Add parallel Print Page Options

57 The godly[a] perish,
but no one cares.[b]
Honest people disappear,[c]
when no one[d] minds[e]
that the godly[f] disappear[g] because of[h] evil.[i]
Those who live uprightly enter a place of peace;
they rest on their beds.[j]
“But approach, you sons of omen readers,

you offspring of adulteresses and prostitutes![k]
At whom are you laughing?
At whom are you opening your mouth
and sticking out your tongue?
You are the children of rebels,
the offspring of liars,[l]
you who inflame your lusts[m] among the oaks[n] and under every green tree,
who slaughter children near the streams under the rocky overhangs.[o]
Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love;
they, they are the object of your devotion.[p]
You pour out liquid offerings to them,
you make an offering.
Because of these things how can I relent from judgment?[q]
On every high, elevated hill you prepare your bed;
you go up there to offer sacrifices.
Behind the door and doorpost you put your symbols.[r]
Indeed,[s] you depart from me[t] and go up
and invite them into bed with you.[u]
You purchase favors from them;[v]
you love their bed,
and gaze longingly[w] on their naked bodies.[x]
You take olive oil as tribute[y] to your king,[z]
along with many perfumes.[aa]
You send your messengers to a distant place;
you go all the way to Sheol.[ab]
10 Because of the long distance you must travel, you get tired,[ac]
but you do not say, ‘I give up.’[ad]
You get renewed energy,[ae]
so you don’t collapse.[af]
11 Whom are you worried about?
Whom do you fear, that you would act so deceitfully
and not remember me
or think about me?[ag]
Because I have been silent for so long,[ah]
you are not afraid of me.[ai]
12 I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds,[aj]
but they will not help you.
13 When you cry out for help, let your idols[ak] help you!
The wind blows them all away,[al]
a breeze carries them away.[am]
But the one who looks to me for help[an] will inherit the land
and will have access to[ao] my holy mountain.”
14 He says,[ap]
“Build it! Build it! Clear a way!
Remove all the obstacles out of the way of my people!”
15 For this is what the high and exalted one says,
the one who rules[aq] forever, whose name is holy:
“I dwell in an exalted and holy place,
but also with the discouraged and humiliated,[ar]
in order to cheer up the humiliated
and to encourage the discouraged.[as]
16 For I will not be hostile[at] forever
or perpetually angry,
for then man’s spirit would grow faint before me,[au]
the life-giving breath I created.
17 I was angry because of their sinful greed;
I attacked them and angrily rejected them,[av]
yet they remained disobedient and stubborn.[aw]
18 I have seen their behavior,[ax]
but I will heal them. I will lead[ay] them,
and I will provide comfort[az] to them and those who mourn with them.[ba]
19 I am the one who gives them reason to celebrate.[bb]
Complete prosperity[bc] is available both to those who are far away and those who are nearby,”
says the Lord, “and I will heal them.
20 But the wicked are like a surging sea
that is unable to be quiet;
its waves toss up mud and sand.
21 There will be no prosperity,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

The Lord Desires Genuine Devotion

58 “Shout loudly! Don’t be quiet!
Yell as loudly as a trumpet!
Confront my people with their rebellious deeds;[bd]
confront Jacob’s family with their sin.[be]
They seek me day after day;
they want to know my requirements,[bf]
like a nation that does what is right
and does not reject the law of their God.
They ask me for just decrees;
they want to be near God.
They lament,[bg] ‘Why don’t you notice when we fast?
Why don’t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?’
Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires,[bh]
you oppress your workers.[bi]
Look, your fasting is accompanied by[bj] arguments, brawls,
and fistfights.[bk]
Do not fast as you do today,
trying to make your voice heard in heaven.
Is this really the kind of fasting I want?[bl]
Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves,[bm]
bowing their heads like a reed
and stretching out[bn] on sackcloth and ashes?
Is this really what you call a fast,
a day that is pleasing to the Lord?
No, this is the kind of fast I want:[bo]
I want you[bp] to remove the sinful chains,
to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,
to set free the oppressed,[bq]
and to break every burdensome yoke.
I want you[br] to share your food with the hungry
and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.[bs]
When you see someone naked, clothe them!
Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood.[bt]
Then your light will shine like the sunrise;[bu]
your restoration will quickly arrive;[bv]
your godly behavior[bw] will go before you,
and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard.[bx]
Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;
you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’
You must[by] remove the burdensome yoke from among you
and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.
10 You must[bz] actively help the hungry
and feed the oppressed.[ca]
Then your light will dispel the darkness,[cb]
and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.[cc]
11 The Lord will continually lead you;
he will feed you even in parched regions.[cd]
He will give you renewed strength,[ce]
and you will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring that continually produces water.
12 Your perpetual ruins will be rebuilt;[cf]
you will reestablish the ancient foundations.
You will be called, ‘The one who repairs broken walls,
the one who makes the streets inhabitable again.’[cg]
13 You must[ch] observe the Sabbath[ci]
rather than doing anything you please on my holy day.[cj]
You must look forward to the Sabbath[ck]
and treat the Lord’s holy day with respect.[cl]
You must treat it with respect by refraining from your normal activities,
and by refraining from your selfish pursuits and from making business deals.[cm]
14 Then you will find joy in your relationship to the Lord,[cn]
and I will give you great prosperity,[co]
and cause crops to grow on the land I gave to your ancestor Jacob.”[cp]
Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.[cq]

Injustice Brings Alienation from God

59 Look, the Lord’s hand is not too weak[cr] to deliver you;
his ear is not too deaf to hear you.[cs]
But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God;
your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.[ct]
For your hands are stained with blood
and your fingers with sin;
your lips speak lies,
your tongue utters malicious words.
No one is concerned about justice;[cu]
no one sets forth his case truthfully.
They depend on false words[cv] and tell lies;
they conceive of oppression[cw]
and give birth to sin.
They hatch the eggs of a poisonous snake
and spin a spider’s web.
Whoever eats their eggs will die,
a poisonous snake is hatched.[cx]
Their webs cannot be used for clothing;
they cannot cover themselves with what they make.
Their deeds are sinful;
they commit violent crimes.[cy]
They are eager to do evil,[cz]
quick to shed innocent blood.[da]
Their thoughts are sinful;
they crush and destroy.[db]
They are unfamiliar with peace;
their deeds are unjust.[dc]
They use deceitful methods,
and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace.[dd]

Israel Confesses its Sin

For this reason deliverance[de] is far from us[df]
and salvation does not reach us.
We wait for light,[dg] but see only darkness;[dh]
we wait for[di] a bright light,[dj] but live[dk] in deep darkness.[dl]
10 We grope along the wall like the blind,
we grope like those who cannot see;[dm]
we stumble at noontime as if it were evening.
Though others are strong, we are like dead men.[dn]
11 We all growl like bears,
we coo mournfully like doves;
we wait for deliverance,[do] but there is none,
for salvation, but it is far from us.
12 For you are aware of our many rebellious deeds,[dp]
and our sins testify against us;
indeed, we are aware of our rebellious deeds;
we know our sins all too well.[dq]
13 We have rebelled and tried to deceive the Lord;
we turned back from following our God.
We stir up[dr] oppression and rebellion;
we tell lies we concocted in our minds.[ds]
14 Justice is driven back;
godliness[dt] stands far off.
Indeed,[du] honesty stumbles in the city square
and morality is not even able to enter.
15 Honesty has disappeared;
the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed.
The Lord watches and is displeased,[dv]
for there is no justice.

