Isaiah Tells Us God’s Good News
An EasyEnglish Bible Version with Notes (1200 word vocabulary) on the Book of Isaiah
Gordon Churchyard
The translated Bible text has yet to go through Advanced Checking.
A word list at the end explains words with a *star by them.
Isaiah wrote his book in the Hebrew language. Words in brackets, ( … ), are not in the Hebrew Bible.
There are 66 chapters in Isaiah’s book. The book is easier to understand if we put it into 5 parts. We have done this below. The word list explains the words prophet and messiah. The words king, servant and messiah do not always mean the same people in Isaiah’s book. This often confuses us in Isaiah’s book.
PART 1: Chapters 1-5 Isaiah describes the people in the country called Judah and its capital city Jerusalem.
PART 2: Chapter 6 God makes Isaiah into a prophet.
PART 3: Chapters 7-37 God’s KING rules God’s people.
PART 4: Chapters 38-55 God’s SERVANT saves God’s people.
PART 5: Chapters 56-66 God’s *MESSIAH beats God’s enemies.
We can put PART 1 into 3 smaller parts. This makes it easier to understand.
Isaiah 1:2-9 Isaiah 1:10-20 Isaiah 1:21-31
2:6-21 2:22-4:1
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THE PROBLEMS |
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THE PROBLEMS |
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THE PROBLEMS |
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Isaiah 2:1-5 and 4:2-6 are not about problems. They contain promises.
Chapter 5 is not about problems. It tells the people what God will do to them. Because they have not obeyed him, he will *punish them.
v1 This is what Isaiah, the son of Amoz, *saw. He saw things about the country called Judah and the city called Jerusalem. It happened when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings of Judah.
v2 Hear (the *LORD, you) skies! And listen (to him, you) earth, because the *LORD, he has spoken! (He has said,) ‘I have helped (my) sons to grow. And I have loved them. But even they have fought against me!
v3 A cow knows its master. And a horse (knows) where its keeper feeds it. But Israel, they do not know (me). My people, they do not understand (me).’
v4 Oh! (You are a) country that does not obey me. (All your) people are (like people who are) carrying a heavy weight. (It is) the wrong things (that you have done). (You are a) family (of people) that is always doing bad things. (You are) sons that destroy (everything). They have left the *LORD. They think that the *Holy (God) of Israel is silly. They have become strangers. Their backs are towards (him).
v5 So, you continue to fight (against God). (The enemy) will only hurt you again. (Your) whole head is not well and (your) whole heart is ill.
v6 From the under part of the feet, even to the head, there is no health in you. (There are) places (where people have) hit (you). (There are) places that hurt. People have cut some places until they bleed. Nobody has cleaned those places. Nobody has tied a cloth round them. Nobody has put medicine on them.
v7 Your country is empty. Fire has burned your cities. Foreign people have taken everything from your fields. (They did it) in front of you. Strangers have destroyed (your country).
v8 The *Daughter of Zion, (Jerusalem,) remains like an empty hut in a *vineyard. (She is) like a hut in a field of fruit. (She is) like a city that an enemy is attacking.
v9 Unless the *LORD of Everything had left some people to continue living, we would have been like Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah.
Note
People that believe in God have a religion. We show it in two ways.
· We meet in special buildings, like churches. There, we pray to God.
· We obey our God always. It is important to do this when we are not in our special buildings.
v10 Hear what the *LORD says, (you) rulers of Sodom. Listen to our God. He is saying what you must do, (you) people in Gomorrah.
v11 ‘All your *sacrifices do not matter to me.’ (This is what) the *LORD is saying. ‘I have had enough (*sacrifices) that you have burned as gifts to me. (I have had enough) male sheep and the best bits of fat animals. (I have had enough) of the blood of male cows, goats and young sheep. They do not give me pleasure.
v12 (There are times) when you come to appear in front of me. But nobody asked you to do this. Do not walk heavily round my *temple.
v13 Do not bring gifts (to me) that mean nothing! I do not like your *incense. I do not like your new moons, (your) *sabbaths and (your) special meetings. These meetings are bad.
v14 I really do not like your new moon meetings and your *holy days. They have become like a heavy weight for me. I am tired because I have to carry them.
v15 I will hide my eyes from you, when you lift up your hands (to me). I will not listen (to you), even if you pray (to me) often. Your hands are full of blood.
v16 Wash yourselves (and) make yourselves clean! Take away the bad things that you are doing. Then I will not see them. Do not continue to do what is wrong.
v17 Learn to do what is right. Make *justice your purpose. Do not let masters be very cruel (to people). Do not let people hurt children who have no father. Say good things on behalf of women whose husbands are dead.
v18 Come, now’, the *LORD is saying. ‘We should talk about this together. Even if your *sins are as bright red, they shall be as white as snow. Even if they are as dark red, they shall be like *wool.
v19 Agree (with me). And obey (me). If you do (these things), you will eat the best food in the country.
v20 But (if you do not do these things), the *sword will kill you. (It will kill you) if you do not obey me. (It will kill you) if you continue to fight against me.’ This is what God himself has said.
v21 Oh! The City that Loved Me (as a wife) has become like a *prostitute! (The city was) full of *justice. Good people lived in her, but now there are people who murder (other people there).
v22 Your *silver has become dirt and you have mixed water with your best *wine.
v23 Your rulers are fighting against (God). And they are friends of robbers. They all accept things to help people (that they should not help). And (they all) hope for gifts like these. But they do not help children that have no father. (They do not help these children) when people hurt them. The women whose husbands are dead have problems. But (the problems) do not come to the (rulers).
v24 So the *Lord says this. (He is) the *LORD of Everything (and he is) the Powerful (God) of Israel. ‘Oh! I will get rest from my enemies. And I will *punish those people who fight against me.
v25 And I will turn my hand against you and I will wash away all your dirt with soap and brush. So I will remove everything that is not clean.
v26 And I will give back to you your *judges, as (you had them) a long time ago. And (I will give back to you) the people that say what you must do, as at the beginning. After this, you will be called The Good City, and The City that Loves Me.’
v27 (God) will use *justice to make *Zion free. (He will make things) right for the people that return (to him).
v28 But he will destroy people that *sin. (And he will destroy) those people that continue to fight (against him). The *LORD will kill everybody that goes away from him.
v29 Really, they will be ashamed of their special trees (called) oaks. You have found a lot of pleasure in them. The gardens that you have chosen will make you really ashamed.
v30 You will be like an oak tree whose leaves are dying. (You will be like) a garden without water.
v31 The strong man will become like something that burns easily. His work will be like something that causes things to burn. They will both burn together and nobody will put out the fire.
v1 This is what Isaiah, the son of Amoz, ‘*saw’ about Judah and Jerusalem.
v2 This is what will happen in the last days. The mountain, where the house of the *LORD is, will always be there (in Jerusalem). It will be the most important mountain. It will be higher than the hills (round it). (People from) every country will come towards it.
v3 And people from many countries will come (to it). And they will say, ‘Come! We shall go to the mountain of the *LORD. We must go to the house of the God of *Jacob. Then he will teach us his ways, so that we can walk in his paths.’ So, the word (of God) will go out from Zion. The *LORD’s words will go out from Jerusalem.
v4 (God) will be the *judge between the *nations. He will say (who is right. And he will say) who is wrong. They will use hammers to change their *swords into parts of ploughs. And they will use their knives to *prune plants. *Nations will not attack other *nations with *swords, neither will they learn how to fight again.
v5 House of Jacob, come and we shall walk in the light of the *LORD.
House of Jacob means Israel’s people. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel.
v6 But you, (*LORD), have gone away from your people. They are the house (family) of Jacob. They are full (of *magic) from (countries in) the east. They are like the people called Philistines. They have people who use *magic to find out what will happen. Also, they join hands with foreign people.
v7 Their country is full of *silver and gold and they have many valuable things. Their country is full of horses and they have many *chariots.
v8 *Idols that are worth nothing fill their country. They get down on the ground in front of things that their hands have made. (They are things) that their own fingers have made.
v9 So, (the *LORD) makes people *humble and everyone becomes low! (*LORD), do not lift them up again!
v10 Go into (the holes in) the rocks and hide in the ground. (Hide) because you are afraid. (You are afraid) of (what) the *LORD (will do). And (hide from) his great power.
v11 (The *LORD) will stop the way that *proud people look at other people. And (he will make) very *proud people *humble. On that day, only the *LORD will be important.
v12 Yes! The *LORD of Everything will choose a day. Then, (in that day, the *LORD) will make *humble everyone that is *proud, very *proud and important.
v13-16 (The *LORD will be) against all these things:
· the high, the really high *cedar trees in Lebanon
· the *oak trees in Bashan
· the very high mountains
· the highest hills
· tall buildings
· strong walls
· boats from Tarshish
· beautiful ships.
v17 (The *LORD) will stop the way that *proud people look at other people. And he will make very *proud people *humble. On that day, only the *LORD will be important.
v18 And nobody will see any of the *idols again.
v19 And (people) will run to holes in the sides of the rocks and to holes in the ground. (They will run) because they are afraid of the *LORD. (They will run) from his great power. (They will run) when he comes to *punish the earth.
v20 In that day people will throw away their *silver *idols and their gold *idols. (They will throw them) to (animals) called *rats and *bats. They made (these *idols) so that they could *worship them.
v21 Then people will run to large holes in the rocks and to holes in (the sides of) mountains. (They will run) because they are afraid of the *LORD. And (they are afraid) of his great power, when he comes to *punish the earth.
v22 Do not ask human people (to help you). They get air through their noses! They are worth (nothing).
v1 I will show you what the *Lord, the *LORD of Everything (will do). He will remove from Jerusalem and Judah everything that helps them. (He will take away) everything that supplies their food and their water.
v2-3 (He will take away these people):
· the strong man and the soldier
· the *judge and the *prophet
· the person who uses *magic to find out what will happen and the older (leader)
· the captain of 50 (soldiers) and the very important man
· the person that tells people what to do and the good worker
· the person that uses *magic.
