Isaiah

Isaiah

     1[1-6] The vision of Isaiah, the son of Amoz, which they saw concerning Judah (southern Israel) and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, rulers of Judah (southern Israel). Hear, you who are in heaven, and listen, you who are on earth; for Yahweh has spoken, saying, I’ve nourished and brought up children, and they’ve rebelled against Me. The cow knows its owner and the donkey its owner’s barn; but Israel doesn’t know, and My people don’t think about it. Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with sin, descendants of evil-doers, children who do wrongfully! They’ve left Yahweh. They’ve hated the Holy One of Israel. They’re separated and backward. Why should you be beaten more, that you rebel more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint. From the sole of your foot all the way to your head there isn’t anything good in it, only wounds, welts, and open sores that haven’t been closed, nor bandaged, nor soothed with oil.

[7-9] Your country is deserted. Your cities are burned with fire. Foreigners take your land while you watch, and it’s deserted, and overthrown by foreigners. The city of Zion (Jerusalem) is left like a shed in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a besieged city. Unless Yahweh, the God of All Creation had left us a very small remnant, we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.

[10-14] Hear the word of Yahweh, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah! Yahweh says, “What are your many sacrifices to Me? I’ve had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed animals. I don’t enjoy the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats. When you come to show yourselves before Me, who has asked you to do this, to trample My courts? Bring no more meaningless offerings. Incense is evil to Me; I can’t bear the evil assemblies of your new moons, Seventh Days, and worship meetings. My soul hates your New Moons and your set feasts. They’re hard for Me. I am tired of putting up with them.

[15-20] When you lift your hands, I won’t look at you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I won’t hear, because your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, and get clean. Stop doing your evil wrongdoings right in front of Me. Stop doing what’s evil and Learn to do what’s good. Look for fairness and help the abused. Defend the case of those who have lost a parent and support those who have lost a spouse. Come now, and let us think about this together,” says Yahweh. “Though your sins are as scarlet, They’ll be as white as snow. Though they be red as crimson, They’ll be as white as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you’ll eat the good of the land; but if you trash and rebel, you’ll be killed in war; for the mouth of Yahweh has said it.”

[21-23] The faithful city is now as unfaithful as a prostitute! It was full of fairness and goodness, but now it’s full of murderers. Your silver isn’t anything but dross, and your wine is now mixed with water. Your rulers are rebellious, and friends of thieves. Everyone loves bribes, and chases after money. They don’t defend those who have lost parents, nor does the cause of those who have lost spouses come to them.

[24-31] So the Yahweh, the God of All Creation, the Strong One of Israel, says, “Ah, I’ll get relief from those who come against Me, and take revenge on My enemies; and I’ll use My power against you, and thoroughly purge away your dross, and take away all your tin. I’ll restore your judges as at the first and your counselors like they were at the beginning. Afterward you’ll be called ‘The city of goodness, a faithful town. ‘Zion (Jerusalem) will be bought back with fairness and its converts with goodness. But evildoers and sinners will be destroyed together, and those who leave Yahweh will be destroyed. You’ll be ashamed of the oaks which you wanted, and you’ll be confused for the gardens that you chose. For you’ll be as an oak whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water. The strong will be like tinder, whose work will be like a spark. They’ll both burn together, and no one will put them out.”

2[1- 4] This is what Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah (southern Israel) and Jerusalem. In the latter days, the mountain of Yahweh’s House will be set up above all the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all nations will flow into it. Many peoples will go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the family of the God of Jacob; who will teach us of the ways of God that we may follow them.” For out of Zion (Jerusalem) (City of David, Jerusalem) the law will go forth, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem. There, God will judge between the nations, and will decide things about many peoples; and they’ll beat their weapons into plows and pruning tools. Nation won’t go to war against nation, and they won’t learn the ways of war any more.

[5-10] Family of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of Yahweh. For you’ve left your people, the family of Jacob, because they’re filled with those who practice fortune telling like the Philistines (Palestine), and they join hands with foreigners from the east. Their land is full of silver and gold, and there’s no end to their treasures. Their land is also full of horses, and there’s no end to their vehicles. Their land also is full of the false worship of false gods. They worship the work of their own hands, what their own fingers have made. Humanity has been brought down, and Humanity is humbled; So, don’t forgive them. Go into the rock, and hide in the dust, from the terrible judgment of Yahweh, and from God’s awesomely beautiful light.

[11-16] The proud looks of human beings will be brought down, the pride of human beings will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be lifted up in praise Then. For there’ll be a day of Yahweh, the judgment of the God of All Creation, for all that are proud and self-important, and all that are lifted up will be brought down. All the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, all the oaks ofBashan, all the high mountains, all the hills that are lifted up, every proud tower, every strong wall, all the beautiful crafts, and everything beautiful will be judged.

[17-22] The proud looks of human beings will be bowed down, and the pride of human beings will be brought down; and Yahweh alone will be lifted up in praise Then. The false gods of false worship will be completely destroyed. People will go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, hiding from the terrible judgment of Yahweh, and from God’s awesomely beautiful light, when God causes the earth to greatly shake. Then, human beings will throw away their false gods of silver and gold, which were made for them to worship, to the moles and to the bats. They’ll go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, hiding from the terrible judgment of Yahweh, and from God’s awesomely beautiful light, when God causes the earth to greatly shake. Stop trusting in human beings, whose breath is in their nostrils; for of what importance are they?

3[1-5] Look, Yahweh God, the God of All Creation, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah (southern Israel) their supply and their support, the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water; the strong soldiers of war, the judge, the preacher, the fortune teller, the elder, the captain of fifty, the honorable ones, the counselor, the skilled crafts people, and those who threw spells. I’ll make young children to be their rulers, and they’ll rule over them. The people will all be abused by each other, everyone by their neighbor. The child will behave proudly against the old, and the evil against the good.

[6-12] Yes, one person will take hold of another in their own house, saying, “You have nice clothes, you be our ruler, and let this ruin be in your power.” Then they’ll cry out, saying, I don’t want to be a healer; I don’t even have food or clothes. You won’t make Me a ruler of the people. For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah (southern Israel) is fallen; because everything they say and do is against Yahweh, to provoke God’s fiery eyes. The looks on their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don’t even try to hide it. Sorrow will come to their soul! For they’ve brought disaster upon themselves. Tell the good “Good!” for they’ll be punished for what they do. Sorrow will come to the sinners! Disaster is coming upon them; for whatever they do will be paid back to them. As for My people, children are their abusers, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you make you to go down the wrong paths and make you go the wrong way.

[13-17] Yahweh stands up to fight and stands up to judge the peoples. Yahweh will judge the elders of the people of God, and their leaders, “It’s you who have eaten up the vineyard. Everything the poor owned is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing My people, and grinding the faces of the poor in the dirt?” says Yahweh God, the God of All Creation. Also Yahweh said, “Because the daughters of Zion (Jerusalem) are self-important, and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, walking to trip someone up as they go, jingling their ankle bracelets on their feet; So God will bring sores on the crowns of the heads of the women of Zion (Jerusalem), and Yahweh will make their scalps bald.”

[18-26] Then, God will take away the beauty of their ankle bracelets, headbands, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, veils, headdresses, sashes, perfume bottles, charms, rings, nose rings, fine clothes, coats, purses, hand mirrors, linens, tiaras, and shawls. Instead of smelling sweet, they’ll stink; instead of having a belt, they’ll be tied with a rope; instead of well set hair, they’ll be shaved bald; instead of nice clothes, they’ll wear rags of mourning; and they’ll be branded instead of being beautiful. You’ll fall in war, yes; your strong will fall in the war. At the city gates, they’ll cry and mourn; It’ll be deserted and they’ll sit on the ground.

4[1-4] Seven women will take hold of one man then, saying, “We’ll eat our own bread, and wear our own clothes; Just let us be called by Your Name. and take away our shame.” Then, Yahweh’s branch will be beautiful and wonderful, and the fruit of the land will be the beauty and pride of the survivors ofIsrael. Everyone who is left in Zion (Jerusalem), and those who stay in Jerusalem, will be called holy, even everyone who is still living in Jerusalem; when God will have washed away the filth of the cities of Zion (Jerusalem), and will have cleansed the blood out of Jerusalem, by the spirit of fairness, and by the spirit of burning judgment.

[5-6] Yahweh will create over all of Mount Zion (Jerusalem), and over all its assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the light of a blazing fire by night; and over all the light will be a covering. There, they’ll be shaded from heat in the daytime, and It’ll be a safe haven and a shelter from storm and rain.

5[1-4] Let Me sing for the One I love a song about My love’s vineyard. The One I love had a vineyard on a very fruitful hill and dug it up, gathered the stones out of it, planted it with the best vine, built a watchtower in it, and also cut out a winepress in it. My love looked for it to yield good grapes, but it yielded only wild grapes. “Now, people of Jerusalem and Judah (southern Israel), please judge between Me and My vineyard. What more could have been done to My vineyard that I haven’t already done in it? Why, when I looked for it to yield good grapes, did it yield wild grapes?

[5-7] Now I’ll tell you what I’ll do to My vineyard. I’ll take away its hedge, and it’ll be eaten up. I’ll break down its walls, and It’ll be trampled down. I’ll make it a wasteland. It won’t be pruned nor hoed, but It’ll grow briers and thorns. I’ll also tell the clouds not to rain on it.” For the vineyard of Yahweh, the God of All Creation is the family ofIsrael, and the people of Judah (southern Israel) God’s best plant. God looked for fairness, but look, abuse; God looked for goodness, but look, cries of trouble.

[8-12] Sorrow will come to those who join house to house, and who join field to field until there’s no room, and they are left living alone in the land! In My ears, Yahweh, the God of All Creation says, “Without a doubt many houses will be deserted, yes, all the big and beautiful houses will be empty. Ten acres of vineyard will only yield eight and a half gallons, and eighty gallons of seed will only yield about eight gallons.” Sorrow will come to those who Get up early in the morning to drink alcohol; who stay up late into the night until they’re drunk! The harp, lyre, tambourine, and flute, with wine, are at their celebrations; but they don’t think about the work of Yahweh, nor have they thought about what God has done.

[13-17] So My people are taken prisoner for lack of knowledge. Their honorable ones are hungry, and the people are dying of thirst. Hell has enlarged to take what it wants, and opened its mouth without measure; and their fame, their many people, their self-importance, and those who celebrate among them, all go down into it. So they are brought down, humanity is humbled, and the eyes of the proud ones look down; but Yahweh, the God of All Creation, is lifted up in praise in fairness, and God, the Holy One, is set apart in goodness. Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, and foreigners will eat the ruins of the rich.

[18-24] Sorrow will come to those who carry the sin of falsehood, and drag their sinfulness behind them; Who say, “Let God come quickly, and finish the work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it!” Sorrow will come to those who call evil good and good evil; who put their sins of darkness in the light, and hide the goodness of the light in the darkness; who act as if bitter things are sweet, and sweet things are bitter! Sorrow will come to those who are wise in their own eyes, and sensible in their own sight! Sorrow will come to those who drink too much wine, and are great at mixing alcoholic drinks; who free the guilty for a bribe, but deny fairness for the innocent! So as the tongue of fire burns the weeds, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will go up as dust; because they’ve rejected the law of Yahweh, the God of All Creation, and hated the Word of the Holy One of Israel.