The Lord Intervenes

16 He sees there is no advocate;[dw]
he is shocked[dx] that no one intervenes.
So he takes matters into his own hands;[dy]
his desire for justice drives him on.[dz]
17 He wears his desire for justice[ea] like body armor,[eb]
and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head.[ec]
He puts on the garments of vengeance[ed]
and wears zeal like a robe.
18 He repays them for what they have done,
dispensing angry judgment to his adversaries
and punishing his enemies.[ee]
He repays the coastlands.[ef]
19 In the west, people respect[eg] the Lord’s reputation;[eh]
in the east they recognize his splendor.[ei]
For he comes like a rushing[ej] stream
driven on by wind sent from the Lord.[ek]
20 “A protector[el] comes to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,”[em] says the Lord.

21 “As for me, this is my promise to[en] them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is upon you, and my words, which I have placed in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and descendants from this time forward,”[eo] says the Lord.

Zion’s Future Splendor

60 “Arise! Shine! For your light arrives!
The splendor[ep] of the Lord shines on you!
For, look, darkness covers the earth
and deep darkness covers[eq] the nations,
but the Lord shines on you;
his splendor[er] appears over you.
Nations come to your light,
kings to your bright light.
Look all around you![es]
They all gather and come to you—
your sons come from far away,
and your daughters are escorted by guardians.
Then you will look and smile,[et]
you will be excited and your heart will swell with pride.[eu]
For the riches of distant lands[ev] will belong to you,
and the wealth of nations will come to you.
Camel caravans will cover your roads,[ew]
young camels from Midian and Ephah.
All the merchants of Sheba[ex] will come,
bringing gold and incense
and singing praises to the Lord.[ey]
All the sheep of Kedar will be gathered to you;
the rams of Nebaioth will be available to you as sacrifices.[ez]
They will go up on my altar acceptably,[fa]
and I will bestow honor on my majestic temple.
Who are these who float along[fb] like a cloud,
who fly like doves to their shelters?[fc]
Indeed, the coastlands[fd] look eagerly for me;
the large ships[fe] are in the lead,
bringing your sons from far away,
along with their silver and gold,
to honor the Lord your God,[ff]
the Holy One of Israel,[fg] for he has bestowed honor on you.
10 Foreigners will rebuild your walls;
their kings will serve you.
Even though I struck you down in my anger,
I will restore my favor and have compassion on you.[fh]
11 Your gates will remain open at all times;
they will not be shut during the day or at night,
so that the wealth of nations may be delivered,
with their kings leading the way.[fi]
12 Indeed,[fj] nations or kingdoms that do not serve you will perish;
such nations will definitely be destroyed.[fk]
13 The splendor of Lebanon will come to you,
its evergreens, firs, and cypresses together,
to beautify my palace;[fl]
I will bestow honor on my throne room.[fm]
14 The children of your oppressors will come bowing to you;
all who treated you with disrespect will bow down at your feet.
They will call you, ‘The City of the Lord,
Zion of the Holy One of Israel.’[fn]
15 You were once abandoned
and despised, with no one passing through,
but I will make you[fo] a permanent source of pride
and joy to coming generations.
16 You will drink the milk of nations;
you will nurse at the breasts of kings.[fp]
Then you will recognize that I, the Lord, am your Deliverer,
your Protector,[fq] the Powerful One of Jacob.[fr]
17 Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold;
instead of iron, I will bring you silver;
instead of wood, I will bring you[fs] bronze;
instead of stones, I will bring you[ft] iron.
I will make prosperity[fu] your overseer,
and vindication your sovereign ruler.[fv]
18 Sounds of violence will no longer be heard in your land,
or the sounds of[fw] destruction and devastation within your borders.
You will name your walls, ‘Deliverance,’
and your gates, ‘Praise.’
19 The sun will no longer supply light for you by day,
nor will the moon’s brightness shine on you;
the Lord will be your permanent source of light—
the splendor of your God will shine upon you.[fx]
20 Your sun will no longer set;
your moon will not disappear;[fy]
the Lord will be your permanent source of light;
your time[fz] of sorrow will be over.
21 All your people will be godly;[ga]
they will possess the land permanently.
I will plant them like a shoot;
they will be the product of my labor,
through whom I reveal my splendor.[gb]
22 The least of you will multiply into[gc] a thousand;
the smallest of you will become a large nation.
When the right time comes, I the Lord will quickly do this!”[gd]

The Lord Will Rejuvenate His People

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
because the Lord has chosen[ge] me.[gf]
He has commissioned[gg] me to encourage[gh] the poor,
to help[gi] the brokenhearted,
to decree the release of captives,
and the freeing of prisoners,
to announce the year when the Lord will show his favor,
the day when our God will seek vengeance,[gj]
to console all who mourn,
to strengthen those who mourn in Zion,
by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,
oil symbolizing joy,[gk] instead of mourning,
a garment symbolizing praise,[gl] instead of discouragement.[gm]
They will be called oaks of righteousness,[gn]
trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor.[go]
They will rebuild the perpetual ruins
and restore the places that were desolate;[gp]
they will reestablish the ruined cities,
the places that have been desolate since ancient times.
[gq] “Foreigners will take care of[gr] your sheep;
foreigners will work in your fields and vineyards.
You will be called, ‘the Lord’s priests,
servants of our God.’[gs]
You will enjoy[gt] the wealth of nations
and boast about[gu] the riches you receive from them.[gv]
Instead of shame, you will get a double portion;[gw]
instead of humiliation, they will rejoice over the land they receive.[gx]
Yes,[gy] they will possess a double portion in their land
and experience lasting joy.
For I, the Lord, love justice
and hate robbery and sin.
I will repay them because of my faithfulness;[gz]
I will make a permanent covenant with them.
Their descendants will be known among the nations,
their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will recognize that
the Lord has blessed them.”[ha]
10 I[hb] will greatly rejoice[hc] in the Lord;
I will be overjoyed because of my God.[hd]
For he clothes me in garments of deliverance;
he puts on me a robe symbolizing vindication.[he]
I look like a bridegroom when he wears a turban as a priest would;
I look like a bride when she puts on her jewelry.[hf]
11 For just as the ground produces its crops
and a garden yields its produce,
so the Sovereign Lord will cause deliverance[hg] to grow,
and give his people reason to praise him in the sight of all the nations.[hh]