v4 ‘And I, (the *LORD), will make boys their leaders and children will rule over them.’
v5 The people will be cruel to each other. (It will be) man against man. (It will be) man against the person that lives near him. Young people will say bad things to older people. And bad people will say bad things to good people.
v6 Then a man will hold his brother strongly in the house of his father. (The man will say), ‘You have a coat. So, you can be our leader! Then you can rule over these buildings that (the enemy) destroyed!’
v7 On that day, (the brother) will refuse. He will say, ‘I cannot help! There is no food and no coat in my house. Do not make me a leader of people.’
v8 (This will happen because the leaders of) Jerusalem and Judah have started to fall. Then they have fallen down. Their words and the things that they do are against the *LORD. They have said bad things about his great *glory.
v9 Their faces show what they are really like. It is clear that they have *sinned, like the (people in) Sodom. They do not hide it. It is so sad! They have brought great trouble to themselves.
v10 Tell the very good people that things will be well for them. They will enjoy the results of the good things that they have done.
v11 The very bad person will be very sad. He will have great trouble. (Here is the reason.) What his hands have done (to other people) will happen to him.
v12 Children are cruel to my people and women rule over them. My people, your leaders have not ruled you well. They have led you away from the (right) paths.
v13 The *LORD stands up to tell (his enemies) that they have done wrong things. He stands as a *judge of (many) countries.
v14 The *LORD comes as *judge of those people who are in the government. (He comes as *judge) of the leaders. (He says that) they burned the *vineyard. Also, they kept what they took away from the poor people.
v15 The *LORD of Everything asks (them these questions):
· ‘Why do you hit my people, so that they break into pieces?’ (which means, ‘Do not hit my people, so that they break into pieces.’)
· ‘Why do you walk on the faces of the poor people?’ (which means, ‘Do not walk on the faces of the poor people.’)
v16 The *LORD says, ‘The *Daughters of Zion are very *proud. They lift up their necks when they walk. They glance to see (if the men are looking at them). They walk (so that men do look at them). The little bells on their ankles make a sound when they walk.
v17 So the *LORD will make places that hurt them on their heads. He will make their heads bald.’
v18-23 In that day the *Lord will take away the valuable stones that they wear on their ankles, heads, necks, ears, arms, fingers and noses. He will take away their beautiful clothes and belts, their *perfumes and *charms.
v24 There will be a bad smell instead of *perfume. There will be a *rope instead of a belt. They will not have lovely hair. They will be bald instead. Instead of good clothes (they will wear) cheap hairy cloth. They will not be beautiful. Instead, there will be only *shame.
v25 *Swords will kill your men. Your strong men will die in wars.
v26 And the gates (of Zion) will be (like) sad (people). And they will (be like people who) cry. Zion will (be like people who) sit on the ground. (And the city will be) empty.
v1 In that day, 7 women will (find and) hold one man. They will say, ‘We will eat our own bread and we will wear our own clothes. But, let us call ourselves by your name. Take away our *shame.’
v2 In that day, the Branch of the *LORD will be something pretty and something that has *glory. And the fruit of the land will be as something *proud and something beautiful. (They will be) for Israel’s people that will become free. v3 Everyone that remains in *Zion will be called *holy. Also, (everyone) who stays in Jerusalem (will be called *holy). All their names will be on a list of people who are living in Jerusalem. v4 (This will happen) when the *Lord will wash away the dirt from the *Daughters of Zion. Also, (then) he will make Jerusalem clean from the marks left by blood. (He will do this) by a *spirit that will be a *judge and by a *spirit of fire. v5 (This is what) the *LORD will make over all the mountain called Zion. And (it will be over) all the people that come together there. (He will make) a lot of smoke during the day. And (he will make) a fire, which shines in the night. The *glory will be like a coat over everything. v6 It will be a place to hide from the heat in the day. And it will be a place to hide from storms and rain.
v1 Now I will sing for the person that I love. (I will sing) a song of love about his *vineyard.
‘The person that I love has a *vineyard. It is on a hill where plants grow well.
v2 He dug (the ground) and he removed the stones. He planted the best *vines in it.
He built a place where he could watch (the *vineyard).
He also made a place to store *grapes in it. Then he waited for (the *vineyard) to grow (good) *grapes.
But it grew bad *grapes.’
v3 And now, (listen to me,) you people that live in Jerusalem. And (listen,) all you people that live in Judah. You decide who was wrong, me or my *vineyard.
v4 There was nothing else that I ought to have done for my *vineyard. I had done everything for it! I waited for (good) *grapes. (Tell me) why it gave bad *grapes!
v5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my *vineyard. I will take away its wall. Then (animals will come in and) eat (the *vines). I will knock down its wall and (the animals) will walk all over (the *vineyard).
v6 I will make the land so that nobody can use it. Nobody will *prune the *vines or dig the ground round them. So weeds and *thorns will grow there. I will say to the clouds, ‘Do not (drop) rain on it.’
v7 Now the *vineyard of the *LORD of Everything is like a picture of Israel. The plants (in it) that he likes are the people in Judah. The *LORD looked for *justice, but he saw only the opposite. (He wanted) people to be very good. But he only heard people that were crying for help.
v8 The people who build (one) house (next) to (another) house will be very sad. Also, they join (one) field to (another) field. (They do this) until there is no more room. Then you live alone on the land.
v9 I have heard the *LORD of Everything (promise this. He said this.) ‘I am sure that many houses will be empty. There will be large and beautiful houses that nobody lives in.
v10 Also, large parts of the *vineyard will give only a small amount (of *wine). Very large amounts of seed will cause only a few plants to grow.’
v11 The people that get up early in the morning will be very sad. (They do this) so that they can get a drink of alcohol. They go to bed late in the evening, so that *wine can cause them to become drunks.
v12 At their parties there is (music from) *lyre and *harp, *tambourine and *flute. (They enjoy) their *wine. But they think that God’s works have no value. They do not really like what he has made.
v13 So my people will go into *exile, because they do not understand (God). Their leaders will die because they do not have enough food. And very many people will not have anything to drink.
v14 So *Sheol will open its mouth very wide to eat more (people). The leaders and the people will go into it. (Death will take in) the crowds that make a lot of noise. Also, (it will take in) the people that have parties (in Jerusalem).
v15 So (the *LORD) will make people *humble. Then (God) will make everybody low! (He will) take away their *proud faces.
v16 But his *justice will make the *LORD of Everything great! The *Holy God will show that he is *holy because he is so very good.
v17 Then the sheep will eat grass as (they do in) their own fields. Young sheep will eat in the large houses (that the enemy) destroyed.
v18 The people who tie themselves to *sin with silly (pieces of) line will be very sad. (They pull) *sin as (a horse pulls) a *cart with *ropes.
v19 Those people who say, ‘(The *LORD) must hurry!’ will be very sad. (They say) ‘He must do his work quickly, so that we can see it. We want to hear the ideas of the *Holy (One) of Israel. We want them to happen! Then we will really know (that they are true)!’
v20 The people that call wrong things right and right things wrong will be very sad. They say that it is light when it is dark. And (they say) that it is dark when it is light. They say that *bitter things are sweet. And (they say) that sweet things are *bitter.
v21 Some people think that they are clever. Those people will be very sad. They think that they are clever.
v22 Some people think that they are great. Those people will be very sad. (They think this) because they drink much *wine. Also, some people are strong when they mix strong drink. (Those people will be very sad.)
v23 They do not *punish *guilty people, when (the guilty) people give them money. There is no *justice for people that are not guilty.
v24 So as (surely as) fire burns dry plants, parts of them will fall into pieces. And as fire burns away dry grass, their flowers will blow away like small pieces of dirt. (This will happen) because they refused to obey the *LORD of Everything. He said what they should do. (But they did not do it.) And they thought that the words of the *Holy One of Israel were silly.
v25 For this reason the *LORD became angry with his people. He *punished them, as if someone had hit them with his hand. And the mountains moved and (his people’s) dead bodies became like dirt in the streets. (The *LORD has done) all this but he is still angry with them. And his hand is still ready (to hit them again).
v26 (The *LORD) will send a message to *nations that are far away. And he will (blow on his) *whistle to (a *nation at) the ends of the earth. And look! Here (its army) comes, very quickly!
v27 Nobody is tired; nobody falls down. Nobody rests; nobody sleeps. Nobody has a belt that they have not fastened. And nobody has broken a part of a shoe.
v28 Their *arrows are sharp and their bows are ready to shoot. Their horses’ feet are (as hard) as stones. And the *wheels (on their *chariots go as fast) as a strong wind.
v29 They *roar like a *lion, they make a noise like a young *lion. They *roar while they catch an animal to eat. They carry it away and nobody can save it.
v30 On that day, (the enemy) will *roar over what they catch. Their *roar will be like the sea. And if anybody looks to the land they will see *darkness. And (they will see) people that are very much afraid. Also, clouds will hide the light (of the sun).
v1 (It happened) in the year when King Uzziah died. I saw my *Lord. He was sitting on a very high seat. The ends of his very long coat filled the *temple. v2 Above (the *Lord) were *seraphs. They were waiting to do what he wanted them to do. Each one had 6 *wings. Two (of the *wings) were covering their faces. Two of them were covering their feet. With two of them they were flying.
v3 One (*seraph) spoke to another. They said, ‘*Holy, *holy, *holy is the *LORD of Everything! The whole earth is full of his *glory.’
v4 When each (*seraph) spoke, the door-steps of the *temple moved. Also, the *temple was full of smoke.
v5 Then I said, ‘I am very sad, because I must not speak! I am a man with lips that are not clean. And I live among people with lips that are not clean. And with my own eyes I have seen the King, the *LORD of Everything!’
v6 Then one of the *seraphs flew towards me. In his hand was a (piece of) *coal that was burning. He had taken it from the *altar with a special tool.
v7 And he touched my mouth (with it). And he said, ‘Look! This has touched your lips and it has taken away your *guilt. It has covered your *sin.’
v8 Then I heard the voice of the *Lord. He said, ‘Whom shall I send and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘I am here. Send me.’
v9 And (God said), ‘Go! And tell this to the people (in Judah):
· “Always listen, but you will never understand!
