NOTE: Is it poetry or isn’t it poetry? You will notice that most of the Chapters of Isaiah were written in the style of Hebrew poetry, so you will likely recognize a cadence to the words. Why poetry? Because it provided memory aids so the thoughts could be readily recalled to mind. Then the message could thereafter be spread throughout the population via the most common medium of communication at the time, song.
Chapter 1
1 These are the visions that IsaiJah (the son of Amoz) saw during the reigns of UzziJah, JoTham, Ahaz, and HezekiJah, the kings of Judea, about things that were to come upon Judea and Jerusalem.
2 Hear, O heavens and [pay attention] O earth, for Jehovah spoke and He said: ‘I fathered sons and I raised them, but they have disregarded Me. 3 The ox knows its owner and the burro knows the stable of its master, but Israel doesn’t know Me and My people don’t understand.’
4 Woe to you O sinful nation, for you’re a people who are filled up with sins. You’re an evil seed and lawless sons, for you have abandoned Jehovah, and provoked the Holy One of Israel to rage, so you’ve now been pushed to the rear!
5 Why be struck down for [your] lawlessness? The whole head is in misery and the whole heart is in distress. 6 From head to foot nothing is healthy, for your wounds and contusions are inflamed and unhealed, since no one has dressed them, applied oil, or bound them. 7 Your land lies desolate and your cities have been burned, for the [land] before you has been devoured… it’s been destroyed by strangers, and wiped away by alien peoples.
8 Like a shack in a vineyard the daughter of Zion will be abandoned… like a shed in a cucumber garden, and like a city under siege. 9 And unless Jehovah of Armies leaves us a seed, we will become like Sodom, and like [the City] of Gomorrah!
10 Hear the word of Jehovah, O you rulers of Sodom! Pay attention to the Law of our God, O people of Gomorrah! 11 ‘What good are all your sacrifices to Me?’ asks Jehovah. ‘I’m full of the whole burnt offerings of rams, as well as the fat of lambs, and I don’t want the blood of bulls or male goats, 12 nor do I want you appearing before Me! Who required such things from your hands? You won’t continue to tread in My courtyard!
13 ‘If you bring fine flour it’s in vain, and your incense is disgusting to Me. I can no longer endure your New Moons, nor your holidays or Sabbaths. 14 With My whole being I’ve come to detest, your fasting, Sabbath keeping, New Moons, and holidays. With you I am filled [to the brim], and will no longer [overlook] all your sins. 15 So, I’ll turn My eyes when you hold out your hands, and no matter how often you pray I won’t listen, because your hands are filled up with blood!
16 ‘Bathe yourselves and become clean! Remove the wickedness in your lives from My eyes! Stop being wicked; 17 learn to do good things; require [judgments that are] just; rescue those who’ve been wronged; ;ecide for the orphan and do justice for the widow, 18 and then come [before Me] and plead,’ says Jehovah. ‘Then if your sins are as red as crimson, [I’ll make them] as white as snow. And even if they are like scarlet, I’ll make them as white as fine wool.
19 ‘If you will but listen to Me, and then find yourselves in great need, good things from the earth you will eat. 20 But if you don’t listen and are never in need, I’ll send a sword to consume you.’
[Jehovah actually] said these things.
21 How did the trustworthy City of Zion, become a whore so worthy of judgment? Where justice once slept there are murderers. 22 Your silver is tainted and your merchants mix water in their wine. 23 Your rulers resist all persuasion, and they are all partners with thieves. They’re lovers of bribes and of [gifts]; no one will stand up for orphans; and none pay attention to justice for widows!
24 ‘Because of this,’ says the Lord Jehovah of Armies, ‘Woe to you mighty ones of Israel, for My rage won’t cease against the contrary, and I’ll execute judgment against My enemies! 25 I’ll bring My hand against you, and purify you til you’re clean! I’ll destroy all those resisting persuasion; I’ll remove all the lawless from among you; 26 and I will cut down the proud. Then I’ll give you judges like those in the past, and your counselors will be like those at the start, so the City of Righteousness you will be called… the trustworthy mother-city of Zion.
27 ‘Through justice and mercy she’ll be saved from [enslavement], 28 when the lawless and sinners are broken, and those leaving Jehovah are totally gone. 29 Then all will be ashamed of the idols they preferred, and of the [sacred] gardens they desired. 30 Or else they’ll become like like pine trees shedding needles, and like parks without any water. 31 Their strength [will be as weak] as the stubble of hemp, and the things that they do will be like the sparks, that incinerate the lawless and the sinners all together, for no one will come to put them out.
Chapter 2
1 These are the words that came to IsaiJah (the son of Amoz) regarding Judea and Jerusalem.
2 In the last days, the Mountain of Jehovah will be seen, and the House of God will be above all the mountains. It will be raised high above all the hills, and all the nations will come there. 3 Many nations will go there and say, ‘Come, let’s climb the mountain of Jehovah, and go to the [Temple] of Jacob’s God. For, there He will show us His way, and that’s the way we will go.’
From out of Zion will come Law, and from Jerusalem will come the Word of Jehovah. 4 He’ll judge in the midst of the nations, and He will correct many peoples. Then they’ll cut their swords into plows, and their spears into sickles; then nations won’t lift their swords against nations, nor will they learn war anymore.
5 Now, O house of Jacob, come and let’s go to the light of Jehovah, 6 for He has forsaken His people (the house of Jacob), because; just as it was in the beginning, their [land] has become filled up with takers, and to them Philistine children have been born. 7 They have filled up their [land] with silver and gold, and there’s no limit to all of their wealth.
They’ve filled the land up with horses, and there’s no limit to the number of their chariots. 8 They’ve filled the land with disgusting works of their hands; they bow before things that they made with their fingers… 9 then all the people bow down, bringing disgrace to each man. So there’s no way that I will spare them!
10 Now, go to the rocks and hide in the ground, in fear of Jehovah and the glory of His might, for He will arise to devastate the land! 11 For the eyes of Jehovah are very high, but the eyes of men are very low; so men will soon become low, and Jehovah will be then be raised high in that day. 12 For, the day of Jehovah of Armies is coming, upon the insulting and proud, and all of those who are high and important, will then be brought [to the ground]. 13 Then every tall cedar of Lebanon, every oak tree out of Bashan, 14 every high mountain and every high hill, 15 every high tower and every high wall, 16 every boat in the sea and the beauty of [their sails], 17 and every man will be made small. The pride of men will [fall] in that day, and Jehovah alone will be high.
18 When He arises to devastate the land, men will hide [idols] they’ve made with their hands; 19 they’ll hide them in caves, in cracks between rocks, and in burrows that are under the ground, before the fear of Jehovah, and before the glory of His might. 20 Then men will toss all their disgusting things – their worthless things made of silver and gold, which they made to bow down to – in front of the bats in their caves, and in the cracks between rocks, in fear of Jehovah and the glory of His might, when He arises to devastate the land.
Chapter 3
1 Stop being like men, who must breathe through their noses, for [what real value] do they have? Look at the Lord, Jehovah of Armies, for He’ll remove the men and the women, who now live in Jerusalem and Judea, along with the strength of [their] bread, as well as the strength of [their] water; 2 their giants, their strong, their soldiers, their judges; their prophets, their thinkers, their elders; 3 their generals, their finest counselors, their wisest builders; and the most discerning of their listeners.
4 Then Jehovah will appoint very young men, to be their rulers to mock them. 5 They will make all the people act like drunkards; the men will all be belligerent, and [each will rise] against his neighbor; young boys will attack those who are old, and those without honor will oppose the important. 6 Men will grab hold of their brothers, and families will go to their fathers and say, ‘You have clothes, so you be our leader… you provide us with food!’
7 But in that day they’ll reply, ‘I will not be your leader, for there’s no bread or clothes in my house. So, I won’t serve as a ruler of these people.’
8 Jerusalem has been forsaken and Judea debased! For, the tongues of their people speak against Jehovah, and speak instead of things that are lawless… they refuse to make any changes. 9 Their glory has now been debased; their faces show no sign of shame; and they publicly announce and admit, to sins that are as those of Sodom. So, woe to their lives, for they’ve accepted wicked council! 10 They say, ‘Come let’s [lock] up the righteous, because they’re inconvenient to us.’ So, they’ll eat the fruits of their works.
11 Woe to all of the lawless, for the evil deeds that were done their hands, will soon be brought down against them!
12 O my people, search for those who’ll make corrections among you, and those who would [appoint Jehovah] over them! O my people; those who say you are blest now mislead you, and they’re [clouding] the roads for your feet. 13 So, now you’re being judged by Jehovah, and against His people He now stands in judgment. 14 For, Jehovah Himself judges the elders, and the rulers of His people.
‘And you; why have you set My vineyard on fire? Why are the poor [now slaving] in your homes? 15 Why are you wronging My people, and disgracing the faces of the poor?’ asks Jehovah Lord of Armies!
16 This is what Jehovah has said: ‘Because the daughters of Zion are now haughty, and walk with their [noses] held high, then beckon with their eyes and walk tiny footsteps, dragging underwear and playing with them with their feet, 17 Jehovah will debase the daughters of Zion, and expose their condition in that day. 18 Jehovah will remove the glory of their clothes… their fringes, and crescents, 19 and the necklaces they wear; facial ornaments, 20 [headdresses], armlets, and bracelets; their wreaths, their rings, and right armbands; 21 their earrings, purple fringes, and purple decorations; 22 the cloths for their homes, their transparent coverings; 23 fine linens interwoven with blue and scarlet cloth, linen interwoven with gold and blue threads, and the lightweight coverings for their couches. 24 And instead of pleasant odors there’ll be just clouds of dust; instead of belts, they’ll tie ropes on their [waists]. And because of the things that they’ve done, instead of golden for their heads they’ll be bald. And instead of fine purple underclothes, they will have to wear sackcloth.
25 ‘Then the sons you love most will fall by the sword, and cut down and disgraced will be your most mighty. 26 You’ll mourn [the loss] of all your [prized possessions], and you’ll be left behind all alone, beaten down to the ground.’
Chapter 4
1 In that day, seven women will grab hold of a man, and then they will say, ‘We’ll [buy] our own bread and wear our own clothes, but let us be called by your name, in order to remove all our scorn!’
2 In that day; the glory of the council of God, will shine upon the whole earth, to elevate and to glorify, all in Israel who are left. 3 And the few who remain in Jerusalem and Zion, will then all be called holy… all those in Jerusalem [whose names] have been written for life. 4 For, Jehovah will wash away all the filth, from the sons and daughters of Zion, and from the midst of Jerusalem He’ll remove all the blood, with the spirit of judgment and the spirit of fire. 5 Then He’ll come and every place on Mount Zion, will be under the shadow of a cloud each day, and the light of a flaming, smoking fire by night, so all the glory will be under [His] shelter. 6 It’ll be a shade of protection from the heat, and a shelter from rain and bad weather.
Chapter 5
1 I’ll now sing [a song] to the One that I love… a song of my loved One concerning His vineyard.
A vineyard belonged to One who was loved… a horn of plenty
in a bountiful land.