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:1 tn Or “righteous” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “the just man”; TEV “Good people.”
  2. Isaiah 57:1 tn Or perhaps, “understands.” Heb “and there is no man who sets [it] upon [his] heart.”
  3. Isaiah 57:1 tn Heb “Men of loyalty are taken away.” The Niphal of אָסַף (ʾasaf) here means “to die.”
  4. Isaiah 57:1 tn The Hebrew term בְּאֵין (beʾen) often has the nuance “when there is no.” See Prov 8:24; 11; 14; 14:4; 15:22; 26:20; 29:18.
  5. Isaiah 57:1 tn Or “realizes”; Heb “understands” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).
  6. Isaiah 57:1 tn Or “righteous” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “the just man.”
  7. Isaiah 57:1 tn Heb “are taken away.” The Niphal of אָסַף (ʾasaf) here means “to die.”
  8. Isaiah 57:1 tn The term מִפְּנֵי (mippene, “from the face of”) often has a causal nuance. It also appears with the Niphal of אָסַף (ʾasaph, “gather”) in 2 Chr 12:5: אֲשֶׁר־נֶאֶסְפוּ אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלַםִ מִפְּנֵי שִׁישָׁק (ʾasher-neʾespu ʾel-yerushalaim mippene shishaq, “who had gathered at Jerusalem because of [i.e., due to fear of] Shishak”).
  9. Isaiah 57:1 tn The translation assumes that this verse, in proverbial fashion, laments society’s apathy over the persecution of the godly. The second half of the verse observes that such apathy results in more widespread oppression. Since the next verse pictures the godly being taken to a place of rest, some interpret the second half of v. 1 in a more positive vein. According to proponents of this view, God removes the godly so that they might be spared suffering and calamity, a fact which the general populace fails to realize.
  10. Isaiah 57:2 tn Heb “he enters peace, they rest on their beds, the one who walks straight ahead of himself.” The tomb is here viewed in a fairly positive way as a place where the dead are at peace and sleep undisturbed.
  11. Isaiah 57:3 tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “offspring of an adulterer [masculine] and [one who] has committed adultery.” Perhaps the text has suffered from transposition of vav (ו) and tav (ת) and מְנָאֵף וַתִּזְנֶה (menaʾef vattizneh) should be emended to מְנָאֶפֶת וְזֹנָה (menaʾefet vezonah, “an adulteress and a prostitute”). Both singular nouns would be understood in a collective sense. Most modern English versions render both forms as nouns.
  12. Isaiah 57:4 tn Heb “Are you not children of rebellion, offspring of a lie?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “Of course you are!”
  13. Isaiah 57:5 tn Heb “inflame yourselves”; NRSV “burn with lust.” This verse alludes to the practice of ritual sex that accompanied pagan fertility rites.
  14. Isaiah 57:5 tn The term אֵלִים (ʾelim) may be from a root meaning “mighty ones,” referring to mighty trees. The form may also refer to “gods,” a less common masculine plural of (ʾel). This would fit the context of idolatry (lusting after gods).
  15. Isaiah 57:5 sn This apparently alludes to the practice of child sacrifice (cf. TEV, CEV, NLT).
  16. Isaiah 57:6 tn Heb “among the smooth stones of the stream [is] your portion, they, they [are] your lot.” The next line indicates idols are in view.
  17. Isaiah 57:6 tn The text reads literally as a question, “Because of these am I relenting?” However, the initial letter he may be dittographic (note the final he [ה] on the preceding word). In this case one could understand the verb in the sense of “Because of these I will seek vengeance,” as in 1:24. If the prefixed interrogative particle is retained at the beginning of the sentence, then the question is rhetorical, with the Niphal of נָחָם (nakham) probably being used in the sense of “relent, change one’s mind.”
  18. Isaiah 57:8 tn The precise referent of זִכָּרוֹן (zikkaron) in this context is uncertain. Elsewhere the word refers to a memorial or commemorative sign. Here it likely refers to some type of idolatrous symbol.
  19. Isaiah 57:8 tn Or “for” (KJV, NRSV).
  20. Isaiah 57:8 tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “from me you uncover.” The translation assumes an emendation of the Piel form גִּלִּית (gillit, “you uncover”), which has no object expressed here, to the Qal גָּלִית (galit, “you depart”).
  21. Isaiah 57:8 tn Heb “you make wide your bed” (NASB similar).
  22. Isaiah 57:8 tc Heb “and you [second masculine singular, unless the form be taken as third feminine singular] cut for yourself [feminine singular] from them.” Most English translations retain the MT reading in spite of at least three problems. This section makes significant use of feminine verbs and noun suffixes because of the sexual imagery. The verb in question is likely a second person masculine singular verb. Nevertheless, this kind of fluctuation in gender appears elsewhere (GKC 127-28 §47.k and 462 §144.p; cf. Jer 3:5; Ezek 22:4; 23:32; cf. J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah [NICOT], 2:473, n. 13). Secondly, when this verbal root signifies establishing a covenant, it is normally accompanied by the noun for “covenant” (בְּרִית, berit). Finally, this juxtaposition of the verb “to cut” and “covenant” normally is followed by the preposition “with,” while here it is “from.” The translation above assumes an emendation of וַתִּכְרָת (vatikhrat, “and you cut”) to וְכָרִית (vekharit, “and you purchase”) from the root כָּרָה (kharah); see HALOT 497 s.v. II כרה.
  23. Isaiah 57:8 tn The Hebrew text has simply חָזָה (khazah, “gaze”). The adverb “longingly” is interpretive (see the context, where sexual lust is depicted).
  24. Isaiah 57:8 tn Heb “[at] a hand you gaze.” The term יָד (yad, “hand”) probably has the sense of “power, manhood” here, where it is used, as in Ugaritic, as a euphemism for the genitals. See HALOT 387 s.v. I יָד.
  25. Isaiah 57:9 tn Heb “you journey with oil.”
  26. Isaiah 57:9 tn Heb “the king.” Since the context refers to idolatry and child sacrifice (see v. 5), some emend מֶלֶך (melekh, “king”) to “Molech.” Perhaps Israel’s devotion to her idols is likened here to a subject taking tribute to a ruler.
  27. Isaiah 57:9 tn Heb “and you multiply your perfumes.”
  28. Isaiah 57:9 sn Israel’s devotion to her idols is inordinate, irrational, and self-destructive.
  29. Isaiah 57:10 tn Heb “by the greatness [i.e., “length,” see BDB 914 s.v. רֹב 2] of your way you get tired.”
  30. Isaiah 57:10 tn Heb “it is hopeless” (so NAB, NASB, NIV); NRSV “It is useless.”
  31. Isaiah 57:10 tn Heb “the life of your hand you find.” The term חַיָּה (khayyah, “life”) is here used in the sense of “renewal” (see BDB 312 s.v.) while יָד (yad) is used of “strength.”
  32. Isaiah 57:10 tn Heb “you do not grow weak.”
  33. Isaiah 57:11 tn Heb “you do not place [it] on your heart.”
  34. Isaiah 57:11 tn Heb “Is it not [because] I have been silent, and from long ago?”
  35. Isaiah 57:11 sn God’s patience with sinful Israel has caused them to think that they can sin with impunity and suffer no consequences.
  36. Isaiah 57:12 tn Heb “I, I will declare your righteousness and your deeds.”
  37. Isaiah 57:13 tn The Hebrew text has קִבּוּצַיִךְ (qibbutsayikh, “your gatherings”), an otherwise unattested noun from the verbal root קָבַץ (qavats, “gather”). Perhaps this alludes to their religious assemblies and by metonymy to their rituals. Since idolatry is a prominent theme in the context, some understand this as a reference to a collection of idols. The second half of the verse also favors this view.
  38. Isaiah 57:13 tn Heb “all of them a wind lifts up.”
  39. Isaiah 57:13 tn Heb “a breath takes [them] away.”
  40. Isaiah 57:13 tn Or “seeks refuge in me.” “Seeking refuge” is a metonymy for “being loyal to.”
  41. Isaiah 57:13 tn Heb “possess, own.” The point seems to be that he will have free access to God’s presence, as if God’s temple mount were his personal possession.
  42. Isaiah 57:14 tn Since God is speaking throughout this context, perhaps we should emend the text to “and I say.” However, divine speech is introduced in v. 15.
  43. Isaiah 57:15 tn Heb “the one who dwells forever.” שֹׁכֵן עַד (shokhen ʿad) is sometimes translated “the one who lives forever,” and understood as a reference to God’s eternal existence. However, the immediately preceding and following descriptions (“high and exalted” and “holy”) emphasize his sovereign rule. In the next line, he declares, “I dwell in an exalted and holy [place],” which refers to the place from which he rules. Therefore it is more likely that שֹׁכֵן עַד (shokhen ʿad) means “I dwell [in my lofty palace] forever” and refers to God’s eternal kingship.
  44. Isaiah 57:15 tn Heb “and also with the crushed and lowly of spirit.” This may refer to the repentant who have humbled themselves (see 66:2) or more generally to the exiles who have experienced discouragement and humiliation.
  45. Isaiah 57:15 tn Heb “to restore the lowly of spirit and to restore the heart of the crushed.”
  46. Isaiah 57:16 tn Or perhaps, “argue,” or “accuse” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV).
  47. Isaiah 57:16 tn Heb “for a spirit from before me would be faint.”
  48. Isaiah 57:17 tn Heb “and I struck him, hiding, and I was angry.” פָּנִים (panim, “face”) is the implied object of “hiding.”
  49. Isaiah 57:17 tn Heb “and he walked [as an] apostate in the way of his heart.”
  50. Isaiah 57:18 tn Heb “his ways” (so KJV, NASB, NIV); TEV “how they acted.”
  51. Isaiah 57:18 tc The MT has וְאַנְחֵהוּ (veʾankhehu) from נָחָה (nakhah) “I will lead them,” but the consonantal text may also be read as וַאֲנִחֵהוּ (vaʾanikhehu) from נוּחַ (nuakh) “I will give them rest.” The MT is supported by Aquila and the Vulgate, though 1QIsaa omits the verb and the LXX and Targum offer mixed evidence.
