Isaiah

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

Chapter 42

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

*Look at my servant, whom I support; my chosen one, who makes me happy; I have given him my spirit: he will bring justice to the non-Jews.

2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

*He won't shout or make himself heard in public.

3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

*He won't break a weak reed or put out a flickering flame. He will make sure justice prevails and truth is revealed.

4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

*He won't fail or lose hope until he establishes justice on Earth. The islands will eagerly await his laws.

5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

*God says, "I am the one who made the sky, expanded it, and created the earth along with everything that comes from it. I also give life to the people living on it and provide them with a spirit for their journey."

6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

*I am the LORD, calling you with fairness. I'll guide you, protect you, and make you a promise to the people. You'll be a beacon of hope for non-Jews.

7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

*To make people who can't see see, to free those trapped in jail, and help those sitting in darkness get out of their confined places.

8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

*I am the Lord; this is my name. My greatness will not be shared with others or with statues.

9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

*Look, the old events happened, and I'm telling you about new things before they happen.

10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

*Sing a new song to God and praise him from far away. This goes for those near the sea and everyone living there, including the islands and their people.

11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

*Let the deserts and their towns make noise, the places where Kedar lives: let those living on the rocks sing out, and shout loudly from the mountain tops.

12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.

*Let people praise the LORD and tell others about it in faraway places.

13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.

*God will act powerfully, causing great rivalry like a warrior. He will shout loudly, even roaring; he will defeat his opponents.

14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

*I've kept quiet for a long time. I didn't complain or interrupt. But now, I'll shout like a woman in labor pain. I will quickly destroy and consume everything.

15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

*I will turn mountains and hills into rubble, and wither all their plants. I will turn rivers into islands and dry up ponds.

16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

*I will guide the blind down unfamiliar paths. I'll turn darkness into light and make twisted things straight for them. I'll do all this and won't abandon them.

17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

*Those who rely on statues will be humiliated and turned away. They'll realize these statues aren't truly gods.

18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

*Listen, those who can't hear; and look, those who can't see, so you can understand.

19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD’s servant?

*Who is my servant that is both blind and deaf, like the messenger I sent? Who is like someone with perfect vision but still blind, and like the LORD's servant who is also blind?

20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

*You see lots of things, but you don't notice them; you open someone's ears, but they still can't hear.

21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

*God is happy because of His goodness. He will make the rules important and respected.

22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

*But these people have been stolen from and ruined; they all get caught in traps and are hidden in jails. They are taken as prey and no one saves them; they are plundered, and nobody says, "Return what you took."

23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?

*Who here will listen to this? Who will pay attention and hear for a long time?

24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.

*Who let Jacob be attacked and Israel be robbed? It was God, as we have sinned against Him. They didn't follow His path and didn't listen to His rules.

25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

*So, he received God's angry rage and battle power, which set him on fire but he didn't understand. It burned him, but he didn't care.

read summary

Back to Chapters

Back to Books

* work in progress, there will be mistakes