2 I built around it a palisade and fence, then the choicest of grapevines I planted.
I built a tower in its midst, and then I dug out a winepress.
I waited for it to grow grapes, but all it produced was thornbushes.
3 And now, you who dwell in Jerusalem;
men of Judah
now judge between Me and My vineyard!
4 What can I do for My vineyard, that hasn’t been
already done?
I waited for it to grow grapes, but all it produced was thornbushes.
5 So, I’ll tell you what I’ll do to My vineyard:
I’ll take down its gate and allow it to be ravaged. I’ll
demolish its wall and let it be trampled.
6 I’ll abandon My vineyard and it will not be pruned, nor
will it ever be hoed.
It’ll return [to the way that it was], the uncultivated land of the thornbush.
Then I’ll give an order to the clouds, not to provide it any more rain.
7 The house of Israel
is the vineyard of Jehovah of Armies, and the men of Judah
are the loved ones He planted.
I waited for it to produce what was just, but all it produced was lawlessness…
not a tower of justice, just a cry.
8 So, woe to those who gather in a house, and those in the fields
roundabout.
For, when all your neighbors are taken away, will you not live alone in the
land, 9 when Jehovah of Armies hears of these things?
For, if there should be many houses, there’ll also be great
desolation, and no one will live there again.
10 And though ten ox teams may work the land, it’ll only produce one clay-pot
full.
And though six large measures are planted, only three measures will be
produced.
11 Woe to those who get up early in the morning, to spend
their day chasing liquor, and then stay up late [to drink] it, for they will
burn along with their wine.
12 They drink to [the sounds] of the harp and the lute, along with tambourines
and pipes, and they fail to consider the works of Jehovah… the works of His
hands they fail to contemplate.
13 So, captives My people have become, because they
knew not Jehovah.
Many have died of hunger and thirst,
14 so the place of the dead has widened its soul, and opened its mouth wide to continuously devour.
So, the glorious will go down with the great and the rich, and all who hold her
in high regard.
15 A people are cut down and men will be dishonored, and those who [walked
proud] will be abased.
16 But Jehovah of Armies will be raised high in judgment,
and our holy God will be glorified in justice.
17 Then those who rip apart will graze like bulls, and those who take all from
a desolate land, will thereafter eat all their lambs.
18 So, woe to those who draw sins as with a rope,
and lawlessness as a yoke that is strapped to a cow.
19 Those who say, ‘Let Him come do whatever… do it
quickly so we can see it.
Let the will of the Holy One of Israel come to pass, so we can all know what it
is!’
20 Woe to those calling evil things good, and those who call
good things evil;
Those who turn darkness into light, and light back into darkness;
Those who make bitterness sweet, and turn the sweet into bitter.
21 Woe to those who think themselves wise,
and think that they’ve gained much knowledge.
22 Woe to your strong ones, the ones drinking wine, and all the mighty, those
mixing their liquor;
23 Those who give the judgments to the irreverent,
because they’ve received bribes, and have taken away justice from the
righteous.
24 Because of this, they’ll be burned up like stubble; like
coals of fire, leaping flames will consume them.
Their roots will then be like dust, and their flowers will ascend like dust
clouds.
For, they didn’t want the Laws of Jehovah of Armies…
they provoked the sayings of the Holy One of Israel.
25 So, Jehovah of Armies is enraged with His people. He
raised His hand and He struck them.
The mountains were angered [by the smell] of rotting flesh, and they became as
manure in the midst of the road.
Yet, even this didn’t [soften] His rage, or still his [arm] that was raised.
26 So, He’ll raise a sign to far away nations; He’ll whistle
to them from the ends of the earth, and they’ll take quick notice and nimbly
they’ll come.
27 They won’t get hungry or tired, nor will they slumber or sleep.
They’ll not untie their belts from their waists, nor will they loosen the
straps on their sandals.
28 With their bows stretched tight and arrows that are
sharp; with the feet of their horses like solid rocks, and the wheels of their
chariots like blasts;
29 They’ll advance like lions, with their cubs alongside, and grab and yell
like wild beasts; then throw them out and no one will save them.
30 Because of them, He’ll yell in that day, like the sound
of the roar of the sea.
Then they’ll look up to the heavens above, and [to the ground] that’s beneath
them, and all they will see is hard darkness, in their [great time] of
perplexity.
Chapter 6
1 It was during the year that King UzziJah died, that I saw Jehovah sitting on a high, lofty throne, and the [Temple] was filled with His glory. 2 Seraphim stood all around Him, each of whom had six wings that touched the wings of those next to them. With their first two wings they covered their fronts; with the second two they covered their feet; and with the third two they flew. 3 They were shouting to each other and saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!’
4 Well, the threshold of the [Temple shook] at the sound of their shouting, and the [Temple] became filled up with smoke. 5 And I said, ‘O, I’m so unworthy and hurt by this, because I’m just an unclean man who lives among people with unclean lips. For, I have beheld the King, Jehovah of Armies, and I’ve seen Him with my own eyes!’
6 Then one of the seraphim was sent to me, and in his hand he carried a [burning] coal that he took from the Altar with tongs. 7 Then he touched it to my mouth and said, ‘{Look!} This has touched your lips and it will remove all your lawless deeds, and purge from you all your sins.’
8 Then I heard the voice of Jehovah ask, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go to these people?’
And I replied, ‘Look! Here I am, send me!’
9 Then He said, ‘Go and say to these people, When it comes to hearing you will hear, but you’ll be unable to comprehend. And when it comes to seeing you will see, but there’s no way that you will understand! 10 For, the hearts of these people have become hardened, so their ears listen sluggishly and their eyelids are closed; they won’t hear with their ears or see with their eyes, and their hearts just won’t comprehend, to make them turn back so I’d heal them.’
11 And I asked, ‘Until when, O Jehovah?’
And He said; ‘Until all the cities lie desolate, and no one lives there anymore; until no men are left in the houses, and the land is totally deserted. 12 Then God will distance Himself from men, as those remaining in the land multiply. 13 And only a tenth will remain, for like a pine tree they’ve been [cut down]. Yet, like an acorn that falls from its shell, the holy seed will remain in the stump.’
Chapter 7
1 It was in the days of Ahaz (the son of JoTham, the son of UzziJah) the king of Judah, that Rezin (the king of Aram) and Pekah (the son of RemaliJah) the king of Israel came to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but they were unable to conquer it. 2 So when the house of David was told that Aram had joined forces with Ephraim, they were shaken, and the souls of the people were shaken like a forest of trees in a windstorm.
3 Then Jehovah told IsaiJah, ‘You and the one you left behind (your son JaSub) must go to meet [King] Ahaz at the upper pool of the washer women. 4 Tell him, ‘Be careful not to do anything and don’t be afraid, nor should those two smoking firebrand trees make you feel week. For, when I [send] the anger of My rage, you will once again be [saved].
5 ‘And as for the sons of Aram and RemaliJah, because they wickedly met together and said, 6 We will go up to Judea and together we’ll fight against them and make them our subjects, and set the son of TabeAl over them as their ruler, 7 this is what Jehovah of Armies has said: There’s no way that this plan will succeed… it just won’t happen. 8 But the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. And in sixty-five years the kingdom of Ephraim [will be destroyed] by these people. 9 For, the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of RemaliJah. But if you don’t trust [Me] you won’t understand.’
10 Then Jehovah [sent a message to] to Ahaz, saying, 11 ‘Ask for a sign from Jehovah your God, either from the depths or from the heights.’
12 And Ahaz replied, ‘There’s no way that I’ll ask or put Jehovah to the test.’
13 Then he said, ‘Listen O house of David! If it’s too small a thing for you to supply men for a war, how can you fight a war for Jehovah? 14 Because of this, Jehovah Himself is going to give you a sign!’
‘Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you are to call his name EnManuEl. 15 He will eat butter and honey before he knows, whether he prefers to be wicked or chooses to do good. 16 For, before the boy knows good or evil, by resisting the persuasion of wickedness, he will choose to do good.
‘Then the land of two kings that you once were afraid of, will be totally abandoned! 17 And God will bring upon you and your people, as well as the house of your father, days that haven’t yet come since the time, that Ephraim was removed from Judah by the king of Assyria.
18 ‘In that day Jehovah will whistle, for the flies that dominate the river of Egypt, and bees will come down from Assyria. 19 They will come and settle in the ravines; in burrows in the rocks and in caves; and in every hole and in trees. 20 In that that day; Jehovah will use the king of Assyria, who’ll take a razor and shave all you drunks, [who live] on the other side of the river. He’ll shave your heads and the hair on your feet, and then he’ll cut off your beards.
21 ‘But in that day each man who remains, will have a cow and two sheep. 22 So there will be plenty of milk for those who are left, and [plenty of] butter and honey to eat. 23 And in that day; wherever there’s a thousand grapevines worth a thousand silver coins, thornbushes will grow; there’ll be no cultivation.
24 ‘With bows and arrows they will [hunt] there, for the land will be wild and covered with thornbushes. 25 Then every mountain that can be plowed will be plowed; there won’t be anymore fear; and the uncultivated land of thornbushes, will become a pasture for sheep, and a land to be trampled on by oxen.’
Chapter 8
1 And Jehovah said to me, ‘Go get a large new roll of papyrus, and write upon it with the pen of a man, about the swift plundering of loot… for it is now at hand! 2 And appoint [these two] trustworthy men as My witnesses: UriJah the Priest, and ZechariJah the son of BarachiJah.’
3 And thereafter, I [had sex] with Prophetess, and she got pregnant and gave birth to a son. Then Jehovah said to me, ‘Call his name Quick Gloom, Swift Looting, 4 because, before the child knows how to call his father or mother, someone will carry off the power of Damascus, and the spoils of Samaria to the king of Assyria.’
5 Then Jehovah spoke to me again and said, 6 ‘Because these people don’t want to go to the water, [of the Pool] of Siloam in peace, but want Rezin and the son of RemaliJah as their king, {Look!} Jehovah is bringing against them the waters, of a huge and powerful river… the king of Assyria and his glory. 7 He will come to your valleys, and walk right up to your walls. 8 Then he will remove every man from Judea, who can raise his head or do anything. O EnManuEl; His camp will fill up your [land]!’
9 Know this, O nations, and then be nailed shut! [All] should pay attention to the ends of the earth! Being strong and then be nailed shut! And if you once again grow strong, you will be nailed shut once more. 10 And no matter to whom you go to get your ideas, Jehovah will wipe it away. And no matter what you say you will do, it won’t be accomplished for God is [against] us!
11 This is what Jehovah said with [His strong hand]: ‘These people resist [My] persuasion, about the ways they should go, saying; 12 The things that You are saying are just too hard [to do]! Yet, whatever they say is too hard to do, is nothing to be disturbing or feared. 13 Just hold Jehovah of Armies as holy, and then He’ll be their fear! 14 Just yield to Him and He’ll be your Holy Place… no stone will then make you stumble, nor will any rock make you fall!
‘Yet, the houses of Jacob are [now] in the trap, of those lying in wait in the hollows of Jerusalem. 15 So, many among them are weak, and they’re going to fall and be broken. They will approach and carry off men; those who once lived in safety!