  52. Isaiah 57:18 tn The verb וַאֲשַׁלֵּם (vaʾashallem), the Piel form of the verb שָׁלֵם (shalem), means “to make whole, make restitution, compensate, reward” (HALOT 1534, s.v.). The noun נִחֻמִים (nikhumim) uses the plural form for the abstract concept, “comfort.” The Lord will bestow comfort as restitution to Israel.
  53. Isaiah 57:18 tn Heb “to him and to his mourners.” Since Israel is represented by the singular pronoun “to him” (rendered as plural “them” for style throughout vv. 17-19), those who mourn for, or with, him are likely religious converts or others who sympathize with Israel (see J. D. W. Watts, Isaiah [WBC], 25:835).
  54. Isaiah 57:19 tc The Hebrew text has literally, “one who creates fruit of lips.” Perhaps the pronoun אֲנִי (ʾani) should be inserted after the participle; it may have been accidentally omitted by haplography: נוּב שְׂפָתָיִם [אֲנִי] בּוֹרֵי (boreʾ [ʾani] nuv sefatayim). “Fruit of the lips” is often understood as a metonymy for praise; perhaps it refers more generally to joyful shouts (see v. 18).
  55. Isaiah 57:19 tn Heb “Peace, peace.” The repetition of the noun emphasizes degree.
  56. Isaiah 58:1 tn Heb “declare to my people their rebellion.”
  57. Isaiah 58:1 tn Heb “and to the house of Jacob their sin.” The verb “declare” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
  58. Isaiah 58:2 tn Heb “ways” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, TEV); NLT “my laws.”
  59. Isaiah 58:3 tn The words “they lament” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
  60. Isaiah 58:3 tn Heb “you find pleasure”; NASB “you find your desire.”
  61. Isaiah 58:3 tn Or perhaps, “debtors.” See HALOT 865 s.v. * עָצֵב.
  62. Isaiah 58:4 tn Heb “you fast for” (so NASB); NRSV “you fast only to quarrel.”
  63. Isaiah 58:4 tn Heb “and for striking with a sinful fist.”
  64. Isaiah 58:5 tn Heb “choose” (so NASB, NRSV); NAB “wish.”
  65. Isaiah 58:5 tn Heb “a day when man humbles himself.” The words “Do I want” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  66. Isaiah 58:5 tn Or “making [their] bed.”
  67. Isaiah 58:6 tn Heb “Is this not a fast I choose?” “No” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
  68. Isaiah 58:6 tn The words “I want you” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  69. Isaiah 58:6 tn Heb “crushed.”
  70. Isaiah 58:7 tn Heb “Is it not?” The rhetorical question here expects a positive answer, “It is!”
  71. Isaiah 58:7 tn Heb “and afflicted [ones], homeless [ones] you should bring [into] a house.” On the meaning of מְרוּדִים (merudim, “homeless”) see HALOT 633 s.v. *מָרוּד.
  72. Isaiah 58:7 tn Heb “and from your flesh do not hide yourself.”
  73. Isaiah 58:8 tn Heb “will burst out like the dawn.” sn Light here symbolizes God’s favor and restored blessing, as the immediately following context makes clear.
  74. Isaiah 58:8 tn Heb “prosper”; KJV “spring forth speedily.”
  75. Isaiah 58:8 tn Or “righteousness.” Their godly behavior will be on display for all to see.
  76. Isaiah 58:8 sn The nation will experience God’s protective presence.
  77. Isaiah 58:9 tn Heb “if you.” In the Hebrew text vv. 9b-10 are one long conditional sentence. The protasis (multiple “if” clauses here) appears in vv. 9b-10a, with the apodosis (“then” clause) appearing in v. 10b.
  78. Isaiah 58:10 tn Heb “if you.” See the note on “you must” in v. 9b.
  79. Isaiah 58:10 tn Heb “If you furnish for the hungry [with] your being, and the appetite of the oppressed you satisfy.”
  80. Isaiah 58:10 tn Heb “will rise in the darkness.”
  81. Isaiah 58:10 tn Heb “and your darkness [will be] like noonday.”
  82. Isaiah 58:11 tn Heb “he will satisfy in parched regions your appetite.”
  83. Isaiah 58:11 tn Heb “and your bones he will strengthen.”
  84. Isaiah 58:12 tn Heb “and they will build from you ancient ruins.”
  85. Isaiah 58:12 tc The Hebrew text has “the one who restores paths for dwelling.” The idea of “paths to dwell in” is not a common notion. Some have proposed emending נְתִיבוֹת (netivot, “paths”) to נְתִיצוֹת (netitsot, “ruins”), a passive participle from נָתַץ (natats, “tear down”; see HALOT 732 s.v. *נְתִיצָה), because tighter parallelism with the preceding line is achieved. However, none of the textual sources support this emendation. The line may mean that paths must be repaired in order to dwell in the land.
  86. Isaiah 58:13 tn Lit., “if you.” In the Hebrew text vv. 13-14 are one long conditional sentence. The protasis (multiple “if” clauses here) appears in v. 13, with the apodosis (“then” clause) appearing in v. 14.
  87. Isaiah 58:13 tn Heb “if you turn from the Sabbath your feet.”
  88. Isaiah 58:13 tn Heb “[from] doing your desires on my holy day.” The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa supplies the preposition מִן (min) on “doing.”
  89. Isaiah 58:13 tn Heb “and call the Sabbath a pleasure”; KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV “a delight.”
  90. Isaiah 58:13 tn Heb “and [call] the holy [day] of the Lord honored.” On קָדוֹשׁ (qadosh, “holy”) as indicating a time period, see BDB 872 s.v. 2.e (cf. also Neh 8:9-11).
  91. Isaiah 58:13 tn Heb “and you honor it [by refraining] from accomplishing your ways, from finding your desire and speaking a word.” It is unlikely that the last phrase (“speaking a word”) is a prohibition against talking on the Sabbath; instead it probably refers to making transactions or plans (see Hos 10:4). Some see here a reference to idle talk (cf. 2 Sam 19:29).
  92. Isaiah 58:14 tn For a parallel use of the phrase “find joy in” (Hitpael of עָנַג [ʿanag] followed by the preposition עַל [ʿal]), see Ps 37:4.
  93. Isaiah 58:14 tn Heb “and I will cause you to ride upon the heights of the land.” The statement seems to be an allusion to Deut 32:13, where it is associated, as here, with God’s abundant provision of food.
  94. Isaiah 58:14 tn Heb “and I will cause you to eat the inheritance of Jacob your father.” The Hebrew term נַחֲלָה (nakhalah) likely stands by metonymy for the crops that grow on Jacob’s “inheritance” (i.e., the land he inherited as a result of God’s promise).
  95. Isaiah 58:14 tn Heb “for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” The introductory כִּי (ki) may be asseverative (as reflected in the translation) or causal/explanatory, explaining why the preceding promise will become reality (because it is guaranteed by the divine word).
  96. Isaiah 59:1 tn Heb “short” (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
  97. Isaiah 59:1 tn Heb “or his ear too heavy [i.e., “dull”] to hear.”
  98. Isaiah 59:2 tn Heb “and your sins have caused [his] face to be hidden from you so as not to hear.”
  99. Isaiah 59:4 tn Heb “no one pleads with justice.”
  100. Isaiah 59:4 tn Heb “nothing”; NAB “emptiness.”
  101. Isaiah 59:4 tn Or “trouble” (NIV), or “harm.”
  102. Isaiah 59:5 tn Heb “that which is pressed in hatches [as] a snake.”
  103. Isaiah 59:6 tn Heb “their deeds are deeds of sin, and the work of violence [is] in their hands.”
  104. Isaiah 59:7 tn Heb “their feet run to evil.”
  105. Isaiah 59:7 tn Heb “they quickly pour out innocent blood.”
  106. Isaiah 59:7 tn Heb “their thoughts are thoughts of sin, destruction and crushing [are] in their roadways.”
  107. Isaiah 59:8 tn Heb “a way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their pathways.”
  108. Isaiah 59:8 tn Heb “their paths they make crooked; everyone who walks in it does not know peace.”
  109. Isaiah 59:9 tn מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), which refers to “justice” in the earlier verses, here refers to “justice from God,” or “vindication.” Because the people are unjust, God refuses to vindicate them before their enemies. See v. 11.
  110. Isaiah 59:9 sn The prophet speaks on behalf of the sinful nation and confesses its sins.
  111. Isaiah 59:9 sn Light here symbolizes prosperity and blessing.
  112. Isaiah 59:9 tn Heb “but, look, darkness”; NIV “but all is darkness.”
  113. Isaiah 59:9 tn The words “we wait for” are supplied in the translation; the verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
  114. Isaiah 59:9 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
  115. Isaiah 59:9 tn Or “walk about”; NCV “all we have is darkness.”
  116. Isaiah 59:9 tn The plural noun form may indicate degree here.
  117. Isaiah 59:10 tn Heb “like there are no eyes.”
  118. Isaiah 59:10 tn Heb among the strong, like dead men.”
  119. Isaiah 59:11 tn See the note at v. 9.
  120. Isaiah 59:12 tn Heb “for many are our rebellious deeds before you.”
  121. Isaiah 59:12 tn Heb “indeed [or “for”] our rebellious deeds (are) with us, and our sins, we know them.”
  122. Isaiah 59:13 tn Heb “speaking.” A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  123. Isaiah 59:13 tn Heb “conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.”
  124. Isaiah 59:14 tn Or “righteousness” (ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); KJV, NAB “justice.”
  125. Isaiah 59:14 tn Or “for” (KJV, NRSV).
  126. Isaiah 59:15 tn Heb “and it is displeasing in his eyes.”
  127. Isaiah 59:16 tn Heb “man” (so KJV, ASV); TEV “no one to help.”
  128. Isaiah 59:16 tn Or “appalled” (NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “disgusted.”
  129. Isaiah 59:16 tn Heb “and his arm delivers for him.”
  130. Isaiah 59:16 tn Heb “and his justice [or “righteousness”] supports him.”
  131. Isaiah 59:17 tn Or “righteousness” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “goodness.”
  132. Isaiah 59:17 tn Or “a breastplate” (traditional; so many English versions); TEV “a coat of armour.”