· Always look. But you will never see what it means!”
v10 Make the heart of these people fat. Close their ears and shut their eyes. If (you do not do this) they will see with their eyes. They will hear with their ears and they will understand with their hearts. (Then they will) turn and they will be well again.’
v11 Then I said, ‘For how long, *Lord, (must I do this)?’ And (this is what) he answered:
· ‘(Do it) until (their enemy) destroys the cities. Then nobody will live there.
· (Do it until) nobody lives in the houses.
· (Do it until) they cannot use the land in any way.
· v12 (Do it until) the *LORD removes people to far away (places).
· And (do it until an enemy has) destroyed many places inside the country (called Israel).
v13 And even if one in every 10 (places or people) stay, an enemy will burn them again! (They will do it as they burn) trees called terebinths and oaks. But from what remains of such a tree, an *holy people will grow.’
We can put PART 3 into 6 smaller parts. This makes it easier to understand.
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Chapters 7-12 |
Chapters 13-23 |
Chapters 24-27 |
Chapters 28-33 |
Chapters 34-35 |
Chapters 36-37 |
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THE LITTLE |
THE SAD |
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COUNTRIES |
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THE CENTRE |
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KING |
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KING |
v1 Ahaz became the king of Judah. He was the son of (King) Jotham. (Jotham was) the son of (King) Uzziah. (When Ahaz was king), Rezin, the king of Syria, and Pekah, the king of Israel, both attacked Jerusalem. But they did not win the fight. (Pekah was the) son of Remaliah. v2 (People that were in the government) told (this to Ahaz. He was from) the family of David. (They said,) ‘Syria and Ephraim have agreed (to attack you).’ Ahaz and his people (were afraid). Their hearts moved, as trees in the forest move in the wind.
v3 Then the *LORD said to Isaiah, ‘Go out and meet Ahaz. You and *Shear Jashub, your son, will meet him at the end of the water stream. That (stream) pours from the higher pool down to where people wash clothes.’ v4 (The *LORD said,) ‘Say (to Ahaz), “Be careful. And be very quiet. Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid because Rezin and the people from Syria and Pekah, the son of Remaliah, are angry. They are trying to ‘start a fire’, but their ‘fire’ will soon finish. v5 (Do not be afraid) because (the king of) Syria and the son of Remaliah have made bad *plans against you. They have said, v6 ‘We must attack Judah. We will frighten (the people). We will destroy (their country) and it will become ours. We will make the son of Tabeal king there.’ v7 The *LORD, who is *Lord, says this. ‘It will not happen, it will never happen! v8 (It will not happen,) because the capital (city) of Syria is Damascus. Now the king of Damascus is Rezin. And 65 years from now Ephraim will not be (a country)! There will be no people (of Ephraim) there. v9 And the capital (city) of Ephraim is Samaria. And the king of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. And if you do not believe this, you will not be alive (either).’ ” ’
v10 And the *LORD spoke again (to Isaiah. ‘Say this) to Ahaz.(’) v11 He said, ‘Ask the *LORD your God for a message. Ask for it deep (in the earth) or high (in the sky).’ v12 But Ahaz said, ‘I will never ask (for a message) or ask the *LORD to do something.’ v13 And he (Isaiah) said, ‘Now listen, (Ahaz. You belong to the) family of David! You are making (your) people angry (with you). And you are making God angry with you too. v14 So the *Lord himself will give you a message. Look, the *virgin will become *pregnant. She will have a son and she will call his name *Immanu El. v15 (One day) he will know (the difference between) right things and wrong things. Then he will (be old enough) to eat butter and sugar. v16 But even before the child knows (the difference between) right things and wrong things, (Assyria) will destroy (Ephraim and Syria). The two kings that you are afraid of will be (in other countries themselves).
v17 The *LORD will bring the king of Assyria to you and to your people. (He will come) to the house of your father. It will be a special time. There have been no days like it since Ephraim became separate from Judah.’ v18 On that day the *LORD will tell the flies at the higher end of the river in Egypt that they must come. And he will tell the *bees in the country called Assyria that they must come. v19 And they will all come and they will land on (these places):
· the valleys with high sides
· the holes in the rocks
· all the *thorn bushes
· all the places where there is water.
v20 On that day the *Lord will use the king of Assyria. He will come from beyond the river. He will cut off the hair from your head, your legs and your beard.
v21 On that day a man will keep alive a young cow and two goats. v22 They will give a lot of milk, so he will have butter to eat. Everyone that remains in the country will eat butter and sugar. v23 On that day, in every place where there were 1000 *vines, there will be weeds and *thorns. (1000 *vines) are worth 1000 pieces of *silver. v24 A man will go there with a bow and *arrows. (He will do this) because there will be *brambles and *thorns on all the land. v25 Nobody will go to the hills because they are afraid of the *brambles and *thorns. (These are the hills where) people would dig to grow plants. Now cows go there and sheep run about.
v1 And the *LORD said to me, ‘Get something big to write on. Then write on it, with a tool that will write (words on stones. Write “This is) about *Maher Shalal Hash Baz.” v2 And I will ask (two) special people to come to me. They must say what is true. (One will be) Uriah the *priest and (the other will be) Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. They will be my special people. They must say what is true.’ v3 Then I went to the *prophetess. She became *pregnant and she had a son. And the *LORD said to me, ‘Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz. v4 Before the child knows how to say “my father” or “my mother” (this will happen). The king of Assyria will carry away the valuable things from Damascus and from Samaria.’
v5 The *LORD spoke to me again. (He told me) that I must say,
v6 ‘This people has refused (to accept) the waters of *Shiloah, which move quietly. And (they have said that they) are very happy about Rezin and the son of Remaliah.
v7 So, see (what will happen). The *LORD will bring against them the waters of the River (Euphrates). (The waters will be) strong and powerful. (Really, the waters will be) the king of Assyria and his powerful (armies). (They will come) like a great river that rises. And it goes over its sides.
v8 Then it will pour quickly into Judah. It will rise over its sides and it will go over (the land). It will even reach the neck! His *wings will open out and cover all your country, *Immanu El.
v9 Join together (against your enemies), you people, but they will kill you all. Listen carefully, all you far countries. Get ready for war, but (your enemies) will kill your people. Get ready to fight, but (your enemies) will kill you.
v10 Make *plans together, but (the plans) will fail! Talk about what you will do. But it will not happen. (Your plans will fail) because Immanu El (God is with us)!’
v11 Now the *LORD spoke to me. (He said this) while his strong hand was upon me. He said that I must not to do what this people (the people in Judah) were doing. He said,
v12 ‘You must not think, “Everything that this people call a secret *plan is a secret plan.” Also, do not be afraid of what they are afraid of. And do not let it frighten you.
v13 Instead, be afraid of the *LORD of Everything! You should think of him as *holy. You should be afraid of him,
v14 because he, (the *LORD,) will be a safe place.
But for both houses of Israel (he will become like) a stone that will make people angry. And (he will become like) a rock that will cause them to fall over. To the people in Jerusalem, (the *LORD) will become someone to catch and to hold them.
v15 Many people’s feet will hit something and they will fall. (The *LORD) will hurt them very badly. He will catch and hold them!’
v16 Tie up what I have said (in a *scroll). Fasten what I have taught to my *disciples. v17 And I will wait for the *LORD. He is hiding his face from the house of Jacob (Israel’s people). But I believe that he (the *LORD will do something). v18 Here am I and the children that the *LORD has given to me. We are messages, messages from the *LORD of Everything to (the people in) Israel. He lives on the mountain (called) Zion.
v19 And they will say to you, ‘Ask the *mediums and *wizards. They will tell you what you should do.’ (Mediums and wizards) make noises like birds or animals! People should ask their God what to do. People who are alive should not talk to dead people. v20 (Listen again) to what I have said. And (listen) to what I have taught you. (If you listen to) their words, then there will be no dawn! v21 Then they will go through the country and they will not be very happy. They will not have enough to eat. Because they do not have enough to eat, they will become angry. They will look up (to where God lives). Then they will say bad things about their king and about their God. v22 And they will look to the earth. But they will see that it is dark and (that people are) not very happy. In the dark, (people will be) very sad. It will push (people) into something even blacker.
v1 But there will be no dark places for the people that were not very happy. In past years, (God) let trouble happen to the people in the places called Zebulun and Naphtali. But in future years, he will send *glory to (these places):
· the country by the sea
· the land at the other side of the (River) Jordan
· the part (of Israel) that people in other countries (call) Galilee.
v2 The people that walk in the dark will see a great light. The light will shine on those (people) that live on land full of dark shadows.
v3 You (*LORD) will make the country bigger. And you will make its people much happier. They will be happy with you as when people are happy at *harvest time. Soldiers are also happy, because of what they have won in war. And its people will be happy like them.
v4 (This is) because, as in the time of Midian, (you will kill our enemies). You will break (these things):
· the *yoke (that carries) their heavy weights
· the sticks (that they hit) our backs with
· the *rod that hurts us.
v5 Then they will burn as material for the fire every boot that soldiers wore in war. And (they will burn) the clothes with blood on them.
v6 (They will do this) because a child is born for us. (God has) given us a son. And that son will always have authority (to rule the people). And (people) will call him by these names:
· *Wonderful Friend
· Great God
· Father for Always
· Leader who brings *Peace
v7 His authority will become greater. And the *peace that he will bring will never come to an end. He will be king over (the land) that David ruled. He will make it safe. He will make sure that it has *justice. And its people will be very good, now and always. The *LORD of Everything will cause this to happen, because he loves (his people).