[25-30] So Yahweh is very angry with the people of God, and has overturned them, and punished them. The mountains shake in fear, and their dead bodies are as trash in the middle of the streets. For all this, God is still very angry, and will punish them more. God will lift up a flag to the nations from far away, and will whistle for them to come from the ends of the earth. Look, they’ll come very quickly. None of them will be tired or trip; none will rest or sleep; nor will the belt of their waist be untied, or the buckle of their shoes be undone, whose weapons are ready and waiting. Their horses’ hoofs are well shoed, and their wheels turn like a tornado. Their noise will roar like a lioness. They’ll roar like young lions. Yes, they’ll roar, and take their prey and carry it off, and there won’t be any one to save them. They’ll roar against them then like the roaring of the sea. If one looks at the land, there’ll only be darkness and trouble. The light is darkened by the clouds.

6[1-4] In the year that the ruler Uzziah died (740 BC), I saw God sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, whose royal robe filled the Place of Worship. Glowing angelic beings stood above God. Each one had six wings, two covering the face, two covering the feet, and two for flying. One called to another, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh, the God of All Creation! God is made known in the whole earth!” The base of the doorways shook at the voice of the one who called out, and the house was filled with smoke.

[5-9] Then I said, “Sorrow is mine! I’m completely undone, because I am a human being of unfit lips, and I live with a people of unfit lips! My eyes have seen the Ruler, Yahweh, the God of All Creation!” Then one of the glowing angelic beings flew to Me, holding a live coal, which was taken with tongs from off the altar. The glowing angelic being touched My mouth with it, and said, “Look, this has touched your lips; and your sin is taken away, and forgiven.” I heard God’s voice, saying, “Who will I send; who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. Send Me!” Then God said, “Go, and tell this people, ‘You do hear, but you don’t understand; and you do see, but you don’t recognize.’

[10-13] Make the heart of this people fat. Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes or they’ll see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn around, and be healed.” Then I said, “God, how long?” Who answered, “Until cities are ruined and have no people, and the houses have no one living in them, and the land becomes completely ruined. And Yahweh has removed all the people far away, and the land is left in ruins. Even if only a tenth is left in it, it also will be ruined, as a pistachio tree, and as an oak tree, whose stump is left, when they’re felled; so the holy people is like the stump.”

7[1-6] In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, the ruler of Judah (southern Israel), that Rezin the ruler of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, the ruler of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to fight against it, but couldn’t overcome it. It was told to the family of David, saying, “Syriais united with Ephraim (northern Israel).” His heart shook in fear, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest shake in the wind. Then Yahweh said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you, and Shearjashub your son, at the end of the spring of the upper pool, on the highway of the fuller’s field (A fuller is someone who makes and washes wool). Tell him, ‘Be careful, and keep calm. Don’t be afraid, and don’t loose hope because of the great anger of Rezin andSyria, and of the son of Remaliah, who are nothing more than smoking firewood. Because Syria, Ephraim (northern Israel), and the son of Remaliah, have plotted evil against you, saying, “Let’s go fight against Judah (southernIsrael), and tear it apart, and let’s divide it among ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as our own ruler in it.”

[7-12] Yahweh God says, “Nothing they say will ever happen.” For the head of Syria is Damascus and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within 65 years Ephraim (northern Israel) will be destroyed, so that it won’t even be a people; and the head of Ephraim (northern Israel) is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If you won’t believe, you won’t be in control.’” Yahweh spoke again to Ahaz through Me, saying, “Ask a sign of Yahweh your God; ask it either in the depths of hell, or in the heavens above.” But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask, nor will I tempt Yahweh.”

[13-17] Then I said, “Listen now, family of David, isn’t it enough for you to try the patience of human beings, or will you try the patience of My God also? Since you haven’t chosen a sign, Yahweh God will give you one. Look, a virgin will conceive, and have a child, who will be named Immanuel. The child will eat butter and honey before knowing to destroy what’s evil, and choose what’s good. Before the child knows to destroy what’s evil, and choose what’s good, the land whose two rulers you hate will be destroyed. Yahweh will bring on you, on your people, and on your family, a time of trouble unlike any since the day that Ephraim (northern Israel) left out of Judah (southern Israel) from the ruler of Assyria.

[18-25] Then Yahweh will whistle for the Egyptians, who will come like the fly that is in the farthest part of the Euphrates Rivers of Egypt, and for the Assyrians, who will come like the bee that is in the land of Assyria. They’ll come and rest in the empty valleys, in the caves of the mountains, by the bushes, and on all the fields. Then God, with the ruler of Assyria, who Ahaz hired from beyond the Euphrates River, will shave you as with a razor, both the head and the hair of the feet; and it’ll also shave the beard. Then a person will keep alive a young cow and two sheep, and because of the abundance of milk which they give, they’ll all eat butter, for everyone will eat butter and honey who are left in the land. Then everywhere there used to be a thousand grape vines worth a thousand silver dollars, will be grown up in briers and thorns. People will go there with weapons, because all the land will be briers and thorns. All the hills that were farmed, you won’t go there because of all the briers and thorns; but it’ll be for the cows and sheep to graze.”

8[1-4] Yahweh said to Me, “Take a large book, and write on it with a pen, ‘For Maher Shalal Hash Baz;’ and I’ll take for myself faithful witnesses to testify, Uriah, the priest, and Zechariah, the son of Jeberechiah.” Then I went and had sex with My wife, who was a preacher, and she conceived, and had a child. Then Yahweh said to Me, “The child will be named ‘Maher Shalal Hash Baz (Go quickly to the treasure, quickly to the prey).’ For before the child knows how to say, Daddy’ and ‘Mama,’ the riches of Damascus and the treasures of Samaria will be carried away by the ruler of Assyria.”

[5-8] Yahweh spoke to Me yet again, saying, “Because this people has rejected the waters of Shiloah (Siloam) that go softly, and celebrate in Rezin and Remaliah’s son, God will bring upon them the strong flood waters of the Euphrates River, the ruler of Assyria and all the Assyrians. It’ll flood all its creeks, and flow over all its banks. It’ll flood intoJudah(southernIsrael), and overflow and go through; It’ll reach even toJerusalem, and like the outstretched wings of an eagle, It’ll cover your whole land, Immanuel.

[9-12] Sound your battle cry, peoples, and be destroyed! Listen, all you from far countries, get ready for war, and be destroyed! Get ready for war, and be destroyed! Make treaties with each other, and It’ll be brought to nothing; Whatever you say won’t even happen; for God is with us.” For Yahweh said this to Me with a strong hand, and told Me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, “Don’t say, ‘A conspiracy!’ about everything these people say is a conspiracy, nor be afraid of their threats, nor fear them.

[13-15] I, Yahweh, the God of All Creation is who you must think about as holy. I am the One you must fear and the One, whose judgment you must dread. I am a safe haven, but for both houses ofIsrael, I am a stone in the road and a large rock to many of the people ofJerusalem. Many will trip over it and fall and be hurt. They’ll be offended and punished by it.”

[16-22] Keep these words safe. Hide it among My followers. I’ll wait for Yahweh, who won’t watch over the family of Jacob, now, and I’ll watch for God’s saving grace. Look, I and the children whom Yahweh has given Me are for signs to make the people of Israel think, from Yahweh, the God of All Creation, who lives in Mount Zion (Jerusalem). When people tell you “Go see the fortune tellers, witches, and mediums, who make noises and whisper,” shouldn’t you talk with your God instead? Why should you talk to the dead, when you are alive? Turn to the Word of God! If they don’t speak in agreement with God’s Word, there’s no hope for them. They’ll go through it, greatly troubled and hungry; and when they’re hungry, they’ll worry, and curse their ruler and their God. They’ll look up to heaven, and look down to earth, and see nothing but trouble, darkness, and the sadness of suffering. They’ll be driven into the great darkness of their souls.

9[1-5] But there won’t be any more sadness for those who were suffering. In the past, God brought shame on the land of Zebulun and Naphtali; but in the latter time God made the land of Galilee well known, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, where the people of the nations live. The people who once lived in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death. You’ve made the nation grow. You’ve made them celebrate. They celebrate before you because they’re happy with what they’ve taken in their harvest, as people celebrate when they divide what they win in war. You’ve taken their heavy load from off their shoulders, the punishment of their abuser, as in the day when You set them free from Midian. All the armor of the armed soldiers in the noisy battle, and the clothes soaked in blood, will be burned as fuel for the fire.

[6-7] A child is born for us! This child is given to us, who will be in control of everything; Whose name will be called Wonderful Counselor, the God of All Creation and Time, the Ruler of Peace; Whose rule and peace will never end, Who will sit on the throne, and realm of David, to set it up, and to uphold it with fairness and with goodness from that time on, even forever. With passion, Yahweh, the God of All Creation will do it.

[8-12] God sent a warning to the people of Jacob, and it falls on the land of Israel. All the people will know, including Ephraim (northern Israel) and the people of Samaria, who say with a proud heart, “The bricks have fallen, but we’ll build it again with cut stones. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we’ll put cedars in their place.” So Yahweh will put the enemies of Rezin in power, and will stir up their enemies, the Syrians in front, and the Philistines (Palestine) behind; and they’ll destroy Israel. For all this, God is still very angry, and will punish them more.

[13-17] Yet the people haven’t turned back to God, who punished them, nor have they sought Yahweh, the God of All Creation. So Yahweh will cut off from Israel, both the head and the tail, the palm branch and the reed, in one day. The elders and the honorable people are the head, and the preacher who teaches lies is the tail. Those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are ruined. So God won’t let their young ones go, nor have compassion on those without a parent and survivors; They’re all ungodly evil-doers, whose mouths speak sinful words. For all this, God is still very angry, and will punish them more.

[18-21] Their sinfulness burns like a fire, burning all the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and rolls up in a column of smoke. Through the great anger of Yahweh, the God of All Creation, the land is burnt up; and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one even spares a family member. They’ll eat everything in sight, both on the left and on the right, and still be hungry; and they won’t have enough. They’ll eat the meat of their own children.  Manasseh will eat Ephraim (northern Israel); and Ephraim (northern Israel) will eat Manasseh; and together they’ll come against Judah (southern Israel). For all this, God is still very angry, and will punish them more.

10[1-4 Sorrow will come to those who make unfair laws, and to those who write laws to allow abuse of people; to take away fairness from the needy, and to rob the poor among My people of their rights, that they may take what rightfully belongs to survivors and from those without a parent! What will you do in the day of God’s judgment, when trouble will come from a far country? Who will you go to for help? Where will you leave all your wealth? You’ll only hide like prisoners, and fall like the dead. For all this, God is still very angry, and will punish them more.

[5-11] “Sorrow will come toAssyria, the stick I use in My anger, the staff in whose hand is My rightful anger! I’ll send them against a ruined nation, and I’ll give them an order against the people who anger Me to take the people and everything they own, and to stomp them down like the mud in the streets. But this isn’t what the ruler ofAssyriaplans, nor has they ever thought of it; but it’s in his heart to destroy and take many nations. They says, “Aren’t all of My commanders rulers? Isn’t Calno like Carchemish (cities of Syria)? Isn’t Hamath like Arpad (cities of Syria)? Isn’t Samaria (northern Israel) like Damascus (city of Syria)?” As My hand has found the nations of the false gods, whose false gods are more than those of Jerusalem and Samaria; won’t I, as I’ve done to Samaria and its false gods, do so to Jerusalem and its false gods?