  133. Isaiah 59:17 tn Heb “and [as] a helmet deliverance on his head.”
  134. Isaiah 59:17 tn Heb “and he puts on the clothes of vengeance [as] a garment.”
  135. Isaiah 59:18 tn Heb “in accordance with deeds, so he repays, anger to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies.”
  136. Isaiah 59:18 tn Or “islands” (KJV, NIV).
  137. Isaiah 59:19 tc Heb “fear.” A few medieval Hebrew mss read “see.”
  138. Isaiah 59:19 tn Heb “and they fear from the west the name of the Lord.”
  139. Isaiah 59:19 tn Heb “and from the rising of the sun his splendor.”
  140. Isaiah 59:19 tn Heb “narrow”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “pent-up.”
  141. Isaiah 59:19 tn Heb “the wind of the Lord drives it on.” The term רוּחַ (ruakh) could be translated “breath” here (see 30:28).
  142. Isaiah 59:20 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.
  143. Isaiah 59:20 tn Heb “and to those who turn from rebellion in Jacob.”
  144. Isaiah 59:21 tn Or “my covenant with” (so many English versions); NCV “my agreement with.”sn The Lord promises the repentant (note “to them”) that they and their offspring will possess his spirit and function as his spokesmen. In this regard they follow in the footsteps of the Lord’s special servant. See 42:1; 49:2; 51:16.
  145. Isaiah 59:21 tn Heb “from now and on into the future.”
  146. Isaiah 60:1 tn Or “glory” (so most English versions).
  147. Isaiah 60:2 tn The verb “covers” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
  148. Isaiah 60:2 tn Or “glory” (so most English versions); TEV “the brightness of his presence.”
  149. Isaiah 60:4 tn Heb “Lift up around your eyes and see!”
  150. Isaiah 60:5 tn Or “shine,” or “be radiant” (NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
  151. Isaiah 60:5 tn Heb “and it will tremble and be wide, your heart.”
  152. Isaiah 60:5 tn Heb “the wealth of the sea,” i.e., wealth that is transported from distant lands via the sea.
  153. Isaiah 60:6 tn Heb “an abundance of camels will cover you.”
  154. Isaiah 60:6 tn Heb “all of them, from Sheba.”
  155. Isaiah 60:6 tn Heb “and they will announce the praises of the Lord.”
  156. Isaiah 60:7 tn Heb “will serve you,” i.e., be available as sacrifices (see the next line). Another option is to understood these “rams” as symbolic of leaders who will be subject to the people of Zion. See v. 10.
  157. Isaiah 60:7 tc Heb “they will go up on acceptance [on] my altar.” Some have suggested that the preposition עַל (ʿal) is dittographic (note the preceding יַעֲלוּ [yaʿalu]). Consequently, the form should be emended to לְרָצוֹן (leratson, “acceptably”; see BDB 953 s.v. רָצוֹן). However, the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has both לרצון followed by the preposition על, which would argue against deleting the preposition. As the above translation seeks to demonstrate, the preposition עַל (ʿal) indicates a norm (“in accordance with acceptance” or “acceptably”; IBHS 218 §11.2.13e, n. 111), and the “altar” functions as an objective accusative with a verb of motion (cf. Gen 49:4; Lev 2:2; Num 13:17; J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah [NICOT], 2:534, n. 14).
  158. Isaiah 60:8 tn Heb “fly” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV); NAB, NIV “fly along.”
  159. Isaiah 60:8 tn Heb “to their windows,” i.e., to the openings in their coops. See HALOT 83 s.v. אֲרֻבָּה.
  160. Isaiah 60:9 tn Or “islands” (NIV); CEV “distant islands”; TEV “distant lands.”
  161. Isaiah 60:9 tn Heb “the ships of Tarshish.” See the note at 2:16.
  162. Isaiah 60:9 tn Heb “to the name of the Lord your God.”
  163. Isaiah 60:9 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
  164. Isaiah 60:10 tn Heb “in my favor I will have compassion on you.”
  165. Isaiah 60:11 tn Or “led in procession.” The participle is passive.
  166. Isaiah 60:12 tn Or “For” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); TEV “But.”
  167. Isaiah 60:12 tn The infinitive absolute appears before the finite verb for emphasis.
  168. Isaiah 60:13 tn Or “holy place, sanctuary.”
  169. Isaiah 60:13 tn Heb “the place of my feet.” See Ezek 43:7, where the Lord’s throne is called the “place of the soles of my feet.”
  170. Isaiah 60:14 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
  171. Isaiah 60:15 tn Heb “Instead of your being abandoned and despised, with no one passing through, I will make you.”
  172. Isaiah 60:16 sn The nations and kings are depicted as a mother nursing her children. Restored Zion will be nourished by them as she receives their wealth as tribute.
  173. Isaiah 60:16 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.
  174. Isaiah 60:16 sn See 1:24 and 49:26.
  175. Isaiah 60:17 tn The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the preceding lines).
  176. Isaiah 60:17 tn The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the first two lines of the verse).
  177. Isaiah 60:17 tn Or “peace” (KJV and many other English versions).
  178. Isaiah 60:17 tn The plural indicates degree. The language is ironic; in the past Zion was ruled by oppressive tyrants, but now personified prosperity and vindication will be the only things that will “dominate” the city.
  179. Isaiah 60:18 tn The words “sounds of” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  180. Isaiah 60:19 tn Heb “and your God for your splendor.”
  181. Isaiah 60:20 sn In this verse “sun” and “moon” refer to the Lord’s light, which will replace the sun and moon (see v. 19). Light here symbolizes the restoration of divine blessing and prosperity in conjunction with the Lord’s presence. See 30:26.
  182. Isaiah 60:20 tn Heb “days” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
  183. Isaiah 60:21 tn Or “righteous” (NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “just.”
  184. Isaiah 60:21 tn Heb “a shoot of his planting, the work of my hands, to reveal splendor.”
  185. Isaiah 60:22 tn Heb “will become” (so NASB, NIV).
  186. Isaiah 60:22 tn Heb “I, the Lord, in its time, I will quickly do it.”
  187. Isaiah 61:1 tn Heb “anointed,” i.e., designated to carry out an assigned task.
  188. Isaiah 61:1 sn The speaker is not identified, but he is distinct from the Lord and from Zion’s suffering people. He possesses the divine spirit, is God’s spokesman, and is sent to release prisoners from bondage. The evidence suggests he is the Lord’s special servant, described earlier in the servant songs (see 42:1-4, 7; 49:2, 9; 50:4; see also 51:16).
  189. Isaiah 61:1 tn Or “sent” (NAB); NCV “has appointed me.”
  190. Isaiah 61:1 tn Or “proclaim good news to.”
  191. Isaiah 61:1 tn Heb “to bind up [the wounds of].”
  192. Isaiah 61:2 tn Heb “to announce the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance.
  193. Isaiah 61:3 tn Heb “oil of joy” (KJV, ASV); NASB, NIV, NRSV “the oil of gladness.”
  194. Isaiah 61:3 tn Heb “garment of praise.”
  195. Isaiah 61:3 tn Heb “a faint spirit” (so NRSV); KJV, ASV “the spirit of heaviness”; NASB “a spirit of fainting.”
  196. Isaiah 61:3 tn Rather than referring to the character of the people, צֶדֶק (tsedeq) may carry the nuance “vindication” here, suggesting that God’s restored people are a testimony to his justice. See v. 2, which alludes to the fact that God will take vengeance against the enemies of his people. Cf. NAB “oaks of justice.”
  197. Isaiah 61:3 tn Heb “a planting of the Lord to reveal splendor.”
  198. Isaiah 61:4 tn Heb “and the formerly desolate places they will raise up.”
  199. Isaiah 61:5 sn The Lord speaks in vv. 7-8 (and possibly v. 9). It is not clear where the servant’s speech (see vv. 1-3a) ends and the Lord’s begins. Perhaps the direct address to the people signals the beginning of the Lord’s speech.
  200. Isaiah 61:5 tn Heb “will stand [in position] and shepherd.”
  201. Isaiah 61:6 tn The Hebrew text adds, “it will be said concerning you.”
  202. Isaiah 61:6 tn Heb “eat” (KJV, NAB, NASB); NIV “feed on”; NLT “be fed with.”
  203. Isaiah 61:6 tc The form in the Hebrew text probably needs to be emended to יִתְאַמְּרוּ (yitʾammeru), a Hitpael from אָמַר (ʾamar), meaning “boast about” (see HALOT 67 s.v. II אמר, HALOT 416 s.v. ימר, and BDB 56 s.v. אָמַר).
  204. Isaiah 61:6 tn Heb “their glory” (i.e., riches).
  205. Isaiah 61:7 tn Heb “instead of your shame, a double portion.”
  206. Isaiah 61:7 tn Heb “and [instead of] humiliation they will rejoice [over] their portion.” The term תַחַת (takhat, “instead of”) is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
  207. Isaiah 61:7 tn Heb “therefore” (so KJV, NASB); NIV “and so.”
  208. Isaiah 61:8 tn Heb “in faithfulness”; NASB, NRSV, NLT “faithfully.”
  209. Isaiah 61:9 tn Heb “all who see them will recognize them, that they [are] descendants [whom] the Lord has blessed.”
  210. Isaiah 61:10 sn The speaker in vv. 10-11 is not identified, but it is likely that the personified nation (or perhaps Zion) responds here to the Lord’s promise of restoration.
  211. Isaiah 61:10 tn The infinitive absolute appears before the finite verb for emphasis.
  212. Isaiah 61:10 tn Heb “my being is happy in my God”; NAB “in my God is the joy of my soul.”
  213. Isaiah 61:10 tn Heb “robe of vindication”; KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV “robe of righteousness.”
  214. Isaiah 61:10 tn Heb “like a bridegroom [who] acts like a priest [by wearing] a turban, and like a bride [who] wears her jewelry.” The words “I look” are supplied for stylistic reasons and clarification.
  215. Isaiah 61:11 tn Or perhaps, “righteousness,” but the context seems to emphasize deliverance and restoration (see v. 10 and 62:1).
  216. Isaiah 61:11 tn Heb “and praise before all the nations.”