Note. Isaiah says this 4 times in 9:12, 17, 21 and 10:3.
v8 The *Lord sent a message against *Jacob and it came to Israel.
v9 And all the people (that live in) Ephraim and Samaria know about it. They *praise themselves (with these words).
v10 ‘(Our) *brick (houses) fell down. But we will build them again with stones that we have cut. They have knocked down (buildings that we made from) *sycamore trees. But we will build them again with *cedar (trees, which are better).’
v11 But the *LORD will make the enemies of Rezin stronger against him. Also, he will help those enemies.
v12 The people from Syria on the east and the people from Philistia on the west have opened their mouths. And they have eaten Israel. But (the *LORD) is still angry and his hand is still ready (to hit them again).
‘They have eaten Israel’ means ‘They have beaten the people in many places and now they rule those places.’
v13 But the people did not turn to him who hit them. Neither did they go to the *LORD of Everything.
v14 So in one day the *LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail. (He will also cut off) *palm branch and *reed.
v15 The head means the older men and the important people. The tail means the (false) *prophets. They teach what is not true.
v16 The leaders of this people lead them away from what is true. They confuse the people that they are leaders of.
v17 So the *Lord will not feel happy with their young men. And he will not be kind and help (children) without fathers. (He will not help) women whose husbands are dead. This is because nobody obeys God. (Everyone) does wrong things. What everyone says tells us this. They are fools. But (the *LORD) is still angry and his hand is still ready (to hit them again).
v18 The wrong things (that people do) burn like a fire. They eat up *briars and *thorns. They burn up the bushes in the forest. And they rise up (into the sky) like a lot of smoke.
v19 He is very angry, so the *LORD of Everything will burn the land. Also, the people will be like material for the fire. No man will be kind to his brother (another *Jew).
v20 They will take food on their right (side), but they will remain hungry. And they will eat what is on the *left (side), but it will not fill them. Everyone will eat the body of the person that lives near him.
v21 Ephraim will eat Manasseh and Manasseh will eat Ephraim. And both of them (will fight) against Judah. But (the *LORD) is still angry and his hand is still ready (to hit them again).
v1 (Some) people make rules that are not fair. (They also make) rules that are cruel to people. Those people will be very sad.
v2 (They do these things:)
· (Some) people need many things. (Their rulers) do not let them get what is fair.
· They take away what poor people should have.
· They rob women whose husbands are dead of everything.
· And they are cruel to children whose parents are dead.
v3 You can do nothing when God *punishes you. And (you can do nothing) in a storm that comes from far away. Nobody will help you and there will be nowhere to hide your valuable things.
v4 You can only go to be with the people that are in a prison. Or perhaps you will die with those (that the enemy) kills in war. But (the *LORD) is still angry and his hand is still ready (to hit them again).
v5 (The people) in Assyria (will be very sad). (I will use them) like a stick, because I am angry. They (will be like someone who hits Israel) with a heavy stick. (They will do that) because I am so very angry.
v6 I will send (the people from Assyria) against (Israel, because Israel) does not obey God. I will tell (them that they must attack Israel). I am angry with the people (in Israel). (The people from Assyria) will take what (the people in Israel) have. And they will rob them of their things. Then (the people from Assyria) will walk all over them, as (if Israel’s people were) dirt in the streets.
v7 But this is not what (Assyria’s people) are thinking. Their ideas are different. They want to beat as many countries as they can. (They want) to destroy them.
v8 (The king of Assyria) *boasts, ‘All the leaders of my armies are (like) kings!
v9 (The city that is called) Calno is like Carchemish. Hamath is like Arpad and Samaria is like Damascus.
v10 My hand took all these places and their *idols. They had more *idols than Jerusalem and Samaria.
v11 So I will do to Jerusalem and her *idols what I did to Samaria and her *idols.’
v12 The *Lord will finish all his work against the hill called Zion and Jerusalem. Then (he will say), ‘I will *punish the king of Assyria. He *boasts in his mind and there is *pride in his eyes.’
v13 (This is what the king of Assyria) says. ‘I have done this because I am so strong. Also, I am very clever. (So) I know (what to do). I have removed the *boundaries between countries. Also, I have taken their valuable things. Like a wild animal, I have attacked their people.
v14 My hand found the valuable things of (many) countries. (I did this) as one finds a (bird’s) home. I have got all the earth (as easily) as people take eggs from an empty bird’s home. And nobody moved a *wing or opened a mouth to make a noise.’
v15 (The *LORD says,) ‘The axe is not more powerful than the person that uses it. A tool is not more important than the person that uses it. (Also, it is silly) to think that a stick can move its user! Or (it is silly to think) that a thick stick can move a man!
v16 So the *Lord, the *LORD of Everything, will send an illness to (Assyria’s) fat soldiers. They will become thin! He will light a fire under their *pride. It will burn with a bright light.
v17 (The *LORD, who is) the Light of Israel, will become a fire. The *Holy One (of Israel) will become a bright fire. And it will burn and destroy (Assyria’s) *thorns and *briars in one day.
v18 (The *LORD) will completely destroy (Assyria’s) great forests and its good fields. Its people’s *spirit and body will become as nothing.
v19 Only a few forest trees will remain, so that even a child will be able to count them!
v20 When that happens, (this will happen to) the *remnant of Israel. (They are) the people of *Jacob that are still alive.
· They will not get help from (Assyria), which beat them.
· Instead, they will get all their help from the *LORD, the *Holy One of Israel.
v21 A *remnant, a *remnant of Jacob, will return and get help from the Great God.
v22 Israel, only a *remnant (of you) will return. (This is) even when there are so many of you. (There are as many of you) as there are bits of sand on the sea shore.
v23 This will happen because the *Lord, the *LORD of Everything, will destroy the whole country. (He will destroy it), as he promised to do.’
v24 So, this is what the *Lord, the *LORD of Everything says. ‘My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the people from Assyria. They will be like someone who hits you with a stick. They will lift up a big stick against you like the people in Egypt did. v25 But soon I will not be angry with you. Instead, I will be angry (with the people from Assyria) and I will kill them. v26 And the *LORD of Everything will use a *whip against them. He will do this as when he killed Midian’s people at the Rock of Oreb. His stick will be over the sea, and he will lift it up. (He will lift it up) as he did in Egypt. v27 In that day the weight will come off your shoulder. (The *LORD) will destroy the *yoke on your neck.’
v28 (Assyria) will start from Rimmon and he will go to Aiath. He will pass through Migron. He will store his things at Michmash.
v29 They will pass (through the hills), and they will stay for a night at Geba. (The people in) Ramah will be afraid and (the people in) Gibeah of Saul will run away.
v30 People in Gallim, shout (for help)! Listen, (people in) Laish. Answer them, (people in) Anathoth.
v31 (The people in) Madmenah will run away. And those that live in Gebim will rush to a safe place.
v32 He will remain at Nob the day (that he arrives there). He will move his fist angrily towards the people who live in Zion and on the hill of Jerusalem.
v33 But look! The *Lord, the *LORD of Everything, will cut off the branches with (his) *power which frightens (people). He will cut down the tallest trees. And he will cause those that are very high to lie low.
v34 He will cut down the trees in the forest with an axe. Also, (the great trees from) Lebanon will fall down.
v1 The part of the Tree of Jesse that remains will start to grow. Then a Branch will grow from the part of it that is under the ground.
v2 The Spirit of the *LORD will come on him. (It will be like this:)
· a *spirit that knows what is right; and (a *spirit that) knows what things mean
· a *spirit that tells people the (right) thing to do and that has authority
· a *spirit that knows everything and that is afraid of the *LORD.
v3 To obey the *LORD will give pleasure (to the Branch). He will not decide about things (only) with what his eyes see. (He will not) decide (only) with what his ears hear.
v4 But what he decides about poor people will be with *justice. Also, he will decide about people who are not powerful. He will be fair. He will *punish bad people and his words will kill them.
v5 (He will wear) true *justice like a belt round him. (He will) also (wear) as clothes (the fact that he is) always there.
v6 *Wolves will live with young sheep (and will not eat them)! And *leopards will lie down with young goats! Young cows and *lions will feed together and young children will lead them!
v7 Cows and *bears will feed (together) and their young (animals) will lie down together. And *lions will eat dry grass like cows.
v8 And a small baby will play (safely) near the hole where a dangerous snake (lives). And a young child (will be safe) if he puts his hand on to the home of (another) dangerous snake.
v9 They will not hurt nor kill (each other) in all my *holy mountain. Then the earth shall be as full of facts about the *LORD as water fills the sea.
v10 In that day, the part (of the tree) of Jesse will be a like a sign to (all) peoples. Other countries will come to him. And the place where he lives will be *wonderful.
v11 And on that day, my *Lord will do something for the second time. He will save the *remnant of his people that are still (alive. He will take them) from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Elam, Shinar, Hamath and from countries by the sea.
v12 (The *Lord) will lift up a sign for these countries (to see). He will bring together the people from Israel (that Assyria) took away. He will bring back the *exiles of Judah from all over the earth.
v13 No longer will Ephraim not like (Judah) and Judah will not attack (Ephraim) any longer. Ephraim will no longer want what Judah has. Also, Judah will not cause trouble for Ephraim again.
v14 But together they will attack the low hills of Philistia to the west. They will beat the people to the east (of the River Jordan). They will fight against Edom and Moab, and the people in Ammon will obey them.
v15 The *LORD completely destroyed part of the Sea of Egypt. He will lift his hand over the River (Euphrates). Then he will send a hot wind that burns things. It will make (the river) into 7 streams, so that people can cross it with dry feet.
v16 And there will be a good road from Assyria for the *remnant. (They are the *LORD’s) people that remain. It will be (as good a road) as when Israel came up from the country called Egypt.
v1 You will say in that day, ‘I *praise you, *LORD. You were angry with me, but now, you are not angry (with me). Now you are being kind to me.
v2 Listen! God has made me safe! I will continue to believe (in him). And I will not be afraid because the *LORD, the *LORD, has made me strong. He is the person that I am singing about. He has made me safe.
v3 You will get water happily from the wells. (This water) will make you safe.’
v4 And you will say in that day, ‘*Praise the *LORD! Shout (aloud) his name! Tell everybody what God has done. Cause them to remember that he is very great.
v5 Sing *psalms to the *LORD because he has done *wonderful things! Cause everyone in the world to know it!
v6 Everyone that lives in Zion, shout! And sing because you are so happy! The *Holy One of Israel is great and he is (living) with you.’
v1 (These are) serious words (about) Babylon that Isaiah the son of Amoz ‘saw’.