[12-15] So when I am done with My work on Mount Zion (Jerusalem) and on Jerusalem, I’ll punish the willful proud heart of the ruler of Assyria, and the disrespect of his proud looks, who has said, “I’ve done it by the strength of My own hand, and by My own wisdom; I understand how to take away the borders of the peoples, and have stolen their treasures. Like a brave soldier I’ve brought down their rulers. My hand has found the riches of the peoples and like someone who gathers eggs that are left in a nest, I’ve gathered all the earth. Not one moved a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.” Is an axe greater than the one who chops with it? Is a saw greater than the one who saws with it? It’s as if a stick could lift up the one who picks it up, or as if a staff should lift up the one who isn’t made of wood.”

[16-19] So God, Yahweh, the God of All Creation, will send sickness to those who have been fed well; and a burning will start in their bodies like a burning fire. Yahweh God, the Light of Israel will be a fire, and their Holy One a flame; and It’ll burn and destroy all the thorns and briers in one day. It’ll destroy all the beauty of his forests, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body. It’ll be like when a flag bearer faints. Those who are left of the trees of his forest will only be a few, so that a child could count their number.

[20-25] Then what’s left of Israel, and those who have escaped from the family of Jacob will no more again lean on those who destroyed them, but they’ll lean on Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. Some of what’s left will come back, what’s left of the people ofIsrael, to the God of All Creation. Though your people,Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a few of them will come back. Though they’ll rightly be destroyed, God’s goodness will overcome. For God, Yahweh, the God of All Creation, will do everything that was said, in the whole earth. So God, Yahweh, the God of All Creation, says “My people who live in Zion (Jerusalem), don’t be afraid of Assyria, though they beat you with the stick, and lift up their staff against you, as Egypt did. For in just a little while, the rightful anger against you will be over, and My anger will come against them.

[26-29] I, Yahweh, the God of All Creation will beat them with a stick, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb. I’ll hold My stick over the sea, and lift it up like I did against Egypt. Then Assyria will leave you alone, and have no control over you again, whose power will be destroyed because of the blessing on you. The Assyrians will come to Aiath and go through Migron; At Michmash they’ll store their supplies and go over the go; They’ll camp at Geba, while Ramah shake in fears and Saul’s hometown of Gibeah will run away (Route Assyria used to make war on Israel).

[30-34] Cry aloud with your voice, city of Gallim! Listen, Laishah! You poor city ofAnathoth! Madmenah is a runaway. The people of Gebim run for safety. This very day they’ll stop at Nob and shake their fists at the mountain of the city of Zion (Jerusalem), the hill of Jerusalem. Look, I, Yahweh, the God of All Creation, will cut off their branches with great anger. I’ll cut the tall ones down, and the proud will be brought down. I, the God of All Creation, will cut down the thickets of the forest with an iron ax, and Lebanon will fall.

11[1- 5] The family of David is like a stump in which a branch will grow out of the roots and will bear fruit. The Spirit of Yahweh will rest on it, with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and power, the spirit of knowledge and of the respect of Yahweh; Whose happiness will be in the respect of Yahweh; Who won’t judge by sight, nor decide by hearing; but with goodness will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the needy of the earth; Who will punish the people of the earth with a word; and with the breath of God, will kill the sinners; and whose belt will be goodness and faithfulness.

[6-9] The wolves will live with the lambs, and the leopards will lie down with the little goats; The calves and the young lions will eat together; and little children will lead them around. The cow and the bear will graze together. Their young ones will lie down together. The meat eaters will eat straw like the cow. Nursing children will play near a snake’s hole, and weaned children will put their hands on the snake’s den and not be hurt. Nothing will hurt or destroy anything in all My holy mountain; and the whole earth will fully know Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.

[10-12] Then the nations will look for the root of David, who stands as a symbol of peace to the peoples; whose home will be wonderful. Then Yahweh will recover what’s left that is left of God’s people a second time from Assyria, fromEgypt, from Pathros (Upper-southern Egypt), from Cush (Ethiopia, Africa), from Elam (Iran), from Shinar (Iraq), from Hamath (Syria), and from all the nations across the sea. God will set up a symbolic flag to show the nations, and will gather the outcasts ofIsrael, and gather together those who were sent away from Judah (southern Israel) from the four corners of the earth.

[13-16] Ephraim (northern Israel) won’t be jealous, and those who abuse Judah (southern Israel) will be destroyed. Ephraim (northern Israel) won’t be jealous of Judah (southern Israel), and Judah (southern Israel) won’t abuse Ephraim (northern Israel). They’ll run down the mountainsides of the Philistines (Palestine) on the west. Together they’ll overcome the children of the east and take what they want. They’ll take control over Edom (Arab nations) and Moab (Jordan), and the people of Ammon (Jordan) will obey them. Yahweh will completely destroy the branch of the Red sea of Egypt (Gulf of Suez); and with a scorching wind will dry up the Euphrates River, and will split it into seven creeks, and people will be able to cross it on foot. There’ll be a highway for what’s left of the people from Assyria, like there was for Israel in the day that they came up out of the land of Egypt.

12[1-3] Then you’ll say, “I’ll give thanks to You, Yahweh; for though You were angry with Me, Your anger has turned away and now You comfort Me. Look, God is My saving grace. I’ll trust, and won’t be afraid because Yahweh God is My strength and My song; and has become My saving grace.” So with great happiness you’ll draw water out of the wells of God’s saving grace.

[4-6] Then you’ll say, “Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on God’s Name. Tell everyone what God has done among the peoples. Shout and lift up God’s Name in praise! Sing to Yahweh, who has done wonderful things! Make this known in all the earth! Cry out and shout, you people of Zion (Jerusalem); for the Holy One of Israel is great, and stays with you!”

13[1-5] The vision of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. Set up a flag on the bare mountain! Lift up your voice to them! Wave your hand that they may go into the gates of the proud ones. I’ve told those who I have set aside to go; yes, I’ve called My soldiers to punishBabylonfor My anger, even those who are very proud. The noise of an army is in the mountains, as of a great people; the noise of an uproar of the nations of the nations are gathered together! Yahweh, the God of All Creation is calling the army to the war. They come from a far country, from the farthest part of heaven from Yahweh, and are the weapons of God’s rightful anger, to destroy the whole land.

[6-10] Scream; for the day of Yahweh is at hand! It’ll come as destruction from the Almighty. So everyone’s hands will be weak, and everyone’s heart will fail them for fear. They’ll be terribly upset. Pain and sorrows will overtake them like a woman giving birth. They’ll look in amazement at each other and their faces will burn with shame. Look, the day of Yahweh is coming! It’ll be cruel, with great punishment and fierce anger; to make the land deserted, and to destroy the sinners out of it. The stars of the sky and their constellations won’t shine. The sun will be darkened as it comes out, and the moon won’t shine either.

[11-16] I’ll punish the world for their evil, and the sinners for their sin. I’ll cause the proud to stop thinking about themselves, and will take the pride of the terrible ones from them. I’ll make people more rare than the finest gold, a person will be more valuable than the pure gold of Ophir. I’ll make the heavens shake in fear, and the earth will be shaken out of its place in the great anger of Yahweh, the God of All Creation, and in the day of My fierce anger. Like a hunted deer, and like sheep that no one takes care of, they’ll all turn back to their own people, and go back to their own land. Everyone who is found will be killed. Everyone who is captured will fall in war. Their babies will be killed right in front of them. Their houses will be trashed, and their wives raped.

[17-22] Look, I’ll stir up the Medes against them, who won’t value silver, and as for gold, they won’t enjoy it. They’ll kill the little babies, having no compassion even on the youngest of them. They won’t even spare the children.Babylon, the best of the nations, the beauty of the Chaldeans (Babylonians, Iraq)’ pride, will be like when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It’ll never be lived again and will stay deserted forever. The Arabians won’t have their homes there, nor will shepherds let their flocks lie down there. But the wild animals of the desert will lie there, and their houses will be full of dragons. Ostriches will live there, and wild goats will play there. Wolves will howl in their great houses, and dragons will live in all their pleasant places. The time is near, and the days won’t be long in coming.

14[1-6] Yahweh will have compassion on Jacob, and will still chooseIsrael, and set them in their own land. The foreigner will join them, and they’ll unite with the family of Jacob. The peoples will take them, and bring them back to their land. The family ofIsraelwill have them in Yahweh’s land for workers. They’ll take those who made them prisoners as prisoners; and they’ll rule over those who abused them. In the day that Yahweh will give you rest from your sorrow, from your trouble, and from the hard work you were forced to do, you’ll tell this story about the ruler of Babylon, and say, “The abuser has stopped and will never have power over us again!” Yahweh has broken the power and rule of the sinners and the rulers, who hit the peoples in great anger with many slaps, who ruled the nations in anger, with terrible troubles, which they didn’t restrain.

[7-10] The whole earth will be at rest, and quiet. They break out in song. Yes, the fir trees will celebrate with you, and with the cedars of Lebanon, saying, “Since the evil ones are humbled, no axe has hit us.” Hell below has moved to meet you at your coming. It stirs up the dead for you, even all the rulers of the earth. It has raised up all the rulers of the nations from off their thrones. They’ll all answer and ask you, “Have you also become as weak as we are? Have you become like us?”

[11-14] Your self-importance is brought down to Hell, along with the music you made. Maggots fall from you, and worms cover you. How you’ve fallen from Heaven, morning star, creature of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who troubled the nations! You said in your heart, “I’ll go up into heaven and put my throne above the stars of God! I’ll sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north! I’ll go up higher than the clouds! I’ll make myself like the Most High God!”

[15-20] Yet you’ll be brought down to Hell, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you and think, “this is the creature who made the earth to shake in fear, who shook nations; who made the world like an empty countryside, and overthrew its cities; who didn’t release the prisoners to go home?” All the rulers of the nations sleep in honor, everyone in their own house. But you are thrown away from your grave like an evil offspring, clothed with the dead, who are killed in war, who go down to the stones of the pit; like a dead body stomped under foot. You won’t join them in burial, because you’ve destroyed your land and killed your people. Evil-doers won’t have any descendants to be named after them.

[21-27] Their children will be killed because of the sins of their ancestors, so that they won’t come up and take control over the earth, and fill the world with their evil cities. “I’ll Get up against them,” says Yahweh, the God of All Creation,“ and cut off their names forever fromBabylonand they’ll have no descendants,” says Yahweh. “I’ll also make it a place for the porcupine, and pools of water. I’ll sweep it clean with the broom of destruction,” says Yahweh, the God of All Creation. Yahweh, the God of All Creation has promised, saying, “Without a doubt, as I’ve thought it out, so it’ll happen; and as I’ve planned it, so will it stand. I’ll break the Assyrian in My land, and stomp them under foot on My mountains. Then they’ll have no power over My people, and they won’t have to work for them any more. This is what I’ve planed for the whole earth. This is My power that will rule over all the nations. For what Yahweh, the God of All Creation has planned, who can stop? God’s hand holds the power, and who can stop it?”