16 ‘Then it will be easy to tell which were sealed, from those choosing to not learn the Law. 17 For one will say, I’ll wait upon the God, who from the house of Jacob turned His face, and all my trust I’ll put in Him;18 {Look!} I and the children God gave me; for even they will serve as miracles and signs, in the house of Israel by Jehovah of Armies, who dwells upon Mount Zion.
19 ‘And if at that time they should tell you, to go and seek those who give signs; those who speak from the ground, or those who speak empty words from the belly, {ask]: Shouldn’t a nation be inquiring of their God?’
‘Why do they ask the dead about the living? 20 Why, He gave us the Law as our helper, so we wouldn’t be saying things like this, about things from which there’s no benefit. 21 So, a great famine will come upon you. Then when you’re hungry and worried, and speaking wickedly of ancestors and rulers, you will look up to the heavens above, 22 and look down on the earth underneath you, and all you’ll see is darkness, distress, and hard times. And it’s a darkness that will last for a long time.
Chapter 9
1 Drink this first and fast… act quickly, O lands of Zebulun and Naphtali; you coasts and the other side of the Jordan – Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who were traveling in darkness, then saw a [very] bright light. Light will shine upon those, who are living in the place of the shadow of death!
3 You’ve led the majority of the people into gladness, and they will be as happy before You, as those who take joy in a harvest, and like those dividing up loot; 4 because the yoke that they wore is removed, as was the whip that [they felt] on their necks. For, He’s destroyed the [whip] of those who used it, as in the day that [He fought] against Midian. 5 And they’ll have to pay for every piece of clothing, that they received through treachery, for they will want all their clothes back, even if they were scorched.
6 To us child has been born, and a son was given to us, upon whose shoulders the kingship will come. As his name he’ll be called ‘Messenger of the Great Decree; the wonderful Councilor and Mighty God; the Great Power and Prince of Peace; and the Father of the Coming Age.’ Then upon this prince I’ll bring peace and health. 7 His rule from the throne of David will be great, and there’ll be no end to his peace. His kingdom will be established upon judgments and justice, both now and into the age, for the zeal of Jehovah of Armies will do this.
8 But Jehovah sent death to Israel and Jacob. 9 And all the people of Ephraim (those with haughty and insolent hearts), who settled in Samaria will know this. And they’ll say, 10 ‘All the bricks have now fallen, so come and let us shape stones; then we’ll cut down some cedars and sycamore trees, and build for ourselves a tower.’
11 But God will knock down all those, who are coming against Zion and against Him. He’ll wipe away all of His enemies.… 12 the Syrians from the dawn of the sun, to the Greeks from the place where it sets.… those devouring Israel with their whole mouths. And none of this will end His rage, for His hand will still be held high.
13 For His people would not turn back, until [the day] they were struck… they didn’t seek Jehovah of Armies. 14 So, Jehovah removed the head and the tail… the great and the small from Israel in a day. 15 The elders and the highly regarded are the head, and the prophets who teach lawless things are the tail.
16 There are those who will call these people blest, but they’re misleading them to swallow them down. 17 And because of this, Jehovah won’t show favor upon their young men, nor will He show mercy on their widows or orphans, because they’re all lawless and wicked, and every mouth is unrighteous. Yet, none of these things will turn back His rage, for His hand will still be raised high.
18 Then lawlessness will be burned as in fire… it’ll be devoured like flames through dry grass… it’ll be burned like thickets in the woods, and devoured like things in the hills. 19 And because of the rage and the anger of Jehovah, the entire land will be burned, and its people will be like those who were burned in a fire, for a man won’t show mercy on his brother.
20 Then he’ll look at his right hand in hunger, and he will eat his left [arm]. But eating the flesh of his arm will not fill him. 21 Then Manasseh will eat Ephraim and Ephraim Manasseh, and together they’ll then assault Judah. Yet, none of these things will turn back His rage, for His hand will still be held high.
Chapter 10
1 Woe to those who write wicked [laws], for the reasons they are written are all wicked… 2 to turn equity from the poor, and to snatch away justice from the needy of My people. So, they’re ravaging widows and plundering orphans.
3 What will they do in the day of inspection? For, the difficult time will come from a distance; then where will you run to for help, and where will you leave all your glory? 4 Where will you leave all your glory, 4 so you’re not forced to be slaves? For you’ll fall under those who are being destroyed! Yet, even this won’t turn back His anger, for His hand will still be held high.
5 Woe to Assyria… the rod of My rage… those who hold My anger in their hands. 6 For, I’ll send My anger against a nation that is lawless, and give orders to My people to plunder and loot them, then trample their cities and turn them to dust.
7 But [they] didn’t think about this, and the men that they are did not consider. [Their king] has dismissed from his mind, how He has destroyed many nations. 8 And if they should say, ‘You alone are the ruler,’ 9 he will ask; ‘Have I not taken all the land above Babylon, and Calneh where the tower was built? Have I not taken Arabia, as well as Damascus and Samaria? 10 And in the same way that I’ve taken all of these, I’ll take all the other kingdoms! So, shriek O carvings in Jerusalem, 11 for the same as I did to hand-made idols in Samaria, I’ll do to Jerusalem and her idols!’
12 But after Jehovah completes all these things, that He’ll do to Mount Zion and Jerusalem, His mind will be determined to attack, the ruler of Assyria and the haughtiness of the glory of his eyes. 13 For he said, ‘I will act in a strong way. And in My wisdom and understanding, I will remove the boundaries of nations, and bring an end to their power. 14 I’ll shake the cities where they live, and grab all living there like a nest in My hands, and then I’ll deport the survivors. None will evade me or contradict me; they’ll just open their mouths and chirp.’
15 Would the axe have any glory without someone to swing it? Would the saw have value without someone to draw it; and can a wooden rod lift itself? 16 So, in place of your honor dishonor will be sent, by Jehovah of Armies, and He’ll send you fire for your glory, then it will be consumed by the flames, 17 and this fire will then serve as Israel’s light. He’ll make her holy by burning her in fire, and eat her like grass in the woods in that day. 18 The mountains, hills, and forests, it will devour, and will eat the life from the flesh. Then those who flee will be running from flames, 19 and there’ll be just a few left behind; in fact, a small child could record their numbers.
20 In that day those remaining in Jerusalem, will no longer just go along. Those of Jacob who were saved, will no longer yield to those who have wronged them. Rather; they will be yielding to God, and to the truth of the Holy One of Israel. 21 Then strength will return to those of Jacob who remain… those who have put their trust in their God; 22 and the people of Israel will become as the sands of the sea, from the small number of them that remained.
23 So, this matter is being completed in justice, for the One who brings exactness is Jehovah. And Jehovah of Armies will act, throughout the habitation [of man]. 24 And for this Jehovah of Armies has said, ‘Don’t fear the Assyrians O My people… all you who are dwelling in Zion. Though [Assyria] will strike you with a rod, and bring calamity as he [marches] toward Egypt, 25 in a short while My anger will end, and My rage will be turned toward their plans.’
26 Then Jehovah God of the Armies will rise against them, and bring calamity upon them, as He did against Midian in the Place of Oppression. And His rage [will be expressed] by the sea, as they travel toward Egypt. 27 His yoke of fear I’ll remove from your shoulders in that day, and the yoke will then be destroyed.
28 He will enter the City of AngAi; he will then pass by Megiddo, and lay down his weapons at MichMash. 29 He’ll [go through] the ravine and enter AngAi; fear will take hold of Rama, and the whole city of Saul will then flee. 30 At that time O daughter of GalLim, your voice will sound just like snorting. Be careful [O you] at Lachish, and AnaThoth must be very careful, 31 for MadMenah and those dwelling in Gebim will be startled. 32 They should all join together to survive, while [the Assyrian army] is on its way!
O daughter of Zion; gather in the mountains and on Jerusalem’s hills!
33 O Lord, Jehovah of Armies, see how Your strength puts the honored in disarray, and breaks the insolence of the haughty, in order to teach them humility! 34 For, the haughty will be cut down with swords, and Lebanon will fall along with the proud.
Chapter 11
1 From the root of Jesse a [shoot] will then sprout, and a flower will grow from his root. 2 The Breath of Jehovah will rest upon him… the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of strength and of purpose; the spirit of knowledge and reverence [for God]… 3 with the spirit of the fear of God he’ll be filled. He won’t judge men by their glory, nor will he scold them for the ways that they talk, 4 but he’ll judge the case of the lowly, and [give justice to] the lowly of the earth. He’ll strike the earth with the words from his mouth, and with the breath from his lips he’ll destroy the irreverent. 5 Justice will be tied round his waist, and his sides will be girdled with truth.
6 Then the wolf will be fed along with the lamb; the leopard will nap with the kid; bulls, calves, and lions together will graze, and a small child will be their leader. 7 The ox and the bear together will graze; together their young ones [will play], and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 On the burrows of asps a young child will play, and he’ll put his hands in the bed of young asps. 9 For, none will do any harm, and none will be destroyed on My holy mountain, for the land will be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah, as the seas are covered by water.
10 In that day there’ll be the root of Jesse – the one who’ll arise to rule the nations – and in him the nations will put all their hope; and upon him honor will rest. 11 In that day; God will show the zeal of His hands, on behalf of the few who remain; the remnant from Assyria and Egypt, and Babylonians, Ethiopians, and Elamites; those who come from the sunrise, and those who come from Arabia. 12 For He’ll hold up a sign to the nations.
Then He’ll gather those of Israel who were destroyed, and He’ll collect those of Judah who were scattered, from the four [corners] of the earth. 13 He’ll also remove Ephraim’s jealousy, and the enemies of Judah will be destroyed. Then Ephraim won’t be of jealous of Judah anymore, and Judah won’t be oppressive to Ephraim. 14 But [at that time] they’ll all join together, and fly against the boasts of the Philistines in the west. Those from the rising sun they will plunder, and they’ll grab hold of Edom and Moab. But the sons of Ammon are the first to obey them.
15 Then Jehovah will wipe out Egypt’s [Red] Sea, and He’ll send His hand against their [Nile] River. Against its seven ravines, He’ll send violent winds, so they can be walked on in sandals. 16 It will serve as a corridor for My people; all those who are still left behind, and for those who remain in Assyria. Then to Israel it will be like the day, when from the land of Egypt they [first] came.
Chapter 12
1 And in that day they will say, ‘O Jehovah I praise You, for though You were angry with me, Your rage has now turned away, and You’ve shown mercy upon me. 2 Look! My God and my Savior! I’ll do what He says and not be afraid, because Jehovah is my glory and praise, and He has become my salvation.’
3 Then water will be drawn from the springs of salvation, 4 and in that day you will say, ‘Sing in praise to Jehovah! Yell [in praise of] His Name! His honorable deeds announce to all nations! Mention that His Name’s been raised high! 5 Sing praises to the Name Jehovah, for all the great things that He’s done! Announce these things throughout the whole earth! 6 Shout aloud and be joyful, all who are living in Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is raised high in her midst!’
Chapter 13
1 This is the vision that IsaiJah (the son of Amoz) saw against Babylon.
2 Raise a sign on the crests of the mountains, and then shout aloud before it! Don’t be afraid; put your hands [to your mouths] and call out for aid!