The word ‘saw’ here means ‘understood’. He may also have ‘seen’ something that God showed to him.
v2 Lift up a sign on an empty hill. Shout aloud to them and lift a hand! Then they will go through the gates of the kings.
v3 I myself have sent my *holy ones. I have told them what they must do. Also, my brave soldiers (must say) that I am very angry. I have sent them. (They are) my *proud (soldiers). Nobody has ever beaten them.
Verse 3 ‘holy ones’ here may mean *angels. Or it may mean the soldiers that God will use.
v4 (Listen to) the sound of a very big crowd! (They are) people (that are) on the mountains! (Listen to) the sound of these people. They are shouting while they come together from many countries! The *LORD of Many (Armies) is preparing an army ready for war.
v5 People are coming from a country that is far away. (They are coming) from the ends of the skies. The *LORD (is coming) with arms, (because he is) angry. He will destroy the whole country (of Babylon).
v6 Weep, because the day of the *LORD is near. It will happen when *Shaddai destroys (your country).
v7 Everybody’s hands will become weak because of this. And every human heart will fail,
v8 and they will be very much afraid. They will hurt and they will be in much pain. They will be (afraid) like a woman that is having (a baby). They will look at each other and their faces will frighten each other.
v9 Look! The day of the *LORD will happen (soon!) (It will be) cruel. (The *LORD) will be angry. He will be like an angry fire! It will make the country (of Babylon) empty and it will kill (all the) *sinners in it.
v10 Yes! The stars in the skies, all of them, will give no light. When the sun appears (in the morning), it will still be dark. The moon will not shine.
v11 I will cause very bad things to happen to the world. And (I will *punish) bad people for their *sins. I will not let *proud people think that they are better (than anyone else). And I will beat strong people that hurt (weak people).
v12 I will make men harder to find than the best gold. And men and women will be more difficult to find than gold from Ophir.
v13 So I will cause the skies to move. The earth will move. And (people) will see how angry the *LORD of Many (Armies) is.
v14 And people will look at each other and they will run away to their own country. They will be like wild animals that run away from the hunter. Or (they will be) like sheep with nobody to lead them.
v15 (The foreign army) will (kill) with sharp knives anyone that tries to run away. And they will kill with the *sword anyone that they catch.
v16 They will break young children into pieces while (the children’s parents) watch. They will rob the people’s homes and they will have sex with their wives.
v17 Look, I will cause the Medes to come (to fight) against (Babylon). (The Medes) do not ask for *silver or gold.
v18 Their bows will kill the young men. They will not be kind to babies. And they will not seem sorry for the children.
v19 And Babylon will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God destroyed them. (This will happen even if other) countries think, ‘Babylon is beautiful.’ The people in *Chaldea are *proud of (Babylon).
v20 People will never live there again. And none of its children will ever live there again. No Arab will put his *tent there. No farmers will cause their animals to lie down there.
v21 Only wild animals will lie down there. Its houses will be full of *owls that scream. And *ostriches will live there. Wild goats will dance about in it.
v22 *Hyenas will make a noise in its tall buildings and *jackals will live in its beautiful *palaces. (The Medes) will soon destroy it. It does not have many more days.
v1 The *LORD will be sorry for *Jacob and he will choose Israel again. Then he will give them rest in their own country. Also, people from a foreign country will join themselves to the people of Jacob. They will really become united with them. v2 And the (foreign) people will take the people (of Israel) and bring them to their own country (Israel). Then the people of Israel will rule the foreign people in the *LORD’s country. They (the foreign people) will become male and female slaves. So the people that made (Israel) *prisoners, will be prisoners themselves! (Israel) will rule over the people that were cruel to them.
v3 On that day, this will happen. The *LORD will give you rest from these things:
· all your pain and illnesses
· the cruel way that (your enemies) caused you to work.
v4 You will laugh at the king of Babylon. Then you will say (to him), ‘Now you cannot be cruel to us, nor can you attack us!
v5 The *LORD has destroyed the authority of bad people. He has removed the power of the rulers (of Babylon).
v6 (The rulers of Babylon) hit many people because they were angry with them. They never stopped hitting them. They were very angry, so they attacked (other) countries. They never stopped fighting them.
v7 (But now) there is no war in the whole world and it can rest. Everyone is singing (because they are so happy)!
v8 Even the *pine trees and the *cedar trees in Lebanon are happy. (They say this) to you, (king of Babylon): “Since (the *LORD) beat you, nobody has come to cut us down!”
v9 When you arrive there, you will get much interest from (the people in) *Sheol. People there will (come) to meet you! You will wake up the Rephaim, who were all leaders on the earth. (They will come) to say, “welcome” to you. All who were kings of the their countries will stand up from their seats.
v10 All of them will speak to you and say this. “Even you have become as weak as we (are)! You have become like us!”
v11 Your *pride will bring you down to *Sheol with the noise of your *harps. Under you will be a bed of *maggots and (over you) a blanket of *worms.’
Some Christians believe that these words are also about *Satan.
v12 ‘Look at you! You have fallen from the skies!
You shine. (You are called the) Son of the Dawn!
You made many countries low, but now you are low yourself!
v13 You said in your mind, “I will go up into the *heavens.
I will put my seat above the stars of God.
I will sit in the mountain in the far north with God’s leaders.
v14 I will rise above the tops of the clouds. I will be like the *Most High.”
v15 But he has brought you down to *Sheol, to the deepest *Pit!’
v16 ‘Those (people) that see you will really look at you. They will think this about you. “This is the man that caused the earth to move. He caused countries to *shake.
v17 (This is the man) that made the world like a *desert. He destroyed its cities. He did not let his *prisoners go (back to their) homes.”
v18 All the kings of all the countries – yes! all of them – lie down in a good place. Each (king lies) in his own *grave.
v19 But you, they will throw you out without a *grave! You will be like a branch (that people throw) away. Or (you will be like) the clothes of a dead man that a *sword has cut. (You will be like) someone that fell on to the stones in a big hole. Or (you will be like) a dead body that people have kicked.
v20 They will not bury you with the other (kings of Babylon). Here are the reasons:
· You have destroyed your country.
· You have killed your (own) people.
Nobody will ever remember again this son of very bad people!
v21 Prepare a place where they will kill his children. (They will kill them) because their parents *sinned. Then his children will not rule the world or fill it with cities.’
v22 ‘I will fight against them’, says the *LORD of Many Armies. The *LORD of Many Armies also says, ‘I will remove the name of Babylon. (I will remove its) people that remain, their children and their children’s children.’ v23 The *LORD of Many Armies says this also: ‘I will make (Babylon) a place where *owls live. Also, (it will be a place) where there are pools of water. And I will take it away completely (like a man sweeps things away) with a brush.’
v24 The *LORD of Many Armies has *made a serious promise. ‘It will happen as my *plan says. I will really do what I have decided to do. v25 I will kill the man from Assyria in my country. Also, I will put him under my feet on my mountains. Then, he will not be cruel to my people. Also, they will not have to carry his heavy weights again.’ v26 This is the plan that (he) made for the whole earth. And this is the hand that (he) lifted over all the *nations. v27 This is the plan of the *LORD of Many Armies. Nobody can change it. He has lifted up his hand. Nobody can change this.
v28 In the year that King Ahaz died, (Isaiah) received this message:
v29 ‘Do not feel happy, you people in Philistia. (God) has broken the stick that hit you. But from that snake a more dangerous snake will come. And from that (snake) will come a snake that can fly!
v30 But poor people will feed their (animals) that were born first. And people that need (help) will sleep safely. Then I will cause your people (in Philistia) to die because there is no food. And I will kill the people that remain.
v31 Gate (of the city), cry! City (itself), scream! Move away, all you people in Philistia! (Do this) because smoke will come from the north. Everybody in (that) army will march quickly.’
Verse 31 The gate in a city was the place where important people met. So the word ‘gate’ may mean these important people here.
v32 ‘What shall we say to the people that bring messages from the government? Say that the *LORD has built Zion. And (say) that his poor people will be safe there.’
v1 (This is) a serious message (about) Moab.
It is true! In one night (an enemy) destroyed Ar (and) Moab made no noise.
It is true! In one night (an enemy) destroyed Kir in Moab (and Moab made) no noise.
v2 (The people in) Dibon have gone up to their *temple to weep. (They have gone up to) the high places. Moab is crying about Nebo and Medeba. Every head is bald and (they have) cut off every beard.
v3 They are wearing hairy cloth in the streets. On the roofs (of their houses) they are weeping. And in the open places (in their towns they are weeping). *Tears cover their faces.
v4 Then (the people in) Heshbon and Elealeh cried aloud. (People) as far away as Jahaz heard the sound! The soldiers of Moab cry aloud (because they are afraid). The minds (of Moab’s people) are afraid.
v5 Inside, I feel like a man who is crying aloud for Moab! Its people have run away as far as Zoar (and) Eglath Shelishijah.
It is true! They weep while they climb up the hill to Luhith.
It is true! On the road to Horonaim they shout aloud, ‘(An enemy) has destroyed (us)!’
‘Inside, I feel like a man who is crying aloud for Moab!’ Isaiah means that he feels very sad.
v6 It is true! It is not wet; it is dry in (the Valley of) Nimrim.
It is true! The grass is dead. Nothing new is growing. (And) there is nothing (that is) green.
v7 So, they are carrying away over the Wadi Arabim whatever they found still (in the fields). And they are carrying away what they have saved.
The Wadi Arabim was a small river.
v8 It is true! The sounds (of people that ask for help) reach the edges of Moab. (People) as far as Eglaim heard (Moab’s) sad songs. (Moab’s) sad songs reached Beer Elim.
v9 It is true! Blood fills the waters of Dimon.