[28-32] This vision was in the year that the ruler Ahaz died (715-716 B.C.) Don’t celebrate, all you of Philistia, because the stick that beat you (Sargon of Assyria?) is broken; for out of that snake’s egg will come another snake (Babylon), whose egg will hatch a fiery flying dragon (Satan?). The firstborn of the poor will eat, and the needy will lie down in safety; and I’ll kill your people with famine, and what’s left of you will be killed as well. Scream, you people at the gate! Cry, people in the city! You are all destroyed,Philistia; see the soldiers are coming out of the north, and there are no weak ones in their ranks. What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That Yahweh has founded Zion (Jerusalem), and in it the troubled of God’s people will find safety.

15[1-4] The vision of Moab (Jordan). In a night, Ar of Moab (Jordan) is destroyed, and brought to nothing; In a night Kir of Moab (Jordan) is destroyed, and brought to nothing. They’ve gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to cry. Moab (Jordan) screams over Nebo and over Medeba. They’ve shaved their heads and every beard is cut off. In their streets, they dress themselves in mourning clothes. In their streets and on their housetops, everyone screams, crying terribly. Heshbon cries out with Elealeh. Their voice is heard even to Jahaz. Even the armed soldiers of Moab (Jordan) cry aloud. They shake in fear.

[5-9] My heart cries out forMoab(Jordan)! The leaders go to Zoar, to Eglath Shelishiyah; they go up by the highway of Luhith with crying; and in the highway of Horonaim, they cry over their destruction. For the waters of Nimrim will be deserted; and the grass has withered away, the new grass burns up, and there isn’t anything green left. So they’ll carry away everything they own, and what they’ve stored up, over the brook of the willows. For the cry has gone around the borders of Moab (Jordan); its screaming is heard to Eglaim, and to Beer Elim. For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; I’ll bring yet more on Dimon, a lion on those of Moab (Jordan) who escape, and on whoever’s left in the land.

16[1-5] Moab (Jordan) will send its lambs from Selah as a gift for the ruler of the land to the countryside, to the mountain of the city of Zion (Jerusalem). Their daughters will wait like wandering birds from a scattered nest, at the crossings of the Arnon river. Do what’s right; Counsel them and tell them what to do! Hide them in your shade, like the shadows at noonday! Hide those who are thrown out! Don’t turn against those who are running! Let My outcasts live with you! Be a safe haven for them from the face of their abuser. Those who abuse them will be brought to nothing and their abuse will stop. The abusers will be destroyed out of the land. Then One who will rule in loving kindness will come to power, who will rule in truth, in the family of David, judging, looking for fairness, and quick to do what’s good.

[6-9] We’ve heard of the pride of Moab (Jordan), who is very proud; even of their pride, and great anger, whose bragging means nothing. SoMoabwill scream for their people. Everyone will cry. They’ll cry for the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth, which are all gone. The fields of Heshbon, along with the vine of Sibmah, will wither. The God of all the nations has broken down its best branches, which reached even to Jazer, and wandered into the countryside. Its shoots were spread out all over it. They even crossed over the sea. So I’ll cry with the screaming of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah. I’ll water you with My tears, Heshbon, and Elealeh, because I have judged you and My judgment has fallen on your summer fruits and on your harvest.

[10-14] You won’t be glad and happy over the fruitful field and the vineyards. There won’t be any singing, or noise of celebration. Nobody will press the wine out in the presses. I’ve made all the happy shouting stop. So My heart sounds like a harp for Moab (Jordan), and My soul cries for Kir Heres. Then when Moab (Jordan) goes up to worship, and tires out in the place of worship, and comes to their place of worship to pray, they won’t succeed. This is the word that Yahweh spoke concerning Moab (Jordan) in time past. But now Yahweh has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as a worker bound by contract would count them, the pride of Moab (Jordan) will be brought into judgment, with all the people; and what’s left will be very small and weak.”

17[1-7] This is the vision ofDamascus. “Look, Damascus is destroyed from being a city, and will be a pile of ruins. The cities of Aroer are left. They’ll be for the people, which will lie down, and none will make them afraid. Ephraim (northern Israel) will fall, along with those from Damascus, and what’s left of Syria. They’ll be just like the people of Israel,” says Yahweh, the God of All Creation. “Then all the beauty of Jacob will be gone, and the people will grow thin from hunger. It’ll be like when the harvester gathers the wheat, whose arm reaps the grain. Yes, it’ll be like when one gathers what’s left of the grain in the valley of Rephaim. Yet some will be left there, like the shaking of an olive tree, two or three olives in the top of the branches, four or five in the outermost branches of a fruitful tree,” says Yahweh, the God of Israel. Then, people will look to their Maker, and they’ll have respect for the Holy One of Israel.

[8-14] They won’t worship their false gods that they’ve made with their own hands; nor will they have respect for what their fingers have made, either the Asherim (fertility goddess, mother of Baal), or their incense altars. Then, their strong cities will be like the deserted places in the woods and on the mountain top, which were deserted by the people ofIsrael. It’ll be empty. For you’ve forgotten the God, who saves you with grace, and haven’t remembered the Rock of your strength. So you plant good plants, and set out strange seedlings. In the day you plant, you hedge it in. In the morning, you make your seed blossom, but the harvest goes away in the heat of the day of grief and you’re desperately sorry. Ah, the uproar of many peoples, who roar like the roaring seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing waters! The nations will rush like the rushing of much water, but God will turn them back, and they’ll go far off, and will be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before a storm. At evening, they’ll be terrified and before the morning, they’ll be gone. This is the judgment of those who abuse us, and take everything we have.

18[1-3] Ah, the land of the rustling wings of insects, which is beyond the rivers of Cush (Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt); that sends messengers by the sea, even in ships of papyrus on the waters, saying, “Go quickly, you messengers, to a nation whose people are tall and fierce, to a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that is measured out and shaken down, whose land the rivers divide!” All you people of the world, and you who live on the earth, when a flag is lifted up on the mountains, look! When the trumpet is blown, listen!

[4-7] Yahweh said to Me, “I’ll be still, and I’ll see where I am, like the shimmering heat in sunshine, like a mist of dew in the heat of harvest.” For before the harvest, when the blossoming is over, and the flower becomes a ripening grape, I’ll cut off the sprigs with pruning tools, and cut down and take away the spreading branches. They’ll be left together for the hungry birds of the mountains, and for the animals of the earth. The hungry birds will feed on them all summer, and all the animals of the earth will feed on them all winter. In that time, a present will be brought to Yahweh, the God of All Creation, from a land of tall and fierce people, even from a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that is measured out and shaken down, whose land the rivers divide, to the place of the Name of Yahweh, the God of All Creation, Mount Zion (Jerusalem).

19[1-4] This is the vision of Egypt (historically, 701 B.C.). “Look, Yahweh rides on a fast vehicle covered in clouds, and comes toEgypt. The false gods of Egypt will shake in fear at the presence of God; and the heart of Egypt will fail them for fear. I’ll stir up the Egyptians against the Egyptians, and they’ll fight their own family and neighbors; city against city, and realm against realm. The spirit ofEgyptwill fail. I’ll destroy its counsel. They’ll look for the false gods, mediums, witches, and wizards. I’ll give the Egyptians into the power of a cruel leader. A fierce ruler will rule over them,” says God, Yahweh, the God of All Creation.

[5-10] The waters from the sea will dry up, and theNileRiverwill be ruined and dry up. All the waterways of the rivers will be ruined. The creeks ofEgyptwill be lowered and dry up. Their reeds and flags will wither away. The fields by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile, and all the planted fields of theNile, will become dry, and be blown away till they are gone. The fishermen will cry, and all those who fish in theNilewill be sad, and those who spread their nets on the waters will suffer. Also those who work in flax, and those who weave its white cloth, will be confused, and not know what to do. The foundations of their civilization will be destroyed. All those who work for money will be greatly depressed.

[11-15] The rulers of Zoan (Tanis, Egyptian Government) are complete idiots. The counsel of the wisest counselors of their Ruler has become stupid. How can you say to the Egyptian Ruler, “I am one of the wise, the follower of ancient rulers?” Where then are your wise ones? Let them tell you now; and let them know what Yahweh, the God of All Creation has planned for Egypt. The rulers of Zoan have become ungodly idiots. The rulers of Memphis (ancient capital) believe lies. The leaders of the Egyptian people have causedEgyptto go astray. Yahweh has mixed a spirit of evil in it; and they’ve causedEgyptto go astray in everything it does, like a drunk staggers in vomit. Nor will there be any work forEgypt, which leader or people, preacher or wise ones, can do.

[16-20] Then the Egyptians will be very afraid. They’ll shake in fear because of the shaking of the hand of Yahweh, the God of All Creation, who shakes it over them. The land of Judah (southern Israel) will become a terror to Egypt. Everyone who hears of it will be afraid, because of the plans of Yahweh, the God of All Creation, which is planned against it. But there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan (Hebrew), and worship Yahweh, the God of All Creation. One will be called “The City of Ruins (City of the Sun, Heliopolis, On?).” At that time, there will be an altar to Yahweh in the middle of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to Yahweh at its border. It’ll be for a sign and for a witness to Yahweh, the God of All Creation in the land of Egypt; for they’ll cry to Yahweh because of those who abuse them, who will send them a Savior and a Defender, who will save them.

[21-25] Yahweh will be known toEgypt, and the Egyptians will know Yahweh at that time. Yes, they’ll worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make promises to Yahweh, and do them. Yahweh will punish Egypt, both punishing it and healing it. They’ll come back to Yahweh, who will be prayed to by them, and who will heal them. At that time there’ll be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. Then, Israel, Egypt, and Assyria, will be in agreement with each other, a blessing in the middle of the earth; because Yahweh, the God of All Creation has blessed them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt, My people, Assyria, the work of My hands, and Israel, My inheritance.”

20[1-6] When Tartan came to Ashdod, in the year (711B.C.) that Sargon the ruler of Assyria sent him, who fought against Ashdod and took it; at that time Yahweh spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and take off your clothes, and take off your shoes.” So they did this, walking naked and barefoot. Yahweh said, “As My worker Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign to Egypt and to Ethiopia, so the ruler of Assyria will lead away the prisoners of Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, barefoot and naked, with their butts uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. They’ll all be upset and confused, because they hoped inEthiopia, and counted onEgypt. The people of this land will say at that time, ‘Look, this is our hope, where we run away for help to be set free from the ruler of Assyria. And now, how will we escape?’”

21[1- 5] This is the vision of the countryside by the water (Babylon). As tornados in the South sweep through, it comes from the countryside, from an awesome land. A terrible vision is told to me. The unfaithful ones have been unfaithful, and others destroy. Go up, Elam (Iran); attack! I’ve stopped Media from sighing. So I am filled with suffering. Pains have taken hold of me, like the pains of childbirth. I am in so much pain that I can’t hear. I so am upset that I can’t see. My heart skips, I’m so afraid. The evening that I wanted has made me shake in fear instead. They set the table and watch. They eat and drink. Get up, you rulers, rub oil on the shields!

[6-10] For God said to me, “Go, put a guard on watch and let him tell what they sees. When they sees a troop, riding in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, they needs to listen carefully and pay attention.” The guard cried like a lion, “God, I stand continually on the watchtower day and night, staying at my post. Look, here comes a troop of soldiers, riding in pairs. Babylon has fallen; and all its false gods are broken on the ground.” My people, you’ll be separated like the grain on the floor of the barn! What I’ve heard from Yahweh, the God of All Creation, the God ofIsrael, I’ve told to you.