Open up O you rulers, 3 for I’m giving the orders and I’m in the lead! Because giants are coming to fill up My rage. Together they’re coming in joy shouting insults.’
4 There’s a voice like the sound of many nations, that is [heard from] the mountains. It’s like the sound of many kings, and an assembly of many nations; for Jehovah of Armies has given orders, to a nation of warriors with weapons, 5 and they’re coming from a land far away… from the extremities of the foundations of the sky. It’s Jehovah and His warriors that are coming, to ruin the habitation of man.
6 Shriek, for the day of Jehovah is near, and destruction by God is soon coming! 7 Because of this all hands will go limp, and the lives of every man will be fearful. 8 All their elders will be disturbed, and they will have pains like women giving birth. So, they’ll have sympathy for each other, and from one to another they’ll be shocked… then their faces will be changed into flames! 9 For {Look!}, the day of Jehovah is coming. It’s a day of incurable rage… the anger to destroy man’s habitation, and wipe away all the sinners. 10 Then the stars in the sky (including Orion), and the arrangement of the heavens won’t shine. The rising sun will be dark, and the moon won’t give out its light.
11 I’ll give instructions to this evil world, and the sins of the irreverent I’ll destroy… I’ll destroy the insolence of the lawless, and I’ll abase the insolence of the proud. 12 Then those left behind will be rarer than gold ore… men will be rarer than the [gold] from Ophir. 13 For, the skies will then be enraged, and the foundations of the earth will be shaken, by the anger and rage of Jehovah of Armies, in that day when His wrath finally comes.
14 Then those who remain will flee like does, and like sheep they will stray. There’ll be no way that a man will return to his people, for men will flee from their homes. 15 Then, whoever is captured will be [killed], and those who’re collected will fall by the sword. 16 Before them their children will be dashed to the ground; their homes will be ruined and all their women will be [raped].
17 {Look!} Against you I’m arousing the Medes… those who consider your silver as worthless, and have no need of your gold! 18 They’ll break the bows of your young men, and show no mercy on your children… their eyes will spare none of your children.
19 Then Babylon (the capital of the king of the Chaldeans), will be wiped out by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. 20 No one will live there through the age, nor will anyone go there for many generations. Arabs won’t go there and shepherds won’t rest there. 21 Wild animals will rest there and fill the houses with their growling. It’ll become a home of demons who will dance there; 3 [scavenger birds] will then dwell there, and hedgehogs will build nests in their homes.
Chapter 14
1 This will happen quickly (it won’t take any time), and the days will not drag on. But Jehovah will show mercy on Jacob (Israel will still be His chosen), and they will rest in their land. Then to them foreigners will be added… to the house of Jacob they’ll be added. 2 They will take the nations among them; they’ll bring them to their place and inherit them. Then, there within the land of God, male and female servants will be multiplied, and those who once captured them will serve as their captives… they’ll dominate those who once ruled them.
3 And in that day Jehovah will provide rest, from your grief and your rage, and the hard slavery in which you once slaved. 4 Then against the king of Babylon you’ll take up this wail, and you will say in that day, ‘O how much rest [we now have], from he who required so much; and how much rest [we now have from] our masters, 5 for Jehovah has broken the yoke of the sinners, as well as the yoke of their rulers. 6 He struck a nation in [His] rage, [and brought] an incurable calamity… He spared none and wasn’t persuaded to desist, 7 so now the whole earth is shouting in joy! 8 The trees of Lebanon are joyful and say, From the time that you were laid low, no one has come here to cut us!
9 ‘From below, the grave was bitter when it met you, for all the giants who rule the whole earth, have now been gathered against you. The kings of the nations will arise from their thrones, 10 and they will then say to you, Have you also been captured as we were; and are you now considered one of us? 11 Your glory and joy have gone down to their graves, and beneath you they’ll make a bed of decay, where you will be covered with maggots.’
12 ‘O how the bright one has fallen from the sky; the one that arises at dawn, for you who [once conquered] all nations, have now been broken to the ground (Note: This text could also be rendered: ‘O how you have fallen from the sky; Shriek, O one that arises at dawn, for you who [once conquered] all nations, have now been broken to the ground’). 13 For you once said in your heart, I will ascend to the sky, and put my throne [high] above all the stars. I will sit upon a high mountain… on the highest mountains to the north. 14 I will be higher than the clouds, and like the Most High I’ll become.
15 ‘But now you’ll go down to the grave, and into the foundations of the earth. 16 And those who see you will wonder and say, Is this the man who provoked the whole earth… is he the one who shook kings… 17 the one who desolated the habitation of man… he who demolished its cities, and he who set no slaves free?’
18 Though all kings of the nations sleep in honor, and every man in his own house, 19 you’ll be tossed in the mountains like the dead. You’ll be abhorred like others stabbed with swords, who went to the place of the dead. 20 Like clothes that are befouled with blood, you will never be pure, nor ever again become clean, for you destroyed My land and killed all My people. So, there’s no way you’ll last through ages of time, O you seed that’s so evil.
21 Prepare your children to be killed, over the sins of their fathers, so they won’t rise and inherit the land, and fill the whole earth up with wars! 22 ‘For, I will rise up against them,’ says Jehovah of Armies, ‘and I’ll destroy their names, their remains, and their seed.’
Then Jehovah said; 23 ‘I will desolate the area around Babylon, and make it a place where hedgehogs will dwell. It will then become nothing… I’ll turn it into a pit of destruction.’
24 Then Jehovah of Armies said, ‘This is how it will happen, and the way it will be, for this is what I have decided: [Babylon] will remain 25 to destroy the Assyrians, from My land and My [Holy] Mountain. But they will be trampled and their yoke will be removed, as their dignity will be removed from their shoulders.’
26 This is the plan that Jehovah laid out, for the whole habitation of man, and this is His high hand over all of the nations. 27 For, who can erase the plans of the Most Holy, and who can turn His hand when it is held high?
28 In the year that King Ahaz died, these words came [to IsaiJah]:
29 May none of the Philistines be glad, because He broke the yoke of those striking them. For, from the snake’s seed young asps will come forth, and these young will become flying snakes.
30 He will feed all the poor, and peace will rest on the poor men. He will do away with hunger for your seed, and [the Philistines] who remain will be gone.
31 So, shriek O you city gates, and cry aloud O you cities, for all the Philistines are being disturbed! Smoke is coming from the north, and no one is left there [alive], so what answer can the kings of the nations supply? It is Jehovah who laid a foundation in Zion, and through Him many peoples will be saved!
Chapter 15
1 This is the word against Moab.
Moab’s land will be destroyed in the night, for by night its walls will be destroyed. 2 Fear for them for even Dibon, the place of your altars will be destroyed, and you’ll ascend there to weep.
Let out a shriek upon Nebo, there within the land of Moab, for every head there will be shaved, and all the arms will wear manacles. 3 [People] will wear sackcloth in their squares; under her roofs they will mourn; and there will be shrieks and crying, in her squares and her streets!
4 There’ll be shouting in Heshbon and EliAleh, and the sound will be heard in Jahaz. For the loins of the land of Moab will cry out, and in her soul she will know.
5 In the heart of Moab there’ll also be shouting, all the way up to ZoAr; for [like] a three-year-old heifer [they’re being led to the slaughter]. On the ascent to Luhith there’ll be weeping, and on the road to Horonaim she yells, ‘There is defeat and trembling!’
6 At Nimrim the water will be gone; her crops will fail and there’ll be no green grass, 7 so how can it be her salvation? For, I’ll bring the Arabians to her valleys, and then they all will be captured.
8 There will be screaming and shrieking, throughout the land of Moab to EglaIm, and there will be screams to the well of ElIm. 9 For, the waters of Dimon will become filled with blood, because I’ll bring the Arabians against Dimon, and then they’ll remove the seed of Moab… AriEl and all who remain in Adama.
Chapter 16
1 Then as the lord of the land, I will send a male lamb; for, is the mountain of the daughter of Zion bare rock? 2 And you will become like a bird, that’s flies all around once her young have been taken, O you daughter of Moab! And, O Arnon, sit down and discuss it, 3 then prepare for continuous mourning. For in darkness at noon they’ll be startled and flee. But do not start celebrating, 4 because the exiles of Moab will travel with you, and they will be your protection, from the faces of those who pursue you. For, your alliance in war will be lifted away, and your ruler will perish and be trampled to the ground.
5 Then from a throne of mercy all will be made right, for someone from the tent of David will sit on it, who will judge and inquire in rightness and truth, and then he will bring swift justice.
6 We have heard the insults of Moab, and they’ve been very insulting. [We have noticed] his pride, his insults, and rage… but what is the [reason why they’ve done] this? 7 So Moab will shriek… throughout the land there’ll be screaming. But you’ll remember those dwelling in Seth, and then you won’t be ashamed.
8 In the plains of Heshbon they will mourn, over the grapevines of Sibmah; for the nations will swallow them down, and they’ll trample her grapevines up to Jazer. And there’s no way that you’ll be brought together, for you will all wander in the desert! For those whom she sent are abandoned, and they have crossed over the sea. 9 And for this I will weep like those of Jazer, who are weeping for the grapevines of Sibmah.
‘O Heshbon and EliAleh, your trees are cut down, for I’ll trample your harvest and the gathering of your crops, and so they will all fail! 10 Then no longer will there be happiness and leaping in your vineyards, for the reasons to be glad will be gone. No one will tread wine in the wine vats, for the [growing of grapes] will have ceased. 11 So, for Moab my belly will play like a harp, and the things within Me like a new wall.
12 ‘This will cause you all to feel shame, for I’m tired of the shrines of Moab, [the places] where she went pray, in front of things that she’d made with her hands. And now there’s no way they can save her.
13 ‘This is what Jehovah spoke against Moab. 14 And then Jehovah spoke and He said, ‘In three years (in the length of employment of a servant), Moab will meet her dishonor; all her wealth [will be gone]; with only a few peasants left behind.’
Chapter 17
1 This is the word against Damascus.
{Look!} Damascus will be lifted from among all the cities, for it will [soon] meet its downfall. 2 It’ll remain through the ages as a bed… a resting place and safe haven for flocks. 3 It will no longer be a fortified place (a place where Ephraim finds refuge); there’ll no longer be a kingdom in Damascus, and no Syrians will remain there anymore.
‘But it will be better for you, than for Israel’s sons and their glory,’ says Jehovah of Armies. 4 ‘For, the glory of Jacob will end in that day, and his bountiful glory will be shaken. 5 It’ll be the same as as during a harvest, or when someone reaps grain… when someone gathers grain in a valley filled with rocks. 6 For, all that remains will be stubble; two or three olive pits on the tops of tall trees; when four or five young branches still remain.’
This is what [Jehovah] the God of Israel has said: 7 ‘In that day all men will have to rely, upon the One who has made them… their eyes should look to the Holy One of Israel. 8 They should not rely on their shrines, or on the things that they made with their hands. In that day they won’t look to the trees, or to their things so disgusting; 9 for your cities will all be abandoned in that day, as were those of the Amorites and Hivites, before the faces of Israel’s sons. They’ll become desolate places, 10 because you’ve forsaken the God who’s your savior… you have forgotten your God!
