near to me, and hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret; at the time it came to be, I was there. And now the LORD God has sent me and his spirit.
12Hearken unto Me, O Jacob, And Israel My called: I am He; I am the first, I also am the last. 13Yea, My hand hath laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand hath spread out the heavens; When I call unto them, They stand up together. 14Assemble yourselves, all ye, and hear; Which among them hath declared these things? He whom the LORD loveth shall perform His pleasure on Babylon, And show His arm on the Chaldeans. 15I, even I, have spoken, yea, I have called him; I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous. 16Come ye near unto Me, hear ye this: From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; From the time that it was, there am I; And now the Lord GOD hath sent me, and His spirit.

48:17 ¶ Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you on the way by which you should go. 48:18 But would that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would be like a river, and your vindication like the waves of the sea. 48:19 Your descendants would be like the sand, and your offspring like the grains of sand. Their name would not be cut off or destroyed from before me.
17Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD thy God, Who teacheth thee for thy profit, Who leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. 18Oh that thou wouldest hearken to My commandments! Then would thy peace be as a river, And thy righteousness as the waves of the sea; 19Thy seed also would be as the sand, And the offspring of thy body like the grains thereof; His name would not be cut off Nor destroyed from before Me. 20Go ye forth from Babylon, Flee ye from the Chaldeans; With a voice of singing Declare ye, tell this, Utter it even to the end of the earth; Say ye: 'The LORD hath redeemed His servant Jacob. 21And they thirsted not When He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; He cleaved the rock also, and the waters gushed out.' 22There is no peace, Saith the LORD concerning the wicked.

48:20 ¶ Go forth from Babylon; flee from the Chaldeans! With a festive shout declare, and announce this to the ends of the earth: "The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob." 48:21 They did not thirst when he led him through the desolate places. He made water flow from a rock for them; he split a rock, and water flowed forth.

48:22 ¶ And there is no peace, says the LORD, for the wicked.