[11-12] This is the vision of Dumah (el-Gof, Dumat el-Gandel?). Someone calls to me out of Seir (Edom, Arab nations), “Guard, what time of night is it? Guard, what time of night is it?” The guard said, “The morning comes, though it’s still night. If you must ask, then ask. Come back later.”

[13-17] This is the vision on Arabia (715 B.C.). You’ll stay in the forest of Arabia, you people of Dedanites. They brought water to the thirsty. The people of the land of Teima (Arabian Peninsula) met those who are running away with their bread. For they run away from the weapons, from the drawn weapons, and from the heat of battle. For God said to me, “Within a year, as a worker bound by contract would count it, all the power of Kedar (a Bedouin tribe) will fail, and what’s left of them, the strong soldiers of Kedar, will be few; for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken it.”

22[1-3] This is the word of the valley of vision. What troubles you now, that you’ve all gone up to the rooftops to watch? You that are full of shouting, a noisy city, a happy town; your dead aren’t killed with the weapons, nor are they killed in battle. All your rulers run away together. They were caught by their enemies. All who were found in you were tied together. They run away, far away.

[4-8] So I said, “Don’t look at me. Let me cry. Don’t try to comfort me for the destruction of the city of my people. For it’s a day of trouble, and of breaking down, and of confusion, from God, Yahweh, the God of All Creation, in the valley of vision; a breaking down of the walls, and a crying to the mountains.”Elam carried their weapons, with vehicles of soldiers and riders; and the soldiers of Kir lifted their shields. Your best valleys were full of vehicles, and the riders set themselves in order at the gate. Judah (southern Israel) couldn’t defend itself; and you looked then to the weapons in the palace of the forest (of Lebanon).

[9-13] You saw the broken walls of the city of David, that they were many; and you stored up the waters of the lower pool. You counted the houses ofJerusalem, and broke down the houses to make the wall strong. You also made a storage area between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you didn’t look to the One who had done this, nor did you respect the One who planned it long ago. Then, God, Yahweh, the God of All Creation, called you to cry, to mourn, to cut your hair, and to dress in mourning clothes. Look, now happiness and gladness, killing cows and sheep, eating meat and drinking wine. You say, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we’ll die.”

[14-19] Yahweh, the God of All Creation, spoke clearly to me, “Without a doubt, this sin won’t be forgiven you until you die,” says God, Yahweh, the God of All Creation. God, Yahweh, the God of All Creation says, “Go to this treasurer, even to Shebna, who is over the house, and say, ‘What are you doing here? Who has sent you here to dig out a grave for yourself?’ Why have you cut out a grave on this mountain, chiseling a hole in the rock?” Look, Yahweh will catch you and violently throw you away. Yes, God will grab hold of you tightly, and without a doubt, wind you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a large land. There you’ll die, and the vehicles of your victory will be there, and you will be the shame of your leader’s house. I’ll throw you out of office and you’ll be pulled down from your position.

[20-25] Then I’ll call My worker Eliakim, the descendant of Hilkiah, who I’ll put in your place and make strong. Eliakim will have power over your government, who will be a ruler to the people of Jerusalem, and to the family of Judah (southern Israel). I’ll give Eliakim the power of the family of David, who will open, and no one will shut; and who will shut, and no one will open. Eliakim will be like a nail that won’t come out of its place, whose family will hold it in honor. Everyone in the family, from the least to the greatest, will hang their hopes on Eliakim, like pots on a peg, who they’ll bring down.  “Then,” says Yahweh, the God of All Creation, “the nail that was hammered in place will fall out. It’ll come loose, and fall and everything that was on it will come loose and fall off, too, for Yahweh has spoken it.”

23[1-5] This is the vision of Tyre (Lebanon). Scream, shipmates of Tarshish (Spain)! Tyrehas been destroyed, and there’s no more houses, and no where for the ships to dock. They’re told even from the land of Kittim (Chittim,Cyprus). Be quiet, you people of the coast, whom the merchants ofSidonwho go over the sea have made rich. On the Shihor River, the grain harvest of the Nile, was its pay. It was the market of nations. Be ashamed, Sidon; for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea is saying, “I haven’t had the pain of childbirth, nor nursed any young, nor brought up any children.” Tyre is gone, as if it never was a city. When the news comes to Egypt, they’ll be very upset at the report of Tyre.

[6-10] Go to Tarshish (Spain)! Scream, you people of the coast! Is this your happy city, which is very old, and sent its people far away?  Who has planned this against Tyre, who gives crowns to rulers, whose traders are rulers, who are known all over the earth? Yahweh, the God of All Creation has planned it, to bring down the pride of all who are well known, to bring dishonor on all those who are honored in the earth. Go through your land like the Nile, city of Tarshish (Spain). Nothing will hold you back any more.

[11-14] God’s hand has enlarged over the sea and shaken the nations. Yahweh has orderedCanaan’s strongholds to be destroyed. God said, “You’ll won’t celebrate any more, city of Sidon. Get up and go over to Kittim (Chittim,Cyprus), but you won’t have any rest there.” Look at the land of the Chaldeans (Babylonians, Iraq), whose people isn’t there any more. The Assyrians made it a place for the animals that live in the countryside. They set up their war machines and overthrew its palaces, making it a ruin. Scream, you shipmates of Tarshish (Spain), for your stronghold is destroyed!

[15-18] Then Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, which is equal to the life of one ruler. After the end of seventy years, Tyre will be like in the song of the prostitute. “Take a harp and go around the city, you prostitute who has been forgotten. Sing sweet songs. Make many melodies, so that you’ll be remembered. After the end of seventy years, Yahweh will visit Tyre, and it will get back to work, but will be unfaithful with all the countries on the face of the earth. Its merchandise and wages will be set aside for Yahweh. It won’t be kept or stored; its merchandise will be for those who live for Yahweh, for their food and clothes.

24[1-5] Look, Yahweh empties the earth, and destroys it, turns it upside down, and scatters its people. As with the people, so it’ll be with the preachers; as with the worker, so it’ll be with the employer; as with the buyer, so it’ll be with the seller; as with the lender, so it’ll be with the borrower; as with the saver, so it’ll be with the banker. The earth will be completely emptied and completely destroyed; for Yahweh has spoken this word. The earth mourns and slowly dies. The world suffers and slowly dies. The proud people of the earth will suffer. The earth also has been polluted by its people, because they’ve violated the laws, broken the rules, and broken their promise to God, which was to have been forever.

[6-10] So the curse has destroyed the earth, and those who live in it are guilty. So the people of the earth are burned, and few human beings are left. The new wine is gone and the vine withers. All the merry-hearted are sad. The joy of the tambourines stops. The sound of those who celebrate ends. The happiness of the harp stops. They won’t drink their wine singing a song. Alcoholic drinks will be bitter to those who drink it. The confused city is broken down. Every house is shut up, so that no one will come in.

[11-15] There’s crying in the streets because the wine is gone. All happiness is gone. The joy of the land is gone. The city is deserted, and the gate is destroyed. The people of the earth will be shaken like an olive tree, and picked over like when the harvest is done. They’ll cry out in the West and shout for their amazement of Yahweh. They’ll cry out from across the sea. So make Yahweh well-known in the East, even the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the nations across the sea!

[16-19] From the farthest part of the earth have we heard songs, praising the good! But I said, “I have no hope! I have no hope! Sorrow is mine!” The unfaithful have been unfaithful. Yes, the unfaithful have done very wrong. Fear, the pit, and a trap will catch you people of the earth. Those who run from the noise of those who scream in fear will fall into the pit; and those who come out of the pit will be caught in a trap; for the windows of heaven are opened, and the evil people of the earth will shake in fear. The earth is completely broken and will be torn apart when it is violently shaken.

[20-23] The earth will stagger like a drunk, and will sway like a shed in a storm. Its disobedience will pull it down, and it’ll fall and not get up. Then Yahweh will punish the evil forces in the heavens above, and the rulers of the peoples on the earth. They’ll be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in a pit, and will be shut up in prison; and after many days they’ll be judged. Then the moon will be darkened, and the sun won’t shine; for Yahweh, the God of All Creation will reign on Mount Zion (Jerusalem), and in Jerusalem; whose great light will shine in the presence of the leaders of the people.

25[1-5] Yahweh, You are My God. I’ll lift You up! I’ll praise Your Name, for You’ve done wonderful things, things planned long ago, in complete faithfulness and truth. For You’ve made a city into a pile of rubble, a strong city into a ruin, a palace of foreigners to be no city at all. It’ll never be rebuilt. So a strong people will praise you. The cities of powerful nations will fear you. For You’ve been a stronghold to the poor and the needy in their trouble, a safe haven from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the dreaded evil ones blast us like a storm against the wall. You’ll bring down the noise of foreigners as the heat in the desert; as the heat by the shade of a cloud, the song of the dreaded evil ones will be silenced.

[6-8] In this mountain, Yahweh, the God of All Creation, will make all peoples a celebration of the best foods, a celebration of the best wines, of fat meats, and of the best made wines. God will destroy in this mountain the blanket of sin that covers all peoples, and the veil that is spread over the eyes of all nations. God has destroyed death forever! Yahweh God will wipe the tears away from every face and will take the shame of the people away from the earth! Yahweh has said it.

[9-12] It’ll be said then, “Look, this is our God, who we’ve waited for, who will save us! This is Yahweh, who we’ve waited for! We’ll be glad and celebrate in the saving grace of God!” For in this mountain the hand of Yahweh will rest. Moab (Jordan) will be stomped down in its place, like straw is stomped down in a pile of waste. Moab’s hands will spread out, like someone who swims spreads out their hands to swim, but their pride will fall along with the skill of their hands. God has brought the strong towers of your walls down, flat on the ground, even in the dust.

26[1-6] Then, this song will be sung in the land of Judah (southern Israel): “We’ve got a strong city. God gives us saving grace for walls and defenses. Open the gates, that the nation, which is good may enter, the one who keeps faith. You’ll keep whoever’s mind is faithful in perfect peace, because they trust in you. Trust in Yahweh forever; for in Yahweh, is an everlasting Rock. God has brought down those who live proudly, in the proud city and lays it low, even to the ground. God brings it even to the dust and feet will stomp it down; Yes, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.”

[7-10] Godly people act morally. You, who are upright, make the path of those who are good level. Yes, we’ve waited for You in the way of Your judgments, Yahweh. Your Name and Your fame are what we want. I’ve wanted You in the night in my soul. Yes, my spirit within me will search for You sincerely; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the people of the world will learn to be good. But even if grace is shown to the sinners, they won’t learn to be good. Even in a moral land, they‘ll do what’s wrong, and won’t see Yahweh’s beauty.

[11-15] Yahweh, Your hand is lifted up, yet they don’t see; but they’ll see your passion for the people, and be ashamed. Yes, fire will burn up your enemies. Yahweh, You’ll give us peace, for You’ve also planned all our works for us. Yahweh our God, other leaders besides You have had power over us, but by You only do we speak Your Name. They are dead and won’t live. You’ve judged them and destroyed them, and made everyone forget them. You’ve made our nation grow, O Yahweh. You’ve made our nation grow! We praise You! You’ve enlarged all the borders of the land.