57 The righteous perish,(A)
    and no one takes it to heart;(B)
the devout are taken away,
    and no one understands
that the righteous are taken away
    to be spared from evil.(C)
Those who walk uprightly(D)
    enter into peace;
    they find rest(E) as they lie in death.

“But you—come here, you children of a sorceress,(F)
    you offspring of adulterers(G) and prostitutes!(H)
Who are you mocking?
    At whom do you sneer
    and stick out your tongue?
Are you not a brood of rebels,(I)
    the offspring of liars?
You burn with lust among the oaks(J)
    and under every spreading tree;(K)
you sacrifice your children(L) in the ravines
    and under the overhanging crags.
The idols(M) among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;
    indeed, they are your lot.
Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings(N)
    and offered grain offerings.
    In view of all this, should I relent?(O)
You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;(P)
    there you went up to offer your sacrifices.(Q)
Behind your doors and your doorposts
    you have put your pagan symbols.
Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed,
    you climbed into it and opened it wide;
you made a pact with those whose beds you love,(R)
    and you looked with lust on their naked bodies.(S)
You went to Molek[a](T) with olive oil
    and increased your perfumes.(U)
You sent your ambassadors[b](V) far away;
    you descended to the very realm of the dead!(W)
10 You wearied(X) yourself by such going about,
    but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’(Y)
You found renewal of your strength,(Z)
    and so you did not faint.