‘Because of this you’ll plant insecurely, and [you’ll plant] seeds you’re unsure of. 11 For you’ll be misled about the right day to plant. And if you should sow in the morning, the seeds will then rot in the harvest. So the fathers of men will then choose by lot, to which of their sons they will [feed] it.
12 ‘Woe to the multitudes of nations, for you will also be disturbed; you’ll be disturbed like a sea [in a storm], 13 which will carry many nations as by a raging flood. Then they’ll curse those who are far away, and pursue those at a distance from them. They’ll be like dust on the mountains, that is being [blown] in the wind, and like clouds of dust raised by wheels. 14 Toward evening there will be mourning, and before the dawn they’ll no longer be.’
This is the lot of those who despoil us. It’s the inheritance of those who’ve inherited us.
Chapter 18
1 Woe to you, O land of winged boats, beyond the rivers of Ethiopia; 2 those sending paper treaties and letters across water; for, to an elevated nation will go messengers of light… to a strange and ill tempered people. Who is [this far away nation]? It’s a nation by whom you wouldn’t wish to be trampled.
3 Now, from the rivers of that land will be places that are lived in… their place will become a signal flag, that is lifted [atop] a tall mountain, and like the signal of the blowing of trumpets. 4 Because, this is what Jehovah said to me: ‘My city will be protected from the noontime heat, as by clouds of dew before the harvest. 5 But when the flowers are in blossom, and when the young grapes will have formed, I’ll remove the grape clusters with a sickle, and cut the small branches from the vines, 6 and leave them behind for the birds of the skies, and the wild beasts of the earth. Then all the winged creatures of the skies, and all the wild beasts of the earth, will be gathered there to consume them.’
7 Then gifts will be offered to Jehovah of Armies, by a people who’ve been afflicted and plucked out… a people who’ve been great [through] the ages; a nation that’s been trampled down, but in whom there is still some hope. And they will [live] from the river of that [land], to the mountain of the Name of Jehovah of Armies.
Chapter 19
1 This is the vision against Egypt.
{Look!} Jehovah sits on a nimble cloud, and He’s coming to Egypt to shake their handmade idols, which now stand there in front of His face, and their hearts will then be pierced through. 2 For, Egyptians will [fight against] Egyptians, and all men will wage war against their brothers and neighbors. City will rise against city, and house [will rise] against house. 3 For, the spirit of the Egyptians will be disturbed among themselves, and I’ll wipe away all their plans. Then they’ll inquire of their gods and their statues, and their prophets and those who speak from the ground; 4 but I’ll give over the Egyptians to taskmasters, and appoint hard kings over them.
And Jehovah of Armies said this: 5 ‘Egyptians will drink water from the sea, because the river will fail and dry up. 6 Also, the other rivers and aqueducts will fail, and all their water will be dried. 7 Even the reed and papyrus marshes, and all the greenery around the rivers, and all the crops that are planted by the rivers, will be dried and [blown away] by the wind.
8 ‘Then all those who fish, all who cast hooks, all who use dragnets, and all who cast nets in the river, will [have good reason to] moan and mourn. 9 And those who shred flax, and those who weave linen, 10 will also be grieved and ashamed. Those who brew beer will be very concerned, and the lives of all will be pained.
11 ‘Then fools will be appointed their rulers, and as councilors to the king there in Tanes, and they’ll tell him things that are stupid. They will say to the king, We are the sons of wise men, and [we were born] the sons of kings. 12 So, where are they now, all your wise men? Let them come and have them tell you, what Jehovah of Armies has planned against Egypt.’
13 The rulers in Tanes have all failed, and the rulers in Memphis are now haughty, so they will cause Egypt and its tribes to wander. 14 Because, for them Jehovah has concocted, the spirit of an addiction to delusions, causing Egypt to wander in all that it does, like drunks who go outside to vomit together.
15 You won’t make head or tail of what Egypt does, or discern a beginning or an end. 16 For in that day; men of Egypt will all act like women… before the hand of Jehovah they’ll tremble in fear, and He will cause this to happen.
17 Then the Egyptians will fear the land of Judea, and they’ll fear those who call themselves Jews, for what Jehovah of Armies has planned against them.
18 In that day; in five cities of Egypt, they’ll speak the Canaanite tongue, and swear oaths in the Name of Jehovah of Armies; and the City of Asedek will then be renamed, ‘The City of the One [God].’
19 In that day; there’ll be an Altar to Jehovah in Egypt. There’ll also be a monument to Jehovah at their borders, 20 which will serve as a sign through the age, that to Jehovah Egypt belongs. Then they’ll call to Jehovah whenever there’s oppression, and He will send someone to save them; He’ll deliver them and bring them justice.
21 So, to the Egyptians Jehovah will be known… all Egypt will know Jehovah in that day. To Him they’ll offer sacrifices and gifts, and make vows to Jehovah and pay them. 22 For, after Jehovah brings calamity on Egypt, He will heal them and they’ll turn to Jehovah… He’ll listen to them and He’ll heal them.
23 In that day there’ll be a road between Assyria and Egypt, where the Assyrians will travel to Egypt, and the Egyptians will travel to Assyria; and the Assyrians will serve the Egyptians.
24 In that day Israel will be third, among the Egyptians and Assyrians, when it comes to their land being praised. 25 For, the praise of Jehovah of Armies says, ‘Praise My people in Egypt, as well as those in Assyria, and those in My inheritance, Israel.’
Chapter 20
1 In the year that Tartan entered Ashdod (when he was sent by Sargon the king of the Assyrians, and waged a war against Ashdod and took it), 2 Jehovah spoke to IsaiJah (the son of Amoz) and said, ‘Go remove the sackcloth from your loins, and untie the sandals from your feet.’ And he did so, walking naked and barefoot!
3 And Jehovah said, ‘In the same way that My servant IsaiJah, is [now walking] naked and barefoot, such signs and miracles will be sent for three years, to the Egyptians and Ethiopians. 4 So the king of Assyria will lead you as captives (the men young men and old of Ethiopia and Egypt), naked and barefoot, to uncover all the shame of Egypt.
5 ‘The Ethiopians who rely on the Egyptians, will then be shamed and vanquished, for their [only] glory was [Egypt]. 6 And then they’ll say to those in the islands: {Look!} We thought we could run to them for our aid, but from the King of Assyria they were unable to save us, so how can we now be saved?’
Chapter 21
1 The Desert Vision.
As a blast [of air] may go through the desert, from out of a desert land, 2 a frightening and hard vision came to me, concerning those who ignore and disregard, and those who act lawlessly in their lawlessness. The [Medes] and the Persians had come against me, so I started to moan and to comfort myself. 3 For because of this my loins became feeble, and I was filled as someone with birth pains. Then unrighteously I didn’t want to hear it, and I rushed away not to see it. 4 In my heart I wandered away; in lawlessness I was immersed, and my life was wrapped up in fear.
5 Prepare the table to eat and to drink! Awaken the rulers and pull out the shields, 6 for this is what Jehovah said to me: ‘Go stand as a watchman and announce what you see!’
7 Then I beheld two riders, one on a burro and the other on a camel.
8 [And I was told]: ‘Listen! Call to UriJah from the watch tower of Jehovah!’
And he said, ‘I stood there all day, and I watched the camp through the night. 9 {Look!} Here comes someone who’s riding a double chariot; he’s shouting that Babylon has fallen, along with all of her idols… and all of her idols have been broken to the ground!’
10 So hear this, all you who remain, and those of you who are grieving! Hear what I heard from Jehovah of Armies, for it’s what the God of Israel is announcing to you!
11 The vision of Edom.
He called to me from Seir and He said, ‘Stand guard upon the [city] walls! 12 Stand guard from morning ‘til night! Keep close watch with Me and you’ll live! 13 Then in the evening you must bed down, in the woods along the road that is leading to Dedan, 14 and bring some water for the thirsty you’ll meet… those who live in the place called Tema! [Also bring] bread loaves for all who are fleeing, 15 because of all those being slaughtered… because of all who are wandering… because of all those carrying swords… because of all those with stretched bows… and because of all who’ve fallen in battle!’
16 Then Jehovah said this: ‘In a year (as the year of someone who’s hired), the glory of Kedar will be gone, 17 and few great bowmen of Kedar will remain, for Jehovah the God of Israel has spoken.’
Chapter 22
1 The matter of the valley of Zion.
What’s happened to you that you’ve foolishly climbed up on your roofs? 2 For, your city is now filled with screaming. Yet your slain were not killed with broadswords, and your people aren’t dead because of a war. 3 All your rulers fled [in fear of] the bow, and now they’re all tied up together. All your strong ones have fled, and because of this I said, ‘Let me go somewhere and bitterly cry!’
4 Do not offer me comfort, over the destruction of the daughter of my people, 5 for this is a day of disturbance, as well as destruction and trampling. It’s an addiction to delusions by Jehovah of Armies. They wander in the valley of Zion… from the small to the great on the mountains they wander.
6 But the Elamites gathered [their arrows], and men who are riding on horses, and they gathered in battle array. 7 So with chariots your beautiful valleys will be filled, while horsemen will obstruct all your gates. 8 In that day they’ll reveal all Judah’s gates, and survey the best houses in the city. 9 In the houses of David they’ll find hidden places, and they’ll see how many more there are. 10 You’ll divert water to the city’s ancient pool, and demolish the walls of houses, to fortify Jerusalem’s walls.
11 Between the two walls you brought water for yourselves, and sent it inside to the ancient pool; but you failed to look to the One who first made it… to its Creator you didn’t look. 12 So, Jehovah of Armies calls for weeping in that day, for the beating of chests and shaving [of heads], and for the wearing of sack cloths.
13 But they were all happy and leaping for joy… slaying the calves, sacrificing the sheep, eating the meat, and drinking the wine, saying, ‘We should eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die.’
14 Since to the ears of Jehovah of Armies, all these things are now being uncovered, these sins won’t be forgiven until the time that you die.
15 Then Jehovah of Armies said this: ‘Now go and enter the [Holy Place]; go to Somnan the keeper of stores and then ask him, 16 Why are you here? What [business] is there for you here? Why have you carved a memorial for yourself… why have you made a memorial, and depicted yourself in the stone of the Temple? 17 {Look!} Jehovah of Armies will now throw you out; He’ll wipe away such a man! He’ll remove all of your [official] clothes, and the crown of honor [that you wear]; 18 then throw you in a large dungeon, and that is where you will die! He’ll turn your good chariot into one of dishonor, and trample the palace of your princes; 19 you’ll be removed from your position and station.
20 ‘In that day I will call to My servant EliAkim (son of HelkiJah), 21 and put your [official] garments on him… and I will give him your crown. Then I’ll put your administration into his hands, and he’ll become like a father, to those in Judah and Jerusalem.
22 ‘The key to the house of David I’ll put on his shoulders; he’ll open it and no one will unlock it. To him I’ll give the glory of David; he’ll rule and no one will [be allowed to] dispute this. 23 Then I’ll establish him as the ruler of a place that’s secure, and upon a throne of glory he will sit, within the house of his father. 24 And the honorable ones of the house of his father, from the small to the great, will then rely upon him. And all the small [sacred] vessels and cups, will depend upon him in that day.’