[16-21] Yahweh, they only came to You when they were in trouble. They squalled a prayer when your judgment was on them. Like a pregnant woman, who nears the time of her delivery, is in pain and cries out in her birth pangs; so we’ve been before you, Yahweh. We’ve suffered. We’ve been in pain. We gave birth, it seems, only to wind. We’ve not saved ourselves in the earth; nor have the people of the world fallen. Your dead will live and along with my dead body, will arise. Awake and sing, you who live in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will throw out the dead. Come, my people, enter into your houses, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little while, until the judgment is past. Look, Yahweh comes out of heaven to punish the people of the earth for their sin. The earth will also show its blood, and will no longer hide its dead.

27[1-5] Then, Yahweh’s power and great strong weapon will punish the dragon (Leviathan), the piercing and curling snake; and will kill that sea monster. Then sing to her, “A beautiful garden! I, Yahweh, am its keeper. I’ll water it everyday. I’ll keep it night and day, so no one will damage it. Great anger isn’t in Me, but if I should find briers and thorns, I would destroy them! I would trample them down and burn them all up together. Or else let them come to Me for safety, that they may make peace with Me. Yes, let them make peace with Me.”

[6-9] In days to come, Jacob will take root.Israelwill blossom and bud. They’ll fill the surface of the earth with fruit. Has God punishedIsraelas those who fought with them were punished? Or have they been destroyed like those who destroyed them were destroyed? In measure, when You send them out of their country, You’ll punish them and take them out with a rough blast like a strong and furious east wind. So, by this the sin of Jacob will be forgiven, and all their sins will be forgiven when they make all the stones of the ungodly altars as chalk stones that are beaten in pieces, so that the false worship of Asherim (fertility goddess, mother of Baal) and the incense altars will rise no more.

[10-13] For the fortified city is alone, a place deserted and empty, like the countryside. The calf will feed and lie down there, and eat its branches. When its branches are withered, they’ll be broken off. The women will come and set them on fire, for they’re a people of no understanding. So the God who made them won’t have compassion on them, and the One who formed them will show them no grace. Then Yahweh will gather you from the flowing stream of the Euphrates to the Nile of Egypt; and you’ll be gathered one by one, people ofIsrael. Then a great trumpet will be blown; and those who were ready to die in the land of Assyria, and those who were outcasts in the land of Egypt, will come; and they’ll worship Yahweh in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.

28[1-4] Sorrow will come to the drunks of Ephraim (northern Israel), whose crown of flowers are fading of their beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley of those who are overcome with wine! Look, God has a very strong people waiting to attack. Like a storm of hail, a destroying storm, and like an overflowing flood of strong waters, They’ll throw them down to the earth with their power. The crown of pride of the drunks of Ephraim (northern Israel) will be stomped under foot. The wonderful beauty is as fading flowers, which is on the head of the fertile valley, and will be like the first-ripe fig before the summer; which someone picks and eats as soon as they see it.

[5-8] Then Yahweh, the God of All Creation, will become a crown of glory, and a head dress of beauty, to the rest of God’s people; and a spirit of fairness to those who sit in judgment, and strength to those who turn back their enemies at the city gate. But the leaders are all drunk with wine, and stagger with their alcohol. The priest and the preacher are full of wine and alcohol and are confused. They can’t walk straight nor see what’s coming because of their drinking. They don’t make good decisions. All their tables are covered with nasty vomit and are full of filth.

[9-13] So to whom will God teach knowledge? To whom will God explain the message? Those who are weaned from breast milk? For it’s rule by rule, rule by rule; line by line, line by line; here a little, there a little. But God will speak to this nation with a strange people who speak in another language. God said, “This is the resting place. Give rest to those who are tired;” and “This is the place to refresh yourselves;” yet they wouldn’t listen. So the word of Yahweh will come to them rule by rule, rule by rule; line by line, line by line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, fall backward, be broken, trapped, and taken away.

[14-17] So hear the word of Yahweh, you who make fun of me, that rule this people in Jerusalem. “Because you’ve said, ‘We’ve made a promise with death, and with Hell we’re in agreement. When terrible troubles pass through, it won’t come to us; for we’ve made lies our safe haven, and we’ve hidden ourselves with untruths.’” So this says Yahweh God, “Look, I lay in Zion (Jerusalem) a stone for a foundation, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone to make sure the foundation is strong. Those who believe the truth will wait patiently. The measuring line will be fair, and the plumb line will be goodness. The hail will sweep away their lies, and the waters will overflow their hiding places.

[18-22] Your promise with death will be canceled, and your agreement with Hell won’t stand. When terrible troubles pass through, then you’ll be trampled down by it. It’ll take you as often as it passes through. Morning by morning it’ll come to you, by day and by night; You’ll be scared to death when you understand the message.” Your bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap yourself in. Yahweh will get up as on Mount Perazim and will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon; Yahweh will do what needs to be done, an unusual work, and complete an extraordinary act. So don’t be making fun of me, or your punishment will be worse; for I’ve heard God, Yahweh, the God of All Creation, order destruction on the whole land.

[23-26] Listen and hear my voice! Listen, and hear what I say! Do farmers who plow to plant plow continually? Do they keep turning the soil and breaking it up? When they’ve leveled its surface, don’t they plant the dill, and scatter the cumin seed, and put the wheat in rows, the barley in its place, and the spelt in its place? For God teaches them how to do it right and teaches them good judgment.

[27-29] For the dill are not threshed with a sharp instrument, nor is a cart wheel run over the cumin; but the dill is beaten out with a stick, and the cumin with a stick. Bread flour must be ground; so they aren’t always threshing it. Though they may drive the wheels of a cart over it, the horses don’t grind it. This also comes from Yahweh, the God of All Creation, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.

29[1-5] Sorrow will come to Ariel (Mt.Zion, Jerusalem)! Ariel, the city where David encamped! Add year to year; let the celebrations come around as usual; then I’ll trouble Ariel, and there’ll be mourning and crying. She will be to Me as a hearth on the altar. I’ll encamp against you all around, and will attack you with posted troops. I’ll raise a blockade against you. You’ll be brought down, and your ruins will speak. You’ll mumble out of the dust of the grave. Your voice will be as of ghost, out of a grave, and your speech will whisper out of the dust. But many of your enemies will be like fine dust, and the many of the ruthless ones like chaff that blows away. Yes, it’ll happen very quickly, very suddenly.

[6-9] The city will be visited by Yahweh, the God of All Creation, with thunder, earthquake, great noise, tornados and storms, and with the flame of a burning fire. The many nations that fight against Ariel (Mt.Zion, Jerusalem), even all who fight against it and its stronghold, and who trouble it, will be like a dream, like a vision of the night. It’ll be like when a hungry person dreams, and eats; but awakes, and is still hungry; or like when a thirsty person dreams, and drinks; but awakes, and is faint, and still thirsty. The many nations that fight against Mount Zion (Jerusalem) will be like that. Stop and think! Blind yourselves and be blind! They’re drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.

[10-14] For Yahweh has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed the eyes of the preachers; and has covered the heads of those who see the future. All visions have become to you like the words of a book that is closed, which people save for those who are educated, saying, “Read this, please;” and they say, “I can’t, for it’s closed” and the book is opened to one who isn’t educated, saying, “Read this, please;” and they say, “I can’t read.” God said, “Because these people say they love Me and honor Me with their words, but they’ve removed their heart far from Me, and their fear of Me is an order which has been taught by human beings; I’ll go on to do a wonderful work among these people, even a great and wonderful miracle; and the wisdom of their wisest ones will die, and the understanding of their sensible ones will be hidden.”

[15-19] Sorrow will come to those who try to hide what they do and say from Yahweh, and whose actions are done in secret, and who say, “Who sees us?” and “Who knows us?” You turn things upside down! Should the potter be thought to be like clay; that the thing made should say about the One who made it, “God didn’t make Me;” or the thing formed say of the One who formed it, “God doesn’t understand?” Isn’t it yet a very little while, and Lebanon will be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field will be thought of as a forest? Then the deaf will hear the Words of the Book, and the eyes of the blind will see out of the shadows and darkness. The humble also will be happy in Yahweh, and the poor among them will celebrate in the Holy One of Israel.

[20-24] For the ruthless is brought to nothing, and those who make fun of others stop, and all those who do evil are destroyed, who lie about others and send them to jail, and trap those who judge fairly in the gate, and who take away the innocent with unfairness and lies. So Yahweh, who saved Abraham, say this about the family of Jacob, “Israel will no longer be ashamed, nor be afraid. But when they see their people, whom I’ll give them, living with them, they’ll praise My name. Yes, they’ll praise the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. Those who err in judgment will come to understanding, and those who complain will be taught.”

30[1-5] “Sorrow will come to the rebellious people,” says Yahweh, “who take counsel, but not from Me; and who make an agreement, but not with My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin, who set out to go down into Egypt, and haven’t asked My advice; to strengthen themselves in the strength of the Egyptian Ruler, and to take safe haven in the shadow of Egypt! So the strength of the Egyptian Ruler will be your shame, and the safe haven in the shadow of Egypt will be your confusion. For their rulers are at Zoan, and their ambassadors have come to Hanes. They’ll all be ashamed because of a people that can’t help them, that aren’t any help and won’t benefit them, but will be a shame, and also a blame to them.”

[6-11] The vision of the animals of the South. Through the land of trouble and suffering, of the lioness and the lion, the snake and fiery flying dragon, they carry their riches on the shoulders of young donkeys, and their treasures on the humps of camels, to an unprofitable people. For Egypt helps them for nothing, and to no good; So I’ve called them Rahab, who sits still. Now go, write it on a tablet for them, and put it in a book, so that it may be for the time to come forever and ever. For it’s a rebellious people, lying children, children who won’t hear the law of Yahweh; who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and the preachers, “Don’t tell us what’s right. Tell us good things. Tell us lies. Get out of the way. Turn out of the path. Make the Holy One of Israel stop speaking to us.”

[12-14] So this says the Holy One of Israel, “Because you hate My Word, and trust in abuse and evil, and depend on it; So this sin will be to you like a broken wall ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, which  breaks suddenly in an instant. God will break it as a potter’s vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing it, so that there won’t be found among the broken piece one good piece enough to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the well.”

[15-19] Yahweh God, the Holy One of Israel, says this as well, “You’ll be saved when you come back and rest. You’ll be quiet and confident in your strength.” You rejected, but you said, “No, we’ll go on horses;” So you’ll go; and, “We’ll ride on the fastest;” So those who chase you will be fast. One thousand will run at the threat of one. At the threat of five, you’ll run until you are left like a beacon on the top of a mountain, and like a flag on a hill. So Yahweh will wait, and be gracious to you; and God will be lifted up in praise, and have compassion on you, for Yahweh is a fair God. All those who wait for God will be happy. For the people will live in Zion at Jerusalem. You won’t cry any more. God will, without a doubt, be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. When God hears you, God will answer you.

