Isaiah

Prophecies about judgment and salvation, promising hope and a savior.

Chapter 33

1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

*Oh no, for you who cause harm but don't get harmed yourself, and for being sneaky while others didn't do the same to you! One day, when you stop causing harm, you will be harmed; and when you stop being sneaky, others will be sneaky to you.

2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

*DEAR GOD, please be kind to us; we have been waiting for you. Be their strength each morning and our rescue during difficult times.

3 At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.

*When loud chaos happened, people ran away; when you lifted yourself up, nations got scattered.

4 And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.

*Your enemies will be collected, just like how a caterpillar gathers its food; they'll be chased down like swarms of locusts moving quickly.

5 The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

*God is great because he lives far above us; he fills the special place called Zion with fairness and justice.

6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

*Wisdom and knowledge will make your life stable and strong, and fearing God is the most important thing.

7 Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

*Look, the brave people outside will shout: the messengers of peace will sadly cry a lot.

8 The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.

*The roads are empty, travelers have stopped traveling: they broke their promise, they disregarded the cities, and don't care about people.

9 The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.

*The Earth feels sad and weak: Lebanon is embarrassed and cut down: Sharon is like a barren land; and Bashan and Carmel lose their fruits.

10 Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

*Now, says the Lord, I will rise; now, I will be lifted up high; now, I will elevate Myself.

11 Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.

*You will create worthless things; you will give birth to something that quickly withers away. Your own breath will be like fire, burning and destroying you.

12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.

*The people will be like burnt lime; just as thorns are burned when cut, so too will they be burned in the fire.

13 Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.

*Listen, those far away, to what I've done; and, those close by, recognize my strength.

14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

*In Zion, people who do wrong are scared because pretenders have been caught. We wonder, who among us can live with the fiery destruction and constant burning?

15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

*He who walks justly and speaks truthfully, who dislikes the profits of injustice, who doesn't hold bribes and keeps his hands clean, who doesn't listen to talk about harm, and who doesn't see or notice wrongdoing.

16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

*He will live in a high place: his safe spot will be surrounded by strong rocks: he will get bread; he will have reliable water.

17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.

*You will see the king, how beautiful he is. You will also see a land very far away.

18 Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?

*Your heart will think about fear. Where is the writer? Where is the person receiving it? Where is the one who counted the towers?

19 Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.

*You shall not encounter a strong people, a people with a deeper language than you can hear; of a stuttering language, that you cannot understand.

20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.

*Look at Zion, the city where we celebrate: you will see Jerusalem as a peaceful home, a shelter that won't be torn down. None of its support poles will be taken away, and none of its ropes will break.

21 But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.

*But there, the wonderful LORD will give us a land with wide rivers and streams. No rowing boats or fancy ships will travel through them.

22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.

*The LORD is our judge, rule-maker, and leader; He will rescue us.

23 Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.

*Your ropes have come undone; they couldn't properly support their pole or open the sail. As a result, the large group of thieves takes the stolen goods. The injured ones get a share of the loot.

24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

*The residents won't say they are ill; those living there will be pardoned for their wrongdoings.

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