25 Jehovah of Armies has declared: ‘This man will be removed and another entrenched, in a trustworthy place. He’ll be removed and he’ll fall, and all his glory will just waste away, for Jehovah [of Armies] has spoken.’
Chapter 23
1 The matter of Tyre.
Shriek O boats of Carthage, for [Tyre] has now perished, and they’ll no longer come from the [Island of] Cyprus, for [Tyre] has been led away captive.
2 To whom can I liken the inhabitants of the island? To traders of Phoenicia who pass through seas 3 and deep waters, and to the seed of the traders… as traders to the nations they carry the harvests.
4 ‘Be ashamed, O Sidon,’ said the sea! And the power of the sea replied, ‘I haven’t had pains and I haven’t given birth, nor have I nourished the young or raised virgins. 5 But when Egypt hears what has happened to Tyre, they’ll be overtaken with grief.’
6 Go on to Carthage and shriek, all you who live on the islands! 7 For, wasn’t she the reason for your insolence, in the beginning before she was [lost]?
8 Who planned these things against Tyre? Is she not superior and isn’t she strong? Why, her merchants were the glorious rulers of the earth.
9 It was Jehovah of Armies who laid out the plans, to disable all the insolence of these glorious ones, and to dishonor all the glorious things of the earth!
10 Now you’ll have to work your land, for boats will no longer be coming from Carthage, 11 and your hands will no longer control the sea, O you the provoker of kings. For, it was Jehovah of Armies (it was He who gave the order to destroy Canaan’s strength) 12 that will say, ‘No longer will you continue in any way to insult, and wrong the daughter of Zion. And even if you should go to Cyprus, you will not find any rest there. 13 If you should go to the land of the Chaldeans, even that was made desolate by Assyria. So, there won’t be any rest, because all of her walls have now fallen.’
14 So, shriek you boats out of Carthage, because your fortress has been destroyed! 15 This is how it will be in that day; for seventy years Tyre will be forsaken; the length of the life of both men and kings. Then after seventy years have elapsed, Tyre will be like the song of a whore. 16 So, pick up your harp and wander, O you whore who has now been forgotten! Play the harp well and sing, so there’ll be some who still remember you!
17 And after seventy years God will visit Tyre, and she’ll be restored to her ancient state. Once again she’ll be a market for all the kingdoms, of the inhabitable world, and on the face of the earth. 18 Then her trading will serve as holy wages to Jehovah, for their [profits] won’t be brought back to them, but to those who dwell before Jehovah. All her trade [will be theirs], to eat and drink and fill themselves up, as a compact memorial before Jehovah.
Chapter 24
1 {Look!} Jehovah will waste the inhabited [land]… He will make it quite desolate. He’ll remove the veil from its surface, and scatter those living upon it. 2 And all the people will then be like priests; servants will then become masters; handmaids will then become ladies; those who buy will be those who then sell; those who borrow will then be the lenders, and those who owe will be those who are owed.
3 With corruption the land will be wasted, and by plundering the land will be plundered… these things were said by the mouth of Jehovah. 4 Then the whole earth will mourn, for man’s home will then be laid waste. Those exaulted in the land will all mourn, 5 for it is now thought of as lawless, on account of all those live there, because they have broken the Laws of Jehovah. They’ve wiped away and traded away, the Sacred Agreement of the ages. 6 So this curse will devour the land, because those who live upon it have sinned! Then just the poor will live in the land, and just a few men will remain there.
7 The wine will mourn and the grapevines will moan, over all the lives of those they made joyful. 8 For, the joyful sounds of tambourines will have ceased, and those pleased with themselves will be gone, along with the wealth of the irreverent, and they’ll no longer hear the sounds of the harp.
9 At that time they’ll all be ashamed, because those who drink won’t be drinking the wine, so it will all then turn [sour]. 10 All cities will be empty and the houses will be locked, and no one will be able to enter. 11 So, shriek for the wine everywhere, because the joy of the land has now ceased… it has all gone away! 12 And what’s left behind is just desolate cities, and the abandoned houses will be consumed. 13 All these things will happen to the land, there in the midst of the nations.
In the same way that you would glean olives, that’s how they will be gleaned… as though all the gathering of crops will have ceased. 14 And they will yell in a loud voice, but those who remain in the land will rejoice, all together in the glory of Jehovah.
Then the waters of the seas will be disturbed, 15 and the glory of Jehovah will then be [made known], throughout the islands of the sea, and the Name Jehovah will be honored.
16 O Jehovah, God of Israel; from the [ends] of the earth we’ve heard of [Your] miracles, and that there’s hope for those who respect You. Then all will say ‘Woe to those who annulled… those who’ve annulled the Law [of Jehovah], 17 because fear, the pit, and a snare are upon you, O you who dwell in the land. 18 For those fleeing in fear will fall into the pit, and those climbing from the pit will be captured by the snare.
The windows of the heavens have been opened, and the foundations of the earth will be shaken. 19 A disturbance will disturb the whole earth, and perplexity will perplex the whole land. 20 It will be tipped and then shaken, as [a horn] that’s filled with the fruits of the earth… it will topple and fall, like someone who’s dizzy and drunk, never to get up again, because that’s where the lawless grew stronger.
21 God will raise His hand in that day, against the arrangement of the heavens… against the kings of the earth. 22 They’ll be gathered as a congregation, and be locked in a dungeon inside a castle, and remain there through many generations.
23 Then the bricks will melt and the walls will all fall; the moon will be sad and the sun will be shamed; for Jehovah will reign from Zion in Jerusalem, and before the elders He’ll be glorified.
Chapter 25
1 O Jehovah my God I’ll glorify You, and to Your Name I’ll sing praises, because of the wonderful things You have done, and because [Your] ancient council has now proven true… may it be.
2 The cities You have turned into [large] heaps of rubble… fortified cities whose foundations were strong… cities of the godless that won’t be rebuilt through the age. 3 Because of this I praise You; along with the poor and the wronged I will praise You, 4 for You’ve been a helper to the cities of the meek, and You rescue all the depressed, since they’ve had no one to protect them from the wicked. You’re a protection to those who are thirsting, and an inviting breeze to those who’ve been wronged.
5 You rescued the worried and thirsty in Zion… from those godless men You have saved us. 6 Then Jehovah of Armies will hold a banquet for the nations, and they’ll drink wine in joy on this mountain, 7 and do anointing on this mountain with perfumed oil.
You will do all these things to the nations, because this is a plan for all nations. 8 Then death [that plagues all] will be swallowed; Jehovah will remove the tears from each face, and from the peoples of the earth He’ll remove all disgrace… this is what was said by the mouth of Jehovah.
9 And in that day they will say, ‘{Look!} It’s our God in whom we have hoped, and it’s He that brought us salvation. This is Jehovah! We’ve waited for Him! We’ll shout praises and joy for salvation!’
10 Then on this mountain God will bring rest, and the land of Moab will be trampled, as a threshing floor is trampled with wagons. 11 He’ll unfold His hands to humble and grab them… for their insolence He will destroy them, and knock the high walls of their homes to the ground.
Chapter 26
1 In that day they’ll sing this song, within the land of Judea:
Look, a strong city!
For, He’ll establish a wall and a rampart to save us!
2 Open O gates! And enter O people who guard justice and truth…
3 Those who’ve grabbed truth and guard peace!
4 Upon You we’ve hoped through the age,
great God of the age, O Jehovah,
5 For, You’ve humbled and brought down those who lived high…
Fortified cities You’ve thrown down, and torn them down to the ground.
6 Then You tread them with Your feet into footstools.
7 The way of the reverent has been straightened,
And a way is prepared for the Godly.
8 For, the way of Jehovah is justice.
We’ve hoped in Your Name and You we’ve remembered,
9 For, this is what we desired with our lives!
In the night, O my God, [I] rise early to You,
For, Your orders bring light to the earth.
Learn justice, O you who live on the earth!
10 For, the irreverent will soon be all gone,
They’ll never learn justice on the earth, nor will they ever be truthful.
So remove the ungodly, so they may not gaze on the glory of Jehovah!
11 O Jehovah; Your arm is held high (but they didn’t know
it),
And when they know they’ll be shamed.
Then zeal will take hold of an ignorant
people,
And fire will devour all those who oppose us.
12 Jehovah our God, bring us peace!
For, it’s You’ve who’ve given us all things!
13 O Jehovah our God, please own us!
For, we know no other, O Jehovah, and we have called on Your
Name,
14 The dead will in no way see life,
Nor can any doctor resurrect them.
Because of this You attacked and destroyed,
And took every man among them.
15 Add to them all bad things, O Jehovah,
Add bad things to the glorious of the earth!
16 O Jehovah, in our affliction we remembered You.
In hard times we followed Your instructions.
17 And like a woman with pangs, who screams and then she gives birth,
So we have been as Your loved ones.
18 In fear of You, O Jehovah, we have conceived in the
womb.
We went into labor and gave birth, by the breath of Your salvation,
And the things that You’ve done on the earth.
We will not fall (though all others will
fall),
19 But the dead will be raised from their
tombs.
Then all on the earth will be joyful,
For, as dew You’ll send them a cure, while the land of the godless will fall.
20 Proceed O my people to enter your bedrooms!
Go inside, lock your doors, and hide a little while!
For, this will happen, then that,
And the rage of Jehovah will pass.
21 {Look!} From His Holy Place Jehovah sends rage,
Upon all those living on earth.
Then the earth won’t cover the blood,
And it will not cover those He destroys.
Chapter 27
1 In that day:
God will bring His great, holy, sword,
Against the dragon – the crooked and fleeing snake
And He’ll
kill the dragon (the one in the sea).
2 Also in that day, there will be a good vineyard,
And the desire to sing about it this song:
3 I’m a fortified city that’s being attacked.
And it was folly that I [offered her] water,
For she will be captured by night,
And by day her walls will then fall.
4 There are none who have failed to have her,
So
Jehovah did all that He promised.
She has been burned
5 and those living there will scream,
‘With Him let’s make peace… we should make peace!’
6 Then those who’ll return are the children of Jacob,
And Israel will burst forth and blossom…
The habitation of man will be filled with its fruit.
7 Will it be that those who struck others,
Will themselves also be struck?
And will he who did away with so many others,
Also himself be destroyed?
8 He will send them out to berate and wage war.
Weren’t you the one with the spirit that’s harsh…
And killed them in a spirit of rage?
9 Then the lawlessness of Jacob will be gone,
And to him will be given the blessings,
For this is his blessing: I’ll remove all his sins.
Then they’ll take all the stones from their shrines,
And grind them to powders of dust,
And their [sacred] poles will no longer remain,
And their idols will be cut down like a far away forest.
10 Flocks that were spared will then dwell there;
A flock that’s been left behind;
They’ll spend much time in the pasture,
And there they’ll have time to rest.
11 But they won’t spend time eating grass that is green,
Because it has all been dried [into hay].
Come, O women who’ve seen what has happened,
For, you’re a people who don’t understand.