[20-26] Though God may give you the food of hardship and the waters of trouble, yet your teachers won’t be hidden anymore, but your eyes will see your teachers; and when you turn to the right, and when you turn to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way. Walk in it.” You’ll ruin the overlaying of your false gods of silver, and the plating of your false gods of gold. You’ll throw them away as an unfit thing. You’ll tell it, “Go away!” Then God will give the rain for your seed, with which you’ll plant the ground; and food of the produce of the ground will be very good and very much. Then your livestock will feed in large pastures. The cows and the young donkeys that till the ground will eat good feed, which has been separated from the chaff with a shovel and fork. There’ll be brooks and creeks of water on every high mountain and hill in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. Also the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, in the day that Yahweh binds up the broken of the people of God, and heals all their wounds.

[27-30] Look, the Name of Yahweh comes from far away, burning with anger, and in thick rising smoke. God’s Word is full of rightful anger, and speaks to us as a burning fire. God’s breath is as an overflowing stream that reaches even to the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction; and a bridle that leads to ruin will be in the jaws of the peoples. You’ll have a song, as in the night when a holy celebration is kept; and gladness of heart, as when someone goes with a flute to come to Yahweh’s mountain, toIsrael’s Rock. Yahweh will speak and be heard, and will be powerfully strong, with rightful anger and judgment, and the flame of a burning fire, with a blast, storm, and hailstones.

[31-33] For the Assyrian will be upset when they hear the voice of Yahweh, who will punish them with great punishment. Every stroke of the stick of punishment, which Yahweh will lay on them, will be with the sound of tambourines and harps. God will fight with them in battles with power. God has long had a place ready to burn up the ruler. God has piled it high and made it large with fire and much wood. Yahweh’s breath starts it like a stream of sulfur.

31[1-3] Sorrow will come to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in their many war vehicles, and in their strong riders, but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel to help them, and they don’t look for Yahweh! Yet You, God are wise also, and will bring disaster, and won’t take back your words, but will rise against the family of the evil-doers, and against the help of those who sin. Now the Egyptians are human beings, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When Yahweh comes in power, both those who help will trip, and those who are helped will fall, and they’ll all be destroyed together.

[4-7] Yahweh says this to me, “As the lion and the young lion growling over its prey, even if many warriors are called together against it, it won’t be upset at their voice, nor lower itself for their noise, so Yahweh, the God of All Creation will come down to fight on the heights of Mount Zion (Jerusalem). As a bird hovers, so Yahweh, the God of All Creation will protectJerusalem. God will protect and save it. God will go over it and save it.” Come back to God from whom you’ve greatly rebelled, children ofIsrael. Then everyone will throw away their false gods of silver and gold, the sin which your own hands have made to worship.

[8-9] “The Assyrian will fall by war, but not of human beings; and the war, not of humanity, will destroy them. They’ll go from the war, and the young soldiers will be forced to work. Their stronghold will fall for their fear, and their rulers will be scared to death when they see the flag,” says Yahweh, whose light is in Zion (Jerusalem), and whose brightness is in Jerusalem.

32[1-8] Look, God’s Ruler will reign in goodness, and all the other rulers will rule fairly. Each one will be like a shelter from the storm winds, and like a flowing creek in a dry place, and like the shade of a large rock in a sun scorched land. They’ll see clearly and listen carefully to their people. The reckless ones will know to do good, and those who stutter will know how to speak clearly. The stupid ones won’t be called honorable any more, nor will the useless ones be highly respected. The stupid ones will speak foolishly, and their heart will plan sin, using profanity, and speaking against Yahweh in error, to make the hungry have nothing to eat, and to make the thirsty have nothing to drink. These useless people are evil. They plan sinful things to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speak what’s right. But those who are honorable do honorable things; and will continue because they’re honorable.

[9-14] Get up, you women who have it easy! Listen to My voice! You careless women, listen to My words! About this time next year you’ll be troubled, you careless women; for the fruit will fail and the harvest won’t come. Shake in fear, you women who are at ease! Be troubled, you careless ones! Strip yourselves naked, and put on your mourning clothes. Beat your breasts in grief because the pleasant fields and the fruitful vines will all be gone. Thorns and briars will come up on My people’s land; yes, they’ll grow on all the happy houses in the happy city. Even the royal palace will be destroyed. The city that was full will be deserted. The forts and the watchtower will be for dens continually, a good place for wild donkeys, and a pasture for flocks.

[15-20] It will be this way until the Spirit’s poured on us from heaven, and the countryside becomes a fruitful field again, and the fruitful field is like a forest. Then there will be fairness in the countryside; and goodness in the fruitful field. The work of goodness will bring peace; and its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in a peaceful place, in safe homes, and in quiet resting places. Though hail flattens the forest, and cities are nothing but ruins, you who plant your seeds beside all the little creeks, and who send out your cows and donkeys to graze will be blessed.

33[1-5] Sorrow will come to you who destroy, when no one destroyed you; and you who betray, when no one betrayed you! When you’ve finished destroying, you’ll be destroyed; and when you’ve finished your betrayals, you’ll be betrayed. Yahweh, be gracious to us. We’ve waited for you. Be our strength every morning, and our saving grace in the time of trouble. At the noise of the thunder, the peoples have run away, so when You lift yourself up, the nations will scatter. You will gather what You take as the caterpillar gathers and others will leap on it as the locusts leap. Yahweh is lifted up in praise, who lives in heaven. God has filled Zion (Jerusalem) with fairness and goodness.

[6-9] There’ll be stability in your times, much saving grace, wisdom, and knowledge. Treasure and respect Yahweh. Look, their brave ones cry outside; the messengers who tried to bring peace cry bitterly. The highways are deserted and those who travel stop. The promises of the treaty are broken and our cities are hated. No one cares about us. The land suffers and is deserted. The forests ofLebanonwither away. The Plain of Sharon is like a desert, and the trees of Bashan andCarmelare stripped bare.

[10-14] “Now I’ll arise,” says Yahweh; “Now I’ll lift myself up. Now I’ll be lifted up in praise. You’ll conceive chaff and bring forth weeds. Your breath is a fire that will burn you. The peoples will be like the burning of lime, like thorns that are cut down and burned in the fire. Listen, you who are far away, to what I’ve done; and, you who are near, tell of My strength.” The sinners inZion(Jerusalem) are afraid. The godless ones are shaking in fear. Who among us can live through this burning fire? Who among us can live through this everlasting burning?

[15-19] Those who act right, and say what’s right; Those who hate the money of abusers, who gesture with their hands, refusing to take a bribe, who won’t hear of blood, and won’t look at evil. These kinds of people will live in heaven. Their place of defense will be the fortress of rocks. Their food will be supplied. Their waters will be sure. Your eyes will see the Ruler’s beauty. They’ll see a distant land. Your heart will think about those things that used to scare you to death. Where are those who collected our money? Where are those who weighed our gold? Where are those who counted our defense towers? You won’t see those fierce people, who talked in languages you couldn’t understand.

[20-24] Look at Zion (Jerusalem), the city of our celebrations. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet place, a tent that won’t be removed. Its stakes won’t ever be pulled up, nor will any of its cords be broken. But Yahweh will be there with us in shining beauty, a place of wide rivers and creeks, in which no ship will go. For Yahweh is our judge. Yahweh is our lawgiver. Yahweh is our Ruler, who will save us. Your rigging is untied and the foot of your mast isn’t strong. You couldn’t even spread the sail. Everything that’s taken from you will be divided and even those who can’t walk will get something. The people won’t ever be sick and those who live there will be forgiven their sin.

34[1-5] Come near, you nations, to listen! Listen, you peoples. Let the earth and all it contains listen; the world, and everything that comes from it. Yahweh is enraged against all the nations, and very angry with all their armies. God has completely destroyed them and given them over for slaughter. Their dead will be thrown out, and the stench of their dead bodies will rise; and the mountains will be covered in their blood. All of the creations in the heavens will be destroyed. The sky will be rolled up like a scroll, and all its stars and planets will fall away, as a leaf falls from off a vine or a fig tree. For My weapon has taken what it wanted in the sky. Look, It’ll come down on Edom (Arab nations), and on the people I’ll punish, for judgment.

[6-10] Yahweh’s weapon is stained with blood. It’s covered with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for Yahweh has a sacrifice in Bozrah, And a great slaughter in the land of Edom (Arab nations). The wild cows will come down with them, and the young bulls along with the strong bulls; and their land will be drunken with blood, and their dust made greasy with fat. For Yahweh has a day of judgment, a year to repay them for the cause ofZion(Jerusalem). Its creeks will be turned into oil, its dust into sulfur, And its land will become burning oil. It won’t be put out night nor day and its smoke will go up forever. From generation to generation, it’ll be nothing but ruins. No one will go through it forever and ever.

[11-15] But the pelican and the heron will live there. The owl and the raven will live in it. God will totally destroy it, and make it completely empty. None of its leaders will rule there; and they’ll all be gone. Thorns will come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in its fortresses; and it’ll be a place of dragons and ostriches. The wild animals of the desert will meet with the howling wolves, and the wild goats will cry out to each other. Yes, the night owl will settle there, and will find itself a place of rest. The arrow snake will make its nest there, and lay, hatch, and gather under its shade. Yes, the vultures will be gathered there, every one with its mate.

[16-17] Search in the Word of God, and read it. Not one of these things will be missing. None of them will lack its mate. For My mouth has spoken it, and My Spirit has gathered them. I’ve given them each their place and measured a share out to them. They’ll live there forever, from generation to generation.

35[1 The countryside and the dry land will be glad. The desert will celebrate and blossom like a rose. It’ll blossom fully, and celebrate with happiness and singing. The beauty ofLebanonwill be given to it, the greatness ofCarmelandSharon. They’ll see Yahweh’s shining light, the beauty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make the weak knees stand strong. Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong. Don’t be afraid. Look, your God will come with judgment, God will give everyone what they deserve. God will come and save you.

[5-10] Then the eyes of the blind will see, and the ears of the deaf will hear. Those who can’t walk will jump like a deer, and the tongue of those who can’t speak will sing; creeks will flow out of the countryside, and creeks will come up in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool of water, and the thirsty ground creeks of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will come to the places where dragons lay. A highway will be there, a street that will be called The Holy Way. The unfit won’t go on it, but it’ll be for those who walk in the Way of God. Evil ungodly idiots won’t go there. No lion or any other hungry animal will go up on it. They won’t be found there; but those who are bought back from their hard work will walk there. Those Yahweh has bought back will come back, and come with singing to Zion (Jerusalem); and they’ll be happy forever. They’ll be glad and happy, and sorrow and sadness will go away.”

36[1-6] Now in the 14^th year of the ruler Hezekiah (701 BC), Sennacherib the ruler of Assyria attacked all of the fortified cities of Judah (southern Israel), and captured them. The ruler of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to the ruler Hezekiah with a large army. They stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool in the Fuller’s Field Road. Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the record keeper came out to them. Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah, ‘The great ruler, the ruler of Assyria says, “What is this in which you put your trust? I say that your counsel and strength for the war are only empty words. Now in whom do you trust, so that you’ve rebelled against Me? Look, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Egypt, which if someone leans on it, it’ll go into their hand and pierce it. The Egyptian Ruler is like this to all who trust in him.