11 “Whom have you so dreaded and feared(AA)
    that you have not been true to me,
and have neither remembered(AB) me
    nor taken this to heart?(AC)
Is it not because I have long been silent(AD)
    that you do not fear me?
12 I will expose your righteousness and your works,(AE)
    and they will not benefit you.
13 When you cry out(AF) for help,
    let your collection of idols save(AG) you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
    a mere breath will blow(AH) them away.
But whoever takes refuge(AI) in me
    will inherit the land(AJ)
    and possess my holy mountain.”(AK)

Comfort for the Contrite

14 And it will be said:

“Build up, build up, prepare the road!(AL)
    Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”(AM)
15 For this is what the high and exalted(AN) One says—
    he who lives forever,(AO) whose name is holy:
“I live in a high(AP) and holy place,
    but also with the one who is contrite(AQ) and lowly in spirit,(AR)
to revive the spirit of the lowly
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.(AS)
16 I will not accuse(AT) them forever,
    nor will I always be angry,(AU)
for then they would faint away because of me—
    the very people(AV) I have created.
17 I was enraged by their sinful greed;(AW)
    I punished them, and hid(AX) my face in anger,
    yet they kept on in their willful ways.(AY)
18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal(AZ) them;
    I will guide(BA) them and restore comfort(BB) to Israel’s mourners,
19     creating praise on their lips.(BC)
Peace, peace,(BD) to those far and near,”(BE)
    says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”
20 But the wicked(BF) are like the tossing sea,(BG)
    which cannot rest,
    whose waves cast up mire(BH) and mud.
21 “There is no peace,”(BI) says my God, “for the wicked.”(BJ)

True Fasting

58 “Shout it aloud,(BK) do not hold back.
    Raise your voice like a trumpet.(BL)
Declare to my people their rebellion(BM)
    and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.(BN)
For day after day they seek(BO) me out;
    they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
    and has not forsaken(BP) the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
    and seem eager for God to come near(BQ) them.
‘Why have we fasted,’(BR) they say,
    ‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled(BS) ourselves,
    and you have not noticed?’(BT)

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please(BU)
    and exploit all your workers.
Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,(BV)
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard(BW) on high.
Is this the kind of fast(BX) I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble(BY) themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed(BZ)
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?(CA)
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

“Is not this the kind of fasting(CB) I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice(CC)
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed(CD) free
    and break every yoke?(CE)
Is it not to share your food with the hungry(CF)
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter(CG)
when you see the naked, to clothe(CH) them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?(CI)
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,(CJ)
    and your healing(CK) will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[c](CL) will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.(CM)
Then you will call,(CN) and the Lord will answer;(CO)
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger(CP) and malicious talk,(CQ)
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,(CR)
then your light(CS) will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.(CT)
11 The Lord will guide(CU) you always;
    he will satisfy your needs(CV) in a sun-scorched land(CW)
    and will strengthen(CX) your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,(CY)
    like a spring(CZ) whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins(DA)
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;(DB)
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,(DC)
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath(DD)
    and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight(DE)
    and the Lord’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
    and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,(DF)
14 then you will find your joy(DG) in the Lord,
    and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights(DH) of the land
    and to feast on the inheritance(DI) of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.(DJ)

Sin, Confession and Redemption

59 Surely the arm(DK) of the Lord is not too short(DL) to save,
    nor his ear too dull to hear.(DM)
But your iniquities have separated(DN)
    you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
    so that he will not hear.(DO)
For your hands are stained with blood,(DP)
    your fingers with guilt.(DQ)
Your lips have spoken falsely,(DR)
    and your tongue mutters wicked things.
No one calls for justice;(DS)
    no one pleads a case with integrity.
They rely(DT) on empty arguments, they utter lies;(DU)
    they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.(DV)
They hatch the eggs of vipers(DW)
    and spin a spider’s web.(DX)
Whoever eats their eggs will die,
    and when one is broken, an adder is hatched.
Their cobwebs are useless for clothing;
    they cannot cover themselves with what they make.(DY)
Their deeds are evil deeds,
    and acts of violence(DZ) are in their hands.
Their feet rush into sin;
    they are swift to shed innocent blood.(EA)
They pursue evil schemes;(EB)
    acts of violence mark their ways.(EC)
The way of peace they do not know;(ED)
    there is no justice in their paths.
They have turned them into crooked roads;(EE)
    no one who walks along them will know peace.(EF)

So justice is far from us,
    and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness;(EG)
    for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
10 Like the blind(EH) we grope along the wall,
    feeling our way like people without eyes.
At midday we stumble(EI) as if it were twilight;
    among the strong, we are like the dead.(EJ)
11 We all growl like bears;
    we moan mournfully like doves.(EK)
We look for justice, but find none;
    for deliverance, but it is far away.