Don’t show any pity on those making [idols]…
Show no mercy on those shaping them.
12 In that day the duct from the River Rhinocora,
Will be shut down by Jehovah.
But the sons of Israel will be gathered one by one…
13 And in that day they’ll blow a loud trumpet.
Then those lost in Assyria will return,
As well as those lost down in Egypt.
And they will bow to Jehovah,
On the Holy Mountain in Jerusalem.
Chapter 28
1 Woe to the crown of insolence, that’s worn by the hired help of Ephraim… the flower of the one who has fallen from glory, on the top of the mountain that’s covered with branches… the ones who are drunk without wine. 2 For, {Look!} the rage of Jehovah is strong and it’s hard. It’s like hail that falls with great force, in a place where there’s nowhere to [run] for protection. It’s like a flood that drags away [houses], in a land where He [once] brought rest to hands and feet.
3 This crown of insolence of the hirelings of Ephraim will be trampled, 4 and its flower (its hope of glory) will fall, on the tops of high mountain like the shoots of a fig. Then he who sees it in front of his hand, will take it and wish to swallow it down.
5 In that day Jehovah of Armies, will be [the only] crown of hope… the crown of glory to the remnant of My people. 6 For by the spirit of equity they’ll be spared… by justice and the strength of restrained destruction.
7 But there are those who are staggering and wandering, because of [too much] liquor and wine. And it’s because of the liquor (it’s because they’ve swallowed the wine), that the priests and prophets are out of their minds. Then they’ll shake off the intoxication of the liquor and they’ll wander, which will then be easy for [all] to see.
8 A curse will devour all their plans, for the plans that they have are for wealth.
9 To whom have we announced all this evil? To whom have we announced this great message? To those being weaned from milk, and those being drawn from the breast.
10 Problems upon problems; hope after hope; here a little there a little; 11 but because of foul words from the lips, they’ll speak to this people in [a strange tongue], 12 and tell them, ‘Those who are hungry are unworthy, so they will soon be destroyed.’ But they will not want to hear it.
13 Then they will receive this oracle of God: ‘Problems upon problems; hope after hope; here a little there a little,’ and they will be exposed to great danger, then they will retreat and be broken and captured.
14 Because of this; hear the word of Jehovah: ‘O men who are being attacked, and rulers of this people in Jerusalem; 15 you say that you’ve made a pact with the grave, and a treaty with death. And that if a windstorm should blow, it will not come upon you; for you’ve put all your hope in [your] lies, and you [think] you’ll be sheltered by them.
16 ‘Because of this,’ says Jehovah, ‘{Look!} In the foundation of Zion I will place a valuable stone … a costly, select cornerstone, for [the corner of] its foundations, and those trusting in it will not be disgraced.
17 ‘Then I will place My judgment [as your] hope; [I’ll put] weights upon all My charity. Then those who are relying in vain on the lie, will not be passed by the storm. 18 Your treaty with death will then be removed, and you won’t adhere to your hope in the grave.
‘Then by the blast you’ll be crushed… 19 when it passes through it will take you. Morning after morning it will blow upon you, as well as during the night, and the only hope that it brings will be bad.
20 ‘Learn how to hear O you who’ve been squeezed! There’s no way you’ll be able to fight it! For, you’ll be weakened and gathered.
21 ‘Jehovah will raise a mountain of the godless, and in the Valley of Gibeon He’ll execute His rage… He’ll do all His bitter deeds. But His rage will be brought in a strange way, as the rotten deeds were done strangely. 22 Then for you there won’t be any joy, for in your bonds you’ll be left without strength.’
These things will happen… it’s what He will do on the earth… it’s what Jehovah of Armies has told me. 23 So, give ear and pay attention to my voice! Pay attention and hear all my words!
24 Doesn’t it take a whole day to prepare for the plowing? And doesn’t he who sows prepare to work the ground? 25 Doesn’t he first level its face, before he plants pepperwort or cumin, then sow wheat, spelt, and barley on its borders? 26 So you will be corrected in the equity of your God, and then you’ll [have reason to] be joyful. 27 For you can’t scrub pepperwort to clean it, or run wagon wheels over the cumin. You beat pepperwort [to shake off the seeds], 28 and cumin should be eaten with bread. So, I won’t be angry with you through the ages, nor will the voice of My bitterness trample on you, 29 for miracles will come by Jehovah of Armies.
Accept [My] counsel! Know that [your reasons for] comfort as a waste!
Chapter 29
1 Woe to the City of the Altar of God, on which King David waged war.
Gather your crops year after year, for you’ll eat them along with [the people of] Moab. 2 Then I’ll squeeze the City of the Altar of God, and her strength and her wealth will be Mine. 3 I’ll encircle [your city] like David, and throw up a siege mound around you. I will build and seige towers around you, 4 and your words will be brought to the ground. Into the ground your words will go down, then your voice will be as those who speak from the ground; and from the ground your voice will grow weak.
5 The wealth of your irreverent will be like clouds of dust, that arise from wheels that are passing… and as [many as] dust will be those who oppress you.
6 It will happen immediately in a moment; for you’ll receive a visit from Jehovah of Armies, with thunder, disasters, and great noise… with blasts of wind and the flames of a fire that consumes. 7 And to you it will be like a dream, when all the wealth of many nations, march on the City of the Altar of God… the soldiers of those who oppress her, will gather and then attack Jerusalem.
8 And to those who are sleeping; and to those who’re awake eating and drinking, it will all seem like a [silly] dream. And this is what they will dream: Those who get thirsty and drink, will still be thirsty when they awaken. And their lives will be without any hope, for the wealth of many nations will march against Zion.
9 Be tipsy, be dizzy, and be amazed, but not from liquor or wine, 10 for Jehovah has given you frustration to drink! Then He’ll close the lids of the eyes of their prophets, as well as their rulers and seers, 11 and all that is written in this sealed scroll, will be given to a man who knows how to read, and to him you’ll say, ‘Read these things!’
But he will say, ‘I’m unable to read this, because it has all been sealed!’
12 Then you’ll hand this scroll to a man who can’t read, and tell him to read this, and then he’ll say, ‘I can’t read.’
13 Then Jehovah said, ‘These people approach Me with their mouths, and with their lips they offer Me praise, but in their hearts they’re really far away, so they are worshiping Me in vain. They are teaching the ideas and instructions of men! 14 And because of this {Look!} I will come, and bring a change on these people (I’ll transpose them)! I will destroy the wisdom of their wise, and hide the understanding of their discerning.’
15 So, woe to those who make complicated plans, which are not according to Jehovah! And woe to those who make secret plans, and do things in the cover of darkness; for they ask ‘Who has seen us? Who will know us, or of what we have done?’
16 Aren’t you just clay in the hands of a potter? Can the thing that is shaped say to he who has shaped it, ‘You didn’t really shape me!’ Or can the thing that is made say to its maker, ‘I don’t like the way that you made me!’
17 Soon the position of Lebanon will be changed. Her mountains will be changed into crop fields; and the crops on the mountains will be thought of as forests.
18 But in that day even those who are deaf, will hear the words of this scroll. Then those in darkness; those in the fog; and the eyes of the blind will be able to see! 19 Then (because of Jehovah), the poor will be shouting in happiness and joy, and those who’ve given up will be filled with great joy. 20 For, the lawless and the evil will have failed; the proud will then be destroyed; and those who break laws will be gone, 21 with those who led men into sin with their words.
Then those [who judge] at the gates will stumbled, for their twisting the [Law] and wronging the righteous. 22 ‘And concerning the house of Jacob,’ says Jehovah, ‘those I selected from the sons of Abraham; Jacob won’t be shamed or their then faces be sad. 23 But when their children see the things that I’ll do, {Look!} because of Me they will hold My Name as holy… they will [praise] the Holy One of Jacob, and fear the God of Israel.
24 ‘Then those with wandering spirits will learn to understand; those who complain will learn to obey; and stuttering tongues will learn to speak peace.’
Chapter 30
1 ‘Woe, O children of apostates,’ says Jehovah, ‘because you searched for direction from others, and made treaties that were not by My Spirit… you added sins to your sins. 2 You [sent ambassadors] down into Egypt, and asked for help from the Pharaoh. You sought shelter from the Egyptians but you didn’t ask Me! 3 So you will be shamed for seeking the protection of Pharaoh, and scorned for relying upon Egypt; 4 for in Tanes the messengers of the chiefs are all evil.
5 ‘It’s foolish to labor for others for no reason, since they won’t be of benefit or help in any way; they’ll just bring shame and scorn upon you.’
6 This is the vision of the four-footed creatures in the desert:
In difficult times and distress, [there stands] the lion and its cub. And there are asps and the young of winged asps… those who carry wealth upon burros and camels, to a nation that won’t benefit or help them… they’ll just bring shame and scorn upon them. 7 The only benefits you’ll receive from the Egyptians, will be just emptiness and waste. Go tell them that the comfort they will bring is in vain!
8 Sit down and write this on a tablet of a scroll, for it’s about appointed times and days, [of things that will happen] in the ages. 9 For a people are resisting persuasion; they’re lying sons who won’t listen to God’s Law. 10 They’re the ones who are saying to the Prophets, ‘Don’t come to us with pronouncements!’ And to those who see visions ‘Do not tell us! But if you must speak, tell us another addicting delusion. 11 Turn this road… shift us from this course; and remove the curse of Israel from upon us!’
12 And because of this, thus says Jehovah the Holy One of Israel; ‘Since you’ve resisted the persuasion of these words, and put your hope in a lie; and because you grumbled and not trusted these words, 13 this is what will happen to you: This sin will be like the walls of a city, that will now fall and lead to a capture. For, your downfall is immediately at hand. 14 And like the breaking of a thin ceramic pot, this crash won’t be into pieces, that you can find and pick up among the coals of a fire, with which you can hold a little water.’
15 This is what the Lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel has said: ‘Rather, you should moan and turn back, and then you will be saved. Remember where you were when you relied on this foolishness, and how you didn’t want to listen; and then how weak you became.
16 ‘But you say: We will escape on horseback! And because of this, you will flee and you’ll say, We have become light riders! But those who pursue will be faster. 17 Thousands will flee at the voice of one man, and multitudes will flee at the voice of just five. But you will be left all alone, like a pole on top of a mountain, and like a flag flying high on a hill.’
18 And again you’ll [turn] to [your] God, and [hope] that He’ll have pity on you. And because of this He’ll be [moved] to show mercy, since your judge is Jehovah your God. Blest are all those who stick close to Him, 19 for the holy in Zion will live!
And Jerusalem started crying and said, ‘Show me mercy!’ And He will show mercy upon you. For, when He heard the sound of your cries… He paid attention to you. 20 Then Jehovah will give you a little bread and water, and those who mislead you will no longer be near to you. Your eyes will see those trying to mislead you, 21 and your ears will hear those who follow to mislead you. For they’ll be saying ‘We must go this way; let’s go this way ot that!’
22 Then you’ll remove your silver-plated idols, and those covered with gold, and crush them into fine powder, and throw them into the wind. You’ll reject them like the [urine] of a [menstruating] woman, and throw them away like manure.