It is true! More (bad) things will happen to Dimon. A *lion will wait for those that run away from Moab. And (it will wait) for those that remain (in the) country.
v1 Send young sheep from the ruler of the country (to Jerusalem). Send them from Sela across the *desert to the mountain of the *Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem).
v2 The women from Moab (are crossing) the River Arnon. (They are) like birds that are learning to fly. (The mother bird) has pushed them out from their home.
v3 Tell us what we should do! Be fair about what you say! Cause your shadow (over us) to seem like it is night in the middle of the day! Hide the *refugees! Do not show (to their enemies) the people that have run away!
v4 Let the people from Moab who are running away stay with you. Hide them from (the enemy that is) killing them.
It is true! People will not be cruel to those who are weak. People will not destroy things. People that fight will *disappear from the country.
v5 Someone from David’s family will build a *kingdom. The man that rules it will be fair and honest. He will be a fair *judge. He will decide rightly. And he will quickly cause (his people) to do what is right.
v6 We have heard about the *pride of Moab. (Moab was) very *proud. In its *pride, (Moab) thought that it was better (than other people). And Moab said things that were not kind (to them).
v7 So Moab weeps. All Moab weeps for itself. Sing a sad song. And cry for the cakes made with very dry grapes from Kir Hareseth!
v8 It is true! There are no (fruits) in the fields in Heshbon. And (there is nothing on) the *vine of Sibmah. The rulers of (other) countries have destroyed its branches. (The branches) reached to Jazer (in the north-west) and as far as the *desert (in the east). Its new branches grew and they crossed over (the Dead) Sea.
v9 Because of this, I weep for the *vine of Sibmah, as Jazer weeps. I put my tears all over you, Heshbon and Elealeh.
It is true! The noise of war has fallen on your plants and on your fruit.
Verses 8 and 9 Isaiah seems to write about the vines in Sibmah like they were one big vine.
v10 Nobody is really happy in the fields. Nobody sings or shouts (because they are happy) in the *vineyards. Nobody jumps on the *grapes in the places where they make *wine. I have caused the noise to stop.
v11 So, I cry deep inside me for Moab. It is like the sad sound of a *harp. And I am hurting for Kir Hareseth.
v12 And when the people in Moab come to their high place, they will become very tired. When they come to pray at their *temple, nothing will happen.
v13 Those are the words that the *LORD has already spoken about Moab. v14 But now the *LORD says, ‘In three years, everybody will laugh at Moab. Count these years like (the years that) people pay a worker. Then (God) will make all Moab’s many *proud people *humble. And only a few of them will remain, a very small number.’
v1 (This is a) serious message (about) Damascus. Look! (The enemy) broke the city called Damascus into a lot of stones.
v2 Nobody lives in the cities of Aroer. They have become (places) where groups (of animals) lie down. Nobody makes them afraid.
v3 There are no strong cities in Ephraim and no kings in Damascus. The few people that remain in Aram are as great as the people of Israel! (This is what) the *LORD of Many Armies is saying.
v4 On that day the *LORD removed the things that *Jacob was *proud of. His fat body became thin!
v5 And it was like when a farmer got all the *grain. He did it while it was still (in a field). With his arm he cut off the fruit from the plants. Then it was like when someone *gleans some of the grain in the Valley of Rephaim.
v6 There was not much in (Israel). It was like someone that hit an *olive tree. There were only two or three small olives on the highest branch. And (there were only) 4 or 5 fruits on the branches of a fruit tree. (This is what) the *LORD, the God of Israel, (is) saying.
v7 On a day (like) that, people should obey their *Maker. They should turn to the *Holy One of Israel.
v8 They should not think that the *altars (can help them). Their hands have made (these altars). They should not turn to what their fingers have made. These are (*images of the female god called) Asherah. And the altars (are where they burn) *incense.
v9 On that day, (Israel’s) strong cities became like empty cities. (They were like) those (other) empty forests and woods. People had left them when Israel (first attacked them). So (the cities) were empty groups of stones, v10 for these reasons. You forgot the God that made you safe. You did not remember the Rock that hid you (from danger). You planted gardens for a false god and you planted *vines for a foreign god.
Verse 10 ‘the Rock’ means God.
v11 So, there were no fruits. On the day that you planted them, you caused them to grow well. They had flowers on the morning that you planted them! But all this finished in a day that was very sad. And (there was) pain that nothing could take away.
v12 Oh, (listen)! (The people in) many countries are *roaring. They are making a noise like an angry sea! And (listen)! The (people in those) countries are roaring, they are roaring like great amounts of water!
v13 The (people in those) countries are *roaring; they are roaring like great amounts of water! But when (the *LORD) will shout at them, they will run far away. The wind will blow them away like dead bits of plants on the hills. Or it will blow them away like dirt that blows about before a storm.
v14 Look! In the evening everyone is very much afraid. And in the morning nobody is there! This is what will happen to anyone that takes things from us. (It will happen to anyone who) robs us.
v1 Oh! (There is) a country (where the) ships have *wings. It is near the rivers of Cush.
v2 It is sending messages by people in boats (that they) made from *papyrus. They sail on the top of the waters. Go, take a message quickly. (Go to) a country where (the people) are tall. And their skins are not hairy. (It is a country where everyone), both near and far, is afraid of its people. The country is very strong and rivers cut the land into parts.
There were two places called Cush 2700 years ago. One is near Ethiopia, the other near Iraq. Most Bible students think that here it is Ethiopia. We cannot be sure.
v3 Everybody that lives (in the) world and (on the) earth, (listen to this). You will see a sign on the tops of the mountains. You will hear the sound of a *trumpet.
v4 This (is what) the *LORD said to me. ‘I will watch quietly from my place. I will be as quiet as the heat that shines from the sun. (I will be as quiet as) the *mist that rises at *harvest time.’
v5 Then, before the *harvest, (the *LORD) will cut off the new parts of the plants. He will use a special knife. He will cut off the wide branches and take them away. (He will do this) after the flowers have gone. But (he will do it) before the fruit is ready to pick.
v6 (He) will leave them all for the birds that catch small animals in the mountains to eat. (He will leave them) to the wild animals on the land. The birds (will feed) on them all the summer. And the wild animals will (feed) on them all the winter.
v7 At that time (people) brought gifts to the *LORD of Many Armies. The people are tall and their skins are not hairy. Everyone both near and far is afraid of these people. The country is very strong, and rivers cut the land into parts. (They will come) to a place where the Name of the *LORD of Many Armies is. It is a mountain called Zion.
v1 (This is a) serious message (about) Egypt.
Look! The *LORD will come to Egypt. He will ride on a cloud that will move quickly. The false gods of Egypt will be afraid when he comes. Also, the heart of Egypt will turn into water inside.
‘the heart of Egypt will turn into water inside’ means that all the people in Egypt will be very much afraid.
v2 ‘I will cause Egypt’s men (to fight) against Egypt’s men. A man will fight against his brother. A man will fight against the man that lives near him. A city (will fight) against a city and a *kingdom will fight against a *kingdom.
v3 (I will) pour out the *spirit of Egypt from inside it. And I will confuse their plans. (So) they will ask (for help from) their false gods. And (they will ask for help from) the *spirits of dead people, and from *mediums and from *wizards.
v4 And I will give Egypt into the power of a cruel master. And a powerful king will rule over them.’ (This is what) the *Lord, the *LORD of Many Armies says.
v5 And the waters of the sea will become dry. And the river will have no water and so it will become dry.
v6 And the *canals will have less (water) and they will have a bad smell. And the streams of Egypt will become dry. The *reeds and the other plants that grow by the river will die.
v7 (And) the plants at the side of the river (Nile) will die. And (the plants near) where the river goes into the sea (will die). Everything (that people) plant by the river will become dry. (The wind will) blow it away and (there will be) nothing there.
v8 And the fishers will be very sad. Then, everyone that throws a bent piece of metal and a line into the river will cry. Also, those people that put something on the water to catch fish will have nothing (to eat).
v9 The people that work with the *flax will not know what to do. The women that comb (the flax) will not be happy. Neither will the men that make it into cloth (be happy).
v10 This will destroy the *spirit of the workers (in Egypt). Everyone that works for money (will feel) sick inside them.
v11 The leaders of Zoan are really fools! The best people in Pharaoh’s government say that he must do silly things! You cannot say to Pharaoh, ‘I am a son of a man who knows nearly everything. (I am) a son of (someone who was) king a long time ago.’
v12 Where, then, (Pharaoh), are your clever men? (Or, Pharaoh, you have no clever men!) Cause them to tell you now what they know. They know what the *LORD of Many Armies will do against Egypt.
v13 The leaders in Zoan have made themselves into fools. The leaders of Noph have confused each other. The leaders of (these) groups (of people) have caused Egypt to choose wrongly.
v14 The *LORD has mixed into the people (of Egypt) something that confuses their *spirits. In everything that they do they choose wrongly.) They choose wrongly like a drunk that is being sick.
v15 There is nothing that anybody in Egypt can do. They may be like a head or like a tail, a branch on a *palm tree or a *reed. (There is nothing that they can do.)
v16 In that day the people in Egypt will be afraid, like women. They will be afraid when the *LORD of Many Armies uses his power against them. v17 The (name of the) country called Judah will frighten the people in Egypt very much. When people say (the name Judah), they will be afraid of the *LORD of Many Armies. They will be afraid of what he has decided to do against them.
v18 In that day 5 cities in the country called Egypt will speak the language of *Canaan. (The people in them) will promise to obey the *LORD of Many Armies. One of the towns will be called Sun City.