12 For our offenses(EL) are many in your sight,
    and our sins testify(EM) against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
    and we acknowledge our iniquities:(EN)
13 rebellion(EO) and treachery against the Lord,
    turning our backs(EP) on our God,
inciting revolt and oppression,(EQ)
    uttering lies(ER) our hearts have conceived.
14 So justice(ES) is driven back,
    and righteousness(ET) stands at a distance;
truth(EU) has stumbled in the streets,
    honesty cannot enter.
15 Truth(EV) is nowhere to be found,
    and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The Lord looked and was displeased
    that there was no justice.(EW)
16 He saw that there was no one,(EX)
    he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;(EY)
so his own arm achieved salvation(EZ) for him,
    and his own righteousness(FA) sustained him.
17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate,(FB)
    and the helmet(FC) of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments(FD) of vengeance(FE)
    and wrapped himself in zeal(FF) as in a cloak.
18 According to what they have done,
    so will he repay(FG)
wrath to his enemies
    and retribution to his foes;
    he will repay the islands(FH) their due.
19 From the west,(FI) people will fear the name of the Lord,
    and from the rising of the sun,(FJ) they will revere his glory.(FK)
For he will come like a pent-up flood
    that the breath(FL) of the Lord drives along.[d]

20 “The Redeemer(FM) will come to Zion,(FN)
    to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”(FO)
declares the Lord.

21 “As for me, this is my covenant(FP) with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit,(FQ) who is on you, will not depart from you,(FR) and my words that I have put in your mouth(FS) will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

The Glory of Zion

60 “Arise,(FT) shine, for your light(FU) has come,
    and the glory(FV) of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness(FW) covers the earth
    and thick darkness(FX) is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
Nations(FY) will come to your light,(FZ)
    and kings(GA) to the brightness of your dawn.

“Lift up your eyes and look about you:
    All assemble(GB) and come to you;
your sons come from afar,(GC)
    and your daughters(GD) are carried on the hip.(GE)
Then you will look and be radiant,(GF)
    your heart will throb and swell with joy;(GG)
the wealth(GH) on the seas will be brought to you,
    to you the riches of the nations will come.
Herds of camels(GI) will cover your land,
    young camels of Midian(GJ) and Ephah.(GK)
And all from Sheba(GL) will come,
    bearing gold and incense(GM)
    and proclaiming the praise(GN) of the Lord.
All Kedar’s(GO) flocks will be gathered to you,
    the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
they will be accepted as offerings(GP) on my altar,(GQ)
    and I will adorn my glorious temple.(GR)

“Who are these(GS) that fly along like clouds,(GT)
    like doves to their nests?
Surely the islands(GU) look to me;
    in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,[e](GV)
bringing(GW) your children from afar,
    with their silver and gold,(GX)
to the honor(GY) of the Lord your God,
    the Holy One(GZ) of Israel,
    for he has endowed you with splendor.(HA)

10 “Foreigners(HB) will rebuild your walls,
    and their kings(HC) will serve you.
Though in anger I struck you,
    in favor(HD) I will show you compassion.(HE)
11 Your gates(HF) will always stand open,
    they will never be shut, day or night,
so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations(HG)
    their kings(HH) led in triumphal procession.
12 For the nation or kingdom that will not serve(HI) you will perish;
    it will be utterly ruined.(HJ)

13 “The glory of Lebanon(HK) will come to you,
    the juniper, the fir and the cypress together,(HL)
to adorn my sanctuary;(HM)
    and I will glorify the place for my feet.(HN)
14 The children of your oppressors(HO) will come bowing before you;
    all who despise you will bow down(HP) at your feet
and will call you the City(HQ) of the Lord,
    Zion(HR) of the Holy One(HS) of Israel.

15 “Although you have been forsaken(HT) and hated,
    with no one traveling(HU) through,
I will make you the everlasting pride(HV)
    and the joy(HW) of all generations.
16 You will drink the milk of nations
    and be nursed(HX) at royal breasts.
Then you will know(HY) that I, the Lord, am your Savior,(HZ)
    your Redeemer,(IA) the Mighty One of Jacob.(IB)
17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,(IC)
    and silver in place of iron.
Instead of wood I will bring you bronze,
    and iron in place of stones.
I will make peace(ID) your governor
    and well-being your ruler.(IE)
18 No longer will violence(IF) be heard in your land,
    nor ruin or destruction(IG) within your borders,
but you will call your walls Salvation(IH)
    and your gates Praise.(II)
19 The sun will no more be your light by day,
    nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,(IJ)
    and your God will be your glory.(IK)
20 Your sun(IL) will never set again,
    and your moon will wane no more;
the Lord will be your everlasting light,
    and your days of sorrow(IM) will end.
21 Then all your people will be righteous(IN)
    and they will possess(IO) the land forever.
They are the shoot I have planted,(IP)
    the work of my hands,(IQ)
    for the display of my splendor.(IR)
22 The least of you will become a thousand,
    the smallest a mighty nation.(IS)
I am the Lord;
    in its time I will do this swiftly.”(IT)

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirit(IU) of the Sovereign Lord(IV) is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed(IW) me
    to proclaim good news(IX) to the poor.(IY)
He has sent me to bind up(IZ) the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom(JA) for the captives(JB)
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[f]
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor(JC)
    and the day of vengeance(JD) of our God,
to comfort(JE) all who mourn,(JF)
    and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown(JG) of beauty
    instead of ashes,(JH)
the oil(JI) of joy
    instead of mourning,(JJ)
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting(JK) of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.(JL)

They will rebuild the ancient ruins(JM)
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations.
Strangers(JN) will shepherd your flocks;
    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
And you will be called priests(JO) of the Lord,
    you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth(JP) of nations,
    and in their riches you will boast.

Instead of your shame(JQ)
    you will receive a double(JR) portion,
and instead of disgrace
    you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit(JS) a double portion in your land,
    and everlasting joy(JT) will be yours.

“For I, the Lord, love justice;(JU)
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
    and make an everlasting covenant(JV) with them.
Their descendants(JW) will be known among the nations
    and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
    that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”(JX)

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
    my soul rejoices(JY) in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,(JZ)
as a bridegroom adorns his head(KA) like a priest,
    and as a bride(KB) adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
    and a garden(KC) causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness(KD)
    and praise spring up before all nations.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 57:9 Or to the king
  2. Isaiah 57:9 Or idols
  3. Isaiah 58:8 Or your righteous One
  4. Isaiah 59:19 Or When enemies come in like a flood, / the Spirit of the Lord will put them to flight
  5. Isaiah 60:9 Or the trading ships
  6. Isaiah 61:1 Hebrew; Septuagint the blind