23 Then there will be rain [to grow] seeds on your land, and bread will be plentiful and fat in your land. Your cattle will graze in fields large and fertile; 24 your bulls and oxen will work ground and eat straw, and prepare the barley for winnowing.
25 And in that day after many are destroyed, and all the towers have fallen, water will stream from the high hills and mountains. 26 Then the moon will be as bright as the sun, and the sun will be seven times brighter, in that day when Jehovah heals His broken people, and heals the grief of their calamity.
27 {Look!} After a long time the Name Jehovah, will come in burning rage and with glory. The omen from His lips is an omen of rage, and the flames of His rage are consuming. 28 His Breath will be like water pouring through a ravine, that comes to the neck to create a division; He’ll disturb the nations for their addiction to delusions, and He’ll [allow] these delusions to chase them and catch them.
29 When you enter the Holy Place you should always be joyful, as though you’re celebrating a holiday. You should be joyful [and play tunes] as you go, to the Mountain of Jehovah (the God of Israel). 30 And you should sing to Jehovah, with the glory of your voice, for by the fury of His arm He shows His rage and His anger. Violently He strikes like a bolt of lightning, and as a flame that consumes… like rain and hail being driven by a storm.
31 By the voice of Jehovah the Assyrians will be conquered… He will strike them and bring calamity upon them. 32 But He will always be nearby, to help all those who rely upon Him; those carrying their tambourines and harps. Yet, He will wage war against all who revolt. 33 Then after some days you’ll be [allowed to return], for wasn’t the kingdom prepared for you?
As a ravine that is deep, and as piles of wood near a fire, is the rage of Jehovah… like a ravine filled with sulfur that’s on fire.
Chapter 31
1 Woe to those who went down to Egypt for help – those who are trusting in horses and chariots (for there are many chariots and a great number of horses) – because they just didn’t listen… they didn’t put their trust in the Holy One of Israel, and they did not search for their God. 2 As the result, He wisely brought bad things upon them, so that His Word would not be annulled. He will rise against the houses of the wicked, and oppose their wicked and vain hopes.
3 The Egyptians are just men – they aren’t Gods – and their horses are no help at all, because they too are just flesh. So, against them Jehovah will raise His hand, and make those who are helping them tired, and together they will all perish.
4 For, Jehovah said this to me, ‘In the same way that a lion or its cub, roars over the game that he’s taken, and continues to roar over it, until the mountains are filled with [the sound of] his voice, and all the prey have vanished away, because they’ve been scared by the greatness of his rage; so Jehovah of Armies will go down to march upon Zion, and upon [both] of her mountains. 5 For Jehovah of Armies can be like a bird, flying over Jerusalem to rescue, protect, and to save her.’
6 O you sons of Israel who are meeting, to discuss lawless things, turn back! 7 For in that day they’ll reject all the idols – the things that are made of silver and gold – that they have made with their hands. 8 Then [Assyria] will fall but not by man’s sword… he’ll not be devoured by swords, nor will he flee before swords, yet all their young men will be vanquished. 9 They’ll be picked up like rocks for a siege mound and vanquished, and those who are fleeing will be captured.
This is what Jehovah said: ‘Blest are those who have seed within Zion, and those having family in Jerusalem.’
Chapter 32
1 {Look!} Then a righteous king will be reigning, and governors will then rule in justice. 2 Then the words that were hidden will flow like a river… they will flow like water out of Zion, and gloriously shine on land that is thirsty.
3 Then men won’t rely upon men, but ears they’ll be given to hear; 4 and the hearts of the weak will pay attention and listen; and those with stuttering tongues, will then learn to speak about peace. 5 They’ll no longer [appoint] morons to rule, or tell the officers to be quiet! 6 Because, the morons just say foolish things, and plan wasteful things in their hearts. He does things that are lawless, and against Jehovah speaks delusions, to scatter the lives of those who are hungry, and bring waste to the lives of those who are thirsty.
7 The recommendations of the wicked are plans to do bad. What they say is done to corrupt the lowly, and they’ll use unrighteous words to overrule, the words of the lowly in legal matters. 8 But the godly will consult with the discerning, and what they suggest is the thing that will last.
9 You rich women; wake up and hear my voice! You daughters who live in hope, hear my words! 10 Speak of each day in grief but with hope. For, the crops have all been consumed, the planting has come to an end, and it will not soon resume.
11 So, be amazed and worry, all you who’ve been trying to persuade! 12 Strip off your clothes ’til you’re naked, then wrap your waists and beat your breasts, for the desirable things of the fields, and the produce of grapevines! 13 For, the land of My people has become just a thorn bush, so the grass will all dry and joy will be taken from each house. 14 The houses will then be abandoned; wealth will [flow] from the cities; and then the best houses and towns, will all be like caves through the age… a place of joy for wild burros, as well as pastures for shepherds.
15 But when [God’s] Breath flows down from on high, the desert will become a fruitful field, and the fields will be thought of as forests. 16 Then judgment will rest in the desert, justice will dwell on [Mount] Carmel, 17 and righteousness and peace will abound. This righteousness will reach out and bring rest, to the faithful through the age. 18 Then His people will live in a city of peace, and those who’ve been saved will rest and live richly.
19 Then if hail should fall, it won’t fall on you. And the submissive who live in the forests, will be as those who live in the plains. 20 For, those who plant will be blest, and where the ox and the burros walk there’ll be water.
Chapter 33
1 Woe to those who cause misery, but who are made miserable by no one; and those who show no respect, but themselves are respected. For, those who show no respect, will be captured and handed over, like a moth that’s caught in a robe… then destroyed.
2 O Jehovah, show mercy on us, for we are relying on You. Destroy the seed of those resisting persuasion, but save us in our time of oppression!
3 By Your fearful sounds the peoples are amazed, and in this fear the nations are scattered. 4 Then You gather the spoils small and great, as though You were picking up locusts.
5 Holy is the God who lives in the heavens, for Zion will be filled with equity and justice, 6 so to the Law they will be handed over, while our treasure will be our salvation. For in it are wisdom and knowledge, and great reverence for Jehovah… indeed, these are the treasures of the righteous.
7 {Look!} Those who fear You will truly be frightened, and they’ll yell out in fear over You. For, [God’s] messengers will be sent [to bring] peace, [which, to the unrighteous will cause] bitter weeping, 8 because their [bad] ways will end. And the nations will be in great fear, because of the treaties they’ve broken… because they’ve shown no respect.
9 Then the land will mourn and Lebanon will be shamed. But marshes will become just like Sharon, and Galilee and Carmel will shine.
10 ‘And then I’ll arise,’ says Jehovah; ‘I’ll be glorified and held [in respect]. 11 You’ll see it and then you’ll understand, for your strength will be all in vain; your spirit will be devoured by fire; 12 and the nations will be used to consume [you], like a thorn bush in a field that’s thrown in a fire.
13 ‘From a distance they will hear what I’ve done; and those who approach will know of My strength. 14 For, the lawless will have departed from Zion, and all the irreverent made to tremble.’
Who will announce it to you, when the fire has started? Who will tell what has happened to the place of the ages? 15 He… the one who walks righteously; he who tells it like it is; he who hates lawlessness and injustice; he whose hands shake off bribes; he whose ears close to judgments of blood, and whose eyelids are closed and won’t look on injustice. 16 He’ll live high in a cave of strong rocks. His bread will be given to him, and he can trust [that he will have] water.
17 Then your eyes will see a glorious king, and a land far away. 18 And the man that you are will contemplate fear.
Where are all of the scribes? Where are all the advisors? Where are the accountants who keep records? 19 From small to the great they don’t take advice, nor do they listen to warnings, against their treating all the people as worthless… no one understands what they’re being told.
20 O city on [Mount] Zion, see our salvation! Then your eyes will see Jerusalem a rich city, filled with tents that will not be shaken, nor will its tent poles be removed through the ages, or its tent cords then be pulled up; 21 for you’ll be called by the Name Jehovah. Long aqueducts and wide rivers it will have, but you will not travel upon them, nor will boats then be rowed there.
22 Oh, my God is so great… Jehovah won’t pass me by. Yes, Jehovah is our judge! He’s our ruler and king, and Jehovah Himself will bring us salvation!
23 But, all your ropes have been torn, and your mast has no strength, so it’s leaning and can’t let down sails, and it’s flag will never be raised, until all its plunder has been [lost]; for it will be plundered by even the lame. 24 But the people who live there won’t say they are tired, because their sins will all be forgiven.
Chapter 34
1 Listen O nations, and pay attention you rulers! Hear, O earth and all those who live there – the habitation of man and all those who dwell there – 2 for the rage of Jehovah is upon all the nations… His rage is upon all their numbers, to destroy them and to hand them over for slaughter. 3 Their slain and their dead will be just thrown away; their smell will ascend [to the heavens], and their blood will rain on the mountains.
4 Then all the powers of the skies will just melt; the sky will be wrapped up like a scroll, and all the stars will then fall, like the leaves of a grapevine or fig tree. 5 For, My sword will become drunk in the sky, and {Look!} upon the land of Edom it will fall… upon the people who’ve been judged for destruction. 6 In Boser the sword of Jehovah will be filled, with blood that has been thickened by the fat, of lambs, goats, and rams, as a sacrifice to God, when a great slaughter is brought upon Edom. 7 For, stout men will be slaughtered and thrown down, along with the rams and the bulls. And the land will become drunk on their blood, all the way to their borders, and it will become filled with their fat.
8 For, it’s a day of judgment by Jehovah, and a year of payback for the judgment of Zion. 9 Then her valleys will be filled up with tar, and her land [will be covered with] sulfur. 10 So, her land will burn with tar day and night, and it won’t be extinguished through the ages. Her smoke will keep on ascending, and through generations she will lie desolate… she’ll be desolate for a long time. 11 Then birds, hedgehogs, and ibises, well as crows will all dwell there, and a surveyor’s line will mark her desolation, for she will be inhabited [by demons].
12 Then she will not have rulers, because her kings and her great men are gone. 13 So, thorns will grow in their cities and forts, and be the properties of chained [demons], as well as a courtyard for ostriches. 14 Then the demons will meet with those who are chained, and they will yell to each other. And the chained [spirits] will rest there, because they’ll have found a place to retire.
15 Hedgehogs too will build their nests there, and their children will play safely on the ground. There stags will all meet together, and stare each other face to face. 16 They’ll pass in large numbers and none will then perish, so they will not have to search for each other. For, Jehovah has given them all their instructions, and He will gather them with His Breath. 17 Then He’ll cast lots over them, and divide up the land for them to graze, and they’ll inherit it through ages of time, and rest there from generation to generation.
Chapter 35
1 Be glad, O you thirsty desert! Cry out in joy and blossom like a lily! 2 Then the desert by the Jordan will cry out and blossom, for it will be given the glory of Lebanon, as well as the honor of [Mount] Carmel. Then My people will see the glory of Jehovah, and the stature of their God.
3 So, be strong forsaken hands and weak knees! 4 Take comfort, O you with faint-hearted minds! Be strong and don’t be afraid, for {Look!} our God will [bring] justice with His judgments. He Himself will come here and save us! 5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will then hear. 6 The lame will leap like a stag, a