v19 In that day there will be an *altar to the *LORD in the middle of the country called Egypt. Also, (there will be) a tall stone to the *LORD at the edge (of Egypt). v20 Those (two things) will be like notices to tell (everyone in) the country called Egypt about the *LORD of Many Armies. (The people in Egypt) will pray to the *LORD because other people are cruel to them. Then, this is what he will do. He will send someone to make them safe. And he will send a *judge who will remove the danger from them. v21 And the *LORD will know the people in Egypt. And also, the people in Egypt will know the *LORD in that day. And they will *worship (the *LORD) and they will offer gifts to him. They will *make promises to the *LORD. And they will do what they have promised to do. v22 And (if) the *LORD should send to Egypt a *plague, he (really) will hurt them. But then he will make them well again. And then they will return to the *LORD. And he will answer their *prayers and he will make them well.
v23 In that day there will be a road from Egypt to Assyria. (People from) Assyria will go to Egypt and (people from) Egypt will go to Assyria. People from Egypt and Assyria will *worship together.
v24 In that day Israel will be the third (country) with Egypt and Assyria. Good things will happen in the middle of the country. v25 The *LORD of Many Armies will do good things for them. He will say, ‘I will do good things for my people Egypt, and Assyria, which I have made. And I will do good things for Israel that I have chosen.’
v1 In the year (711 *B.C.) (the man called the) Tartan came to Ashdod. (This was) when Sargon, the king of Assyria, sent him. He fought against Ashdod and he destroyed it. v2 In that time the *LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz. (He) said, ‘Go and take the hairy clothes off your body and the shoes from your feet.’ And (Isaiah) did this. He walked about without clothes and without shoes. v3 And the *LORD said, ‘My servant Isaiah walked without clothes and without shoes for three years. It was a message and a *prophecy against Egypt and Cush. v4 This is what the king of Assyria (will do). He will take away (people) from Egypt as *prisoners. And (he will take people) from Cush as *exiles. Young people and old people will go. They will have no clothes or shoes. (People) will see their bottoms (where the backs of the legs and the body join). This will make the people in Egypt ashamed. v5 They will not be very happy and they will be ashamed. They had hoped that Cush (would help them). And they had said that Egypt (would help them also). v6 The people that live along this coast will say in that day, “Look! This happened to the people that we hoped (would help us). We went to them for help. (We did this) to get away from the king of Assyria. And now, we do not know how to get away (from him).” ’
v1 (This is) a serious message about the *desert near the sea. It comes from the *desert. (It comes) from a frightening place. It is like a storm from the *Negev *desert.
Verse 1 Bible students do not know where this desert was. It was either south of Jerusalem, or south of Babylon. This translation believes that it was Babylon.
v2 I received a difficult message. The robber robs and the destroyer destroys. Elam, go up (to Babylon)! Media, attack (Babylon)! (The *LORD says,) ‘I will stop (Babylon) crying.’
v3 (All) this hurts me. Bad pains attack me. (They are) like the bad pains that a woman feels. (She feels them) when she has a baby. What I hear bends me over. And that is why I cannot listen. What I see frightens me. And that is why I cannot look.
v4 It confuses my mind. I am very much afraid. I wanted a quiet evening. But now that quiet evening has become (a time) when I am very much afraid.
v5 They prepare a special meal. They put down the carpets. They eat and drink. Officers, make your *shields ready!
v6 This is what the *Lord said to me. ‘Go! And cause somebody to stand and to watch (what will happen). (Ask) him to report what he sees.
v7 If he reports (one of these) then cause him to watch.
· a rider
· a pair of (men on) horses
· a rider on a *donkey
· a rider on a *camel.
And he must watch very well.’
v8 Then the man that watched shouted. (He said), ‘*Lord, I am standing every day on a building (from which I can see everything). I am standing at my place every night.
v9 And look! Someone is coming! (It is) a rider, (it is) a man with a pair of horses!’ (The man) reports and says this. ‘(An enemy) has destroyed Babylon! (The enemy) has destroyed it! All the *images of its people’s gods lie in pieces on the ground!’
v10 (Judah), they have hurt you. They have hurt you very much. (But) I have told you what I have heard from the *LORD of Everything. (He is) the God of Israel.
v11 (This is) a serious message about Dumah. Someone is shouting to me from Seir. (They are asking,) ‘Keeper, how much more of the night (is there)? Keeper, how much more of the night (is there)?’
v12 The keeper said, ‘The morning will come, (but) so will the night. If you want to ask (again, then) come back. Come (and) ask!’
v13 (This is) a serious message about Arabia. *Caravans of people from Dedan, you will find a safe place (behind) the bushes in the *wild country.
v14 (There) you will give water to (people) who need a drink. People that live in Tema will give bread to the *refugees.
v15 (Do this) because they are running away from (all this):
· *swords
· swords (that are) ready to fight
· bows (that soldiers have) bent
· the dangerous *battle.
v16 This is what my *Lord has said to me. ‘In less than a year, all the important people in Kedar will have gone. A servant (that someone has) paid counts a year. Count the year like that. v17 Only a few of the men that use bows (from the) soldiers of the men from Kedar will remain. (This will happen) because the *LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.’
v1 (This is) a serious message about the Valley (in Jerusalem that Isaiah ‘saw’) in a *vision. Something is the matter with you. You have all gone up on to the roofs of your houses!
The word ‘saw’ here means ‘understood’. He may also have ‘seen’ something that God showed to him.
v2 (Your) city is full of noise. And (it is full of people that are) rushing about. The town is having a party! The *sword did not kill the people that are dead. They did not die in a war.
v3 (The enemy) caught all your leaders that ran away. (The enemy) did not have to use one bow. Some of them ran a long way away, but (the enemy) caught them all!
v4 So I said, ‘Leave me alone! Let me cry the saddest *tears. Do not try to make me happy, because (the enemy will) kill many of my people.
v5 (This is) because my *Lord, the *LORD of Everything, will have a day of noise. (It will be) in the Valley of *Vision (in Jerusalem). There will be feet that are running and (it will) confuse people. (The enemy) will destroy walls and people will shout (for help) to the hills.’
v6 (People will say), ‘(People from) Elam carried baskets of *arrows. (There were) men with *chariots and horses and (soldiers from) Kir lifted up (their) *shields.’
v7 So your best valleys will be full of *chariots and men on horses will attack (your city’s) gates.
v8 (The *LORD) will take away from Judah the place where its people hide themselves. So, in that day, you will look for arms in the House of the Forest (in Jerusalem).
v9 You will see that there are many holes in the walls of the City of David. Also, you will get water from the Lower Pool.
v10 Then you will count the houses in Jerusalem. And you will knock down the houses to make the walls (of Jerusalem) stronger.
v11 You may have built a place inside the walls (of Jerusalem) to put water from the Old Pool. But you have not looked to its *Maker. And you did not see the person that made plans for it long ago.
v12 And in that day my *Lord, the *LORD of Everything, will ask for (people) to weep and to cry aloud. He will ask them to cut the hair off their heads. Also, they must wear hairy clothes.
v13 But look! (Everybody is) happy, they are very happy. They are killing cows and sheep. They will eat meat and drink. (They are saying,) ‘We will eat and drink, because tomorrow we will die.’
v14 But this is what the *LORD of Everything has told me. ‘(I will) certainly not excuse this *sin until you (all) die.’ (This is what) my *Lord, the *LORD of Everything said.
v15 This (is what) my *Lord, the *LORD of Everything, said. (He said,) ‘Stand up and go to this (man) Shebna. He has authority in (the king’s) house.
v16 (Say to him,) “You should not be here. (God did not say) that you (could be) here. You have cut (in the rock) here for yourself a *tomb. You have cut a tomb in the side of the hill. You have cut for yourself a place in the rock to put your dead body.
v17 Look! The *LORD will throw you; he will throw you (away, you) strong man! (First) he will hold on to you in his strong hand.
v18 (Then) he will make you like a ball; he will make you like a ball. (Then he will) throw you like a ball into a wide country. You will die there. (There) your great *chariots will make your master’s family ashamed.”
v19 I will remove you from your job. And he will throw you down from the place where you are an officer.’
v20 ‘And this is what will happen in that day. I will tell my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah that he must come.
v21 And I will put on him your (Shebna’s) special clothes and I will tie your special belt round him. And I will give him your authority. Then he (Eliakim) will become (like) a father to everyone that lives in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah.
v22 And I will put the key of the family of David on his shoulder. What he opens, nobody will close. What he closes, nobody will open.
v23 And I will fix him in place (like a) strong bent piece of metal. And he will make his father’s house famous.
v24 But the whole weight of his father’s family will hang on him (like that piece of metal). All his children and their children, like cups and bottles that contain things, (will hang on him).’ v25 (This is what) the *LORD of Everything says: ‘In that day the bent piece of metal that (they) fixed strongly, will not hold. (I will) cut it down and it will fall. And the weight on it will fall off because the *LORD has spoken (it).’
v1 (This is) a serious message about Tyre.
Cry aloud, (you people in) the ships (that go) to Tarshish. (An enemy) has destroyed it. There is no house to come home to. They heard about this in the country called Cyprus.
v2 Weep, (you people) that live on the island. (Weep, you) *merchants of Sidon, that the sailors made rich.
v3 *Grain came from the River Nile on the great seas. The fruits from the River Nile brought money (to Phoenicia). So it became a market place for (many) countries.
v4 (You people that live in) Sidon, be ashamed. (Be ashamed,) because the sea has spoken. The power of the sea, (Tyre), has said, ‘I have not been *in labour. (Children) have not been born. I have not had sons nor been a parent to daughters.’
v5 When (the people in) Egypt receive the news, they will be in much pain at the report from Tyre.
v6 Cross over to Tarshish! Cry aloud, you people that live on the island.
v7 (This is) the city where you had many parties. It is old, very old. (Now) their feet have taken its people to live in countries that are far away.
v8 People do not know who made these plans against Tyre. (Tyre is the city that) gives *crowns (to people). Its *merchants are like kings. Its merchants are famous in (all) the world.
v9 The *LORD of Everything thought that he should do this. (He did not want) people to feel more important than they were. And (he wanted) to cause all the famous people in the world not to feel important. (That is why he did it.)
v10 Travel through your country, people in Tarshish, as (easily as the people in Egypt travel along) the River Nile. (Travel) because now, nobody will stop you.
v11 The *LORD has lifted his hand over the sea. He made *kingdoms afraid. He told (his armies) what they must do in Phoenicia. (They had to) destroy all (Phoenicia’s) strong buildings.
v12 Then he said, ‘Do not continue your parties. (The enemy) has destroyed you, you people that live in Sidon. Get up! Cross over to Cyprus. Even there you will not find rest for yourself.’
v13 Look at the country called Babylon! Its people are all dead! The (armies) from Assyria made it a place for wild animals (to live in). They (the men from Assyria) built small mountains (of earth that they climbed on) to attack it. They took everything away from its strong buildings and they destroyed (Babylon).
v14 Cry aloud, you ships of Tarshish. (Your enemy) has destroyed your strong port.
v15 At that time (people will) forget Tyre for 70 years. This is how long one king lives. At the end of 70 years something will happen to Tyre. It is like the song about the *prostitute.
v16 ‘*Prostitute that (people) have forgotten,
walk about the city with your *harp.
Play it well. Sing many songs.
Then (people) will remember you again.’
v17 At the end of 70 years the *LORD will be kind to Tyre. It will ‘become a *prostitute’ again! (This means that) its *merchants will go to all the *kingdoms of the world on the earth. v18 And this will happen: All the money that (Tyre) gets and all the *profit will go to the *LORD. (Tyre) will not hide it or store it. Rather, the *profit (will go) to the people that live near the *LORD. (They will have) plenty of food and good clothes.
Most English translations call the last book in the Bible, ‘Revelation’. Apocalypse is the Greek name of the book called Revelation. (Greek is a language.) ‘Revelation’ means ‘things that somebody shows to us’. In the Book of Revelation, those things are about the end of the world. Some Bible students say that chapters 24-27 of Isaiah are also about the end of the world. They are sometimes called ‘little apocalypse’ because they are shorter than Revelation. What happened to ‘the country’ called Judah or Babylon will happen to the whole world. Bible students are not sure whether ‘the country’ means Judah or Babylon or somewhere else.
v1 Understand (this)! The *LORD will make the country empty and he will destroy it. He will destroy the ground. And he will move the people that live in it in all directions.
v2 It will be the same for (all these people):
· the people and the *priest
· the servant and his master
· the girl that is a servant and her *mistress
· the buyer and the seller
· the lender and the *borrower
· the person that has lent money and the person that has *borrowed money.
v3 (Enemies) will completely destroy the land. (They) will take everything from it. The *LORD says that (this will happen). (So it will happen.) v4 The land will be dry and it will die. The world will become weak and it will die. The important people in the country will become weak.
v5 The people that live in the country have made it dirty. (This happened) for these reasons:
· They have not obeyed (God’s) rules.
· They have changed (God’s) rules.
· They have decided to forget (God’s) *covenant that will always be true.
v6 That is why a *curse is destroying the country. And the people that live in it are hurting. This is because they have done wrong things. (Something) burns the people that live in the country. Only a few of them remain.
v7 The *wine dries up and the *vine dies. The people that want to drink (the wine) are not happy.
v8 The happy sound of the *tambourine stops. The noise from parties has finished. The *harp does not make any happy music.
v9 People do not sing while they drink *wine. The beer does not taste nice to those that drink it.
v10 (Enemies) have destroyed the city (so that) it is without shape. (People) locked every house so that (the enemy) could not get in.
v11 People shout for *wine in the streets. Everybody that is happy becomes sad. Nobody in the country laughs.
v12 (Enemies) have destroyed the city. (They) knocked down the gates (of the city) and they destroyed them.
v13 This will happen through all the country and among (other) countries. They will be empty like an *olive tree that people hit. Or (they will be empty like a *vine) with a few *grapes (that people have) not picked.
v14 These (are the people) that use their voices to shout aloud! From (the sea in) the west they say that the *LORD is great!
v15 So, in (the countries in) the east give *praise to the *LORD. (Give praise) to the *LORD God of Israel. (Give praise) from the islands in the sea.
v16a From every part of the country we hear songs that give *praise to the *Righteous One.
v16b But I said, ‘I have become thin and weak! I have become thin and weak! I am so sad! Bad people are doing bad things. Yes, the bad people are being really very bad!’
v17 People in the country, *terror, a big hole in the ground and a *trap will kill you!
v18 The person that runs away from the sound of *terror will fall into the big hole. A *trap will catch the person that climbs out of the big hole. (It will happen) because (someone has) opened the windows of the sky. Also, (they have) moved what is under the land.
v19 All this has completely broken the land. It has torn the land into pieces. It has moved the land very much.
v20 The earth walks like a man that is a drunk. It moves about like a *tent (in the wind). The wrong things that (the people in the country) have done feel heavy upon the country. So it will be like someone who falls down. And it will be like someone who never gets up again.
v21 On that day the *LORD will *punish (anything with) power in the skies above. And (he will punish) the kings on the land below.
v22 (The *LORD) will bring them together like *prisoners in a hole in the ground. He will lock them in a prison and after a long time he will *punish them.
v23 The white (light of the moon) will *disappear. And the heat (of the sun) will become cold. (This is) because the *LORD of Everything will be king on the hill called Zion. Then, his leaders in Jerusalem will see that he is very great.
v1 *LORD, you are my God and I will give you *praise. I will say that you are very great. And I will give praise to your name, because you have done *wonderful things. You said long ago what you would do. And you have done it. (You were) honest and (your promises) were true.
v2 And you have broken the city into a hill (of stones). (You have) destroyed the strong city. The strong city that foreign people (live in) has gone. Nobody will build it again.
Verse 2 Bible students cannot be sure which city this is.
v3 So, a strong country will give you *praise. The city in a cruel country will be afraid of you.
v4 (This is) because you (*LORD) have made (your) poor people safe. (You have) made safe the people that needed (help) in their trouble. (You) hid them from the storm (and you were their) shade from the heat. The attack of the cruel people was like a storm that knocked against a wall.
v5 (And the storm was) like heat in a dry sandy place. You, (*LORD), stopped the noise of the *foreigners. The shade of a cloud makes less the heat (of the sun). In the same way, you took away the songs of the enemies. They thought that they had beaten us. (That is why they sang.)
v6 The *LORD of Everything will make a *feast for all people upon this mountain (in Jerusalem). It will be a feast of the very best meat, a feast with the very best *wine. (It will be a feast) of the very best meat that makes people strong. It will be a feast with the best wines.
v7 And on this mountain (the *LORD) will destroy the *shroud that covers all people. It is a shroud that is over every country
v8 He will destroy death for always. The *LORD, my master, will dry the faces of everyone that has *tears (in their eyes). People will not feel ashamed again, over all the earth. This is what the *LORD has promised to do.
In verses 7 and 8, the word that we have translated ‘destroy’ means ‘swallow’. It is what happens to food after we eat it with our mouths.
v9 On that day they will say, ‘Look! This is our God! We have waited for him to come and to make us safe. This is the *LORD! We have waited for him. So we shall be happy, very happy, because he has saved us.’
v10 The power of the *LORD will stay on this mountain. And he will walk on the people from Moab as people walk on dead grass and animal dirt.
v11 And (the people from Moab) will put their hands into it. (They will be) like someone that puts out (his hands) to swim. But they will go down deep in the water, even if they are able (to swim) with their hands.
v12 And (the *LORD) will knock down their high, strong walls. He will throw them down. He will make them low and he will turn them into small bits of dry dirt on the ground.
v1 In that day, (people) will sing this song in the country called Judah.
We have a strong city. (The *LORD) made walls inside and outside (the city), to make us safe.
In verse 1, the *Hebrew word for ‘safe’ that Isaiah used was ‘jeshuah’. This is the Hebrew word that we translate ‘Jesus’!
v2 Open the gates (of the city), so that the *righteous people can come in. (The righteous people) are those people that continue to believe (the *LORD).
v3 You, (*LORD), will make safe the person whose mind is always thinking about you. (You will keep him) safe, because he believes you.
v4 Always, always believe the *LORD! (Do this) because the *LORD, the *LORD is a (like a) Rock. He will always be alive.
v5 He brings down low the people that live in high places, in a city on tall (hills). He makes it low. He brings it down to the ground. He throws it into the dirt.
v6 Feet will walk on it. The feet of the poor people and of the weak people (will walk over it).
v7 The path that *righteous people walk on is flat. You, (*LORD), make clear the way of righteous people.
v8 Yes, *LORD, we wait for you in the path that your rules (point us to). In our minds, we want (everybody to know) your name. And (we want everybody to know) that you are famous.
v9 My mind wants you in the night time and my *spirit wants you in the morning. The people in the world will learn what ‘*righteous’ means. (This will happen) when you are ruling in the country.
v10 Bad people will not learn, if nobody *punishes them. (They will not learn) what ‘*righteous’ means. In a country where people are honest, (bad people) will continue to do bad things. They do not obey the rules of the *LORD.
v11 *LORD, you have lifted up your hand (to hit them), but they do not see it. (But one day) they will see that you really love your people. Then, I pray that they will become ashamed. I pray that fire will burn up your enemies.
v12 *LORD, you will keep us safe. Really, all that we have done, you have done on our behalf.
v13 *LORD, our God, other *lords than you have ruled over us. But only to your name do we give *praise.
v14 Now (the other *lords) are dead. They are not alive. Their *spirits have gone and they will not rise up (again). You *punished them and you killed them. You have done it, so that we do not remember them.
v15 *LORD, you have made the country larger. You really have made the country larger. You have received *praise for yourself. You have made all the edges of the country bigger.
v16 *LORD, they came to you when they had trouble. They prayed quietly to you when you *punished them.
v17 *LORD, we were with you, like a woman who would soon have a baby. Just before she had her baby (we were like her). We could not keep still and we cried with the pain.
v18 We were going to have a baby. We could not keep still and we cried with the pain. But we *gave birth only to wind! We have not made the earth safe. We have not killed the people in the world.
v19 But your dead (people) will live (again). Their bodies will rise up (from the *grave). Wake up! Shout because you are s