[7-10] But if you tell Me, ‘We trust in Yahweh our God,’ isn’t that the One whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah (southern Israel) and to Jerusalem, ‘You’ll worship before this altar?’” So now, please make an agreement with My leader, the ruler of Assyria, and I’ll give you 2,000 horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. How then can you turn away the face of one captain of the least of My leader’s workers, and put your trust on Egypt for war vehicles and riders? Have I come up now without Yahweh against this land to destroy it? No, Yahweh said to Me, “Go up against this land, and destroy it.”’”

[11-13] Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to us in Aramaic, which we understand; and don’t speak to us in the Jews’ language in the hearing of those who are on the wall.” But Rabshakeh said, “Have I been sent only to your leader and you, to speak these words, and not to those who sit on the wall, who will eat their own waste and drink their own urine with you?” Then Rabshakeh stood, and called out with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and said, “Hear the words of the great the ruler, the ruler of Assyria!

[14-18] The ruler says, ‘Don’t let Hezekiah lie to you; who won’t be able to save you. Don’t let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, “Yahweh will, without a doubt, save us. This city won’t be given into the hand of the ruler of Assyria.”’ Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for the ruler of Assyria says, ‘Make your peace with Me, and come out to Me; and each of you will eat from your own vine, and each one from your own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the waters of your own well; until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. Beware, or Hezekiah will try to persuade you, saying, “Yahweh will save us.” Have any of the gods of the nations saved their lands from the hand of the ruler ofAssyria?

[19-22] Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they set free Samaria from My hand? Who among all the gods of these countries have saved their country out of My hand, that Yahweh should save Jerusalem out of My hand?’” But they stayed silent, and didn’t answer anything, for the ruler told them, “Don’t answer him.” Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the record keeper, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

37[1-4] So when the ruler Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, and put on mourning clothes, and went into God’s House. They sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests wearing mourning clothes, to Isaiah the preacher, the son of Amoz. They said to Isaiah, “Hezekiah says, ‘This day is a day of trouble, and of punishment, and of rejection; for the children have come to birth, but there’s no strength to have them. It may be Yahweh, your God, will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the ruler ofAssyriahas sent to defy the living God, and will punish the words which Yahweh, your God, has heard. So lift up your prayer for those of us who are left.’”

[5-8] So the workers of the ruler Hezekiah came to Isaiah. Isaiah said to them, “Tell Hezekiah, ‘Yahweh says this, “Don’t be afraid of the words that you’ve heard, with which the workers of the ruler ofAssyriahave disrespected Me. Look, I’ll put a spirit of fear in him and they’ll hear news, and will go back to their own land. I’ll kill him by his own people.”’” So Rabshakeh went back, and found the ruler of Assyria warring against Libnah, for they had heard that they had left fromLachish.

[9-13] Then they heard news concerning Tirhakah, the ruler of Ethiopia, “They’ve come out to fight against you.” When they heard it, they sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, “Say this to Hezekiah the ruler of Judah (southern Israel), saying, ‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust lie to you, saying, “Jerusalem won’t be given into the hand of the ruler of Assyria.” Look, you’ve heard what the rulers of Assyria have done to all the lands, completely destroying them. Will you be saved? Have the gods of the nations saved them, which my father has destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the children of Eden who were in Telassar? Where is the ruler of Hamath, and the ruler of Arpad, and the ruler of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?’”

[14-20] Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to God’s House, and spread it before Yahweh God. Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh, saying, “Yahweh, the God of All Creation, the God of Israel, who is enthroned among the cherubim, You are God, yes, You alone, of all the nations of the earth. You’ve made heaven and earth. Listen, Yahweh, and hear. Listen, Yahweh, and see. Hear all of these words of Sennacherib, who has sent them to defy the Living God. Truly, Yahweh, the rulers of Assyria have destroyed all the countries and their lands, and have thrown their gods into the fire; for they weren’t gods at all, but only man-made works of wood and stone; So they’ve destroyed them. So now, Yahweh our God, save us from their hands, so that all the nations of the earth may know that You are Yahweh, yes, You only.”

[21-25] Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Yahweh says this, the God of Israel, ‘Because you’ve prayed to Me against Sennacherib, the ruler ofAssyria, this is the word which Yahweh has spoken about him. The city of Zion (Jerusalem) has hated you and ridiculed you. The city of Jerusalem has shaken it’s head at you. Whom have you defied and disrespected? Against whom have you lifted up your voice and lifted up your eyes in heaven? Against the Holy One of Israel. By your workers, you’ve defied God, and have said, “With My many war vehicles, I’ve come up to the highest of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon. I’ll cut down its tall cedars and its choice fir trees. I’ll enter into its farthest mountains, the forest of its fruitful field. I’ve dug and drunk water, and with the sole of My feet I’ll dry up all the rivers of Egypt.’”

[26-29] Haven’t you heard how I’ve made it long ago, and formed it in ancient times? Now I’ve brought it to pass, that it should be yours to destroy fortified cities, turning them into piles of ruins. So their people had little power. They were upset and confused. They were like the grass of the field, and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops, and like a field before its crop has grown. But I know when you sit down, when you go out, when you come in, and all your raging against Me. Because of your raging against Me, and because I’ve heard your arrogance, I’ll put My hook in your nose and My bridle in your lips, and I’ll turn you back by the way you came.

[30-32] This will be the sign to you. This year, you’ll eat what grows by itself, and in the second year what comes from it; and in the third year you’ll plant and gather from your gardens and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. Those who are left that have escaped of the family of Judah (southern Israel) will again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. Those who are left will go out of Jerusalem, and the survivors will escape from Mount Zion (Jerusalem). The passion of Yahweh, the God of All Creation will do this.’

[33-38] So Yahweh says about the ruler of Assyria, ‘They won’t come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor will they come before it with shield, nor throw up a siege mound against it. By the same way that they came, they’ll go back, and they won’t come to this city,’ says Yahweh. ‘For I’ll defend this city to save it, for My own sake, and for My worker David’s sake.’” Then the angel of Yahweh went out and killed 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. When they arose early in the morning, they looked and saw that they were all dead. So Sennacherib the ruler of Assyria left and went away, going back to Nineveh, and stayed there. And as he was worshipping Nisroch, his false god, Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons killed him; and escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esar Haddon, his son, ruled in his place.

38[1-3] In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. Isaiah the preacher, the son of Amoz, came to him and said, “Yahweh says, ‘Set your house in order! You’re going to die, and won’t live.’” Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Remember now, Yahweh, I beg You, how I’ve walked before You in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done what’s good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah bitterly cried.

[4-8] Then the word of Yahweh came to Isaiah, saying, “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Yahweh says, the God of David your ancestor, “I’ve heard your prayer and I’ve seen your tears. See, I’ll add fifteen years to your life. I’ll save you and this city out of the hand of the ruler of Assyria, and I’ll defend this city. This will be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do this thing that was spoken. See, I’ll cause the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz, which has gone down with the sun, to go backward ten marks. So the sun went back ten marks on the sundial on which it had gone down.”’”

[9-15] This is the writing of Hezekiah the ruler of Judah (southern Israel), when he had been sick, and had recovered from his sickness. I said, “In the middle of My life I’m going to die. I’ve lost what’s left of My years.” I said, “I won’t see Yahweh in the land of the living. I won’t see anyone who lives in this world any more. My life is gone, and is carried away from Me like a tent. Like a weaver, I’ve rolled up my life and You have cut me off from the loom. You’ll make an end of me from day to night. I waited patiently until morning, thinking you’d break all My bones like a lion. You’ll make an end of me from day to night. I chattered like a bird and moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. God, I am so troubled. Be my Safe Haven.” What can I say? You have both spoken to Me, and You, Yourself have done it. I’ll walk carefully all my years because of my suffering.

[16-20] God, human beings live by these things; and My spirit finds life in all of them. You restore me, and cause me to live. Look, for peace I had great suffering, but You’ve set me free from the pit of ruin in love for My soul; You’ve put all My sins behind your back. Those in the grave can’t praise You. Those who are dead can’t celebrate You. Those who go down to Hell can’t hope for Your truth. The living, the living is who will praise You, as I do today. Our ancestors will make known Your truth to us. Yahweh saved me; so we’ll sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the House of God.

[21-22] Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take some figs, and make a poultice on the wound, and he’ll get well.” Hezekiah also had said, “What is the sign that I’ll go up to the House of God?”

39[1-2] At that time, Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, the ruler of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, because he had heard that he had been sick, and had recovered. Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them everything in the house, all of his precious things, the silver and gold, the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his country, that Hezekiah didn’t show them.

[3-4] Then Isaiah the preacher came to the ruler Hezekiah, and asked him, “What did these people say? Where did they come from to you?” Hezekiah said, “They’ve come from a country far away from me, even from Babylon.” Then he asked, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They’ve seen everything that is in my house. There isn’t anything among my treasures that I haven’t shown them.”

[5-8] Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of Yahweh, the God of All Creation. ‘Look, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and everything that your ancestors have stored up until this day, will be carried away to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says Yahweh. ‘They’ll take away your children who will come from you, whom you’ll have, and they’ll be emasculated and forced to work in the ruler of Babylon’s palace.’” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “Yahweh’s word, which you’ve spoken is good. There’ll be peace and truth for the rest of My days.”

40[1-5] God says, “Comfort, comfort My people. Speak comfortably toJerusalem; and call out to the city that its war is over, that its sin is forgiven, that it has been punished doubly for all its sins by Yahweh’s hand.” Listen to the voice of one who calls out, “Get the way of Yahweh ready in the countryside! Make a straight road through the desert for our God. Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be made low. The uneven will be made level, and the rough places will be smoothed out. The beautiful light of Yahweh will be made known, and everyone will see it together; just as Yahweh has said.”

[6-9] Listen to the voice of one saying, “Call Out!” I said, “What will I call out?” “All people are like grass, and all their beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because Yahweh’s breath blows on it. Without a doubt, the people are like grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the Word of our God stands forever.” You who tell this New Word to Zion (Jerusalem), go up on a high mountain. You who tell the New Word to Jerusalem, call it out with a loud voice. Call it out loudly. Don’t be afraid. Say to the cities of Judah (southern Israel), “Look, See your God!”

[10-14] Look, Yahweh God will come as a strong one, whose power will rule. Look, God’s has a reward, and will repay. You’ll take care of Your people and guide them home. You’ll gather the babies in arms, and carry them on Your chest. You’ll gently lead those who have young ones. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of their hand, and marked off the sky with a span, and counted the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance! Who has directed the Spirit of Yahweh, or has taught God as a counselor? Who did God take counsel with, and who told God, and taught God what was fair, and taught God knowledge, and showed God the way of understanding?

[15-20] Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are thought of as a speck of dust on a balance. Look, God lifts up the nations like a very little thing. Lebanon isn’t enough to burn, nor its animals enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are like nothing before God. They’re thought of by God as less than nothing, and meaningless. To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to God? A worker makes a likeness, and the goldsmith overlays it with gold, and puts silver chains on it. Those who are too poor for such an offering chooses a tree that won’t rot. They find a skillful worker to set up a false god that won’t be moved.

[21-26] Haven’t you known? Haven’t you heard, yet? Haven’t you been told from the beginning? Haven’t you understood since the earth was made? It’s God who rules over the round earth, whose people are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to live in; who brings rulers to nothing; who makes the judges of the earth like nothing. They’ve barely been planted. They’ve barely been planted. Their stump has barely taken root in the ground. God merely blows on them, and they wither, and the strong winds take them away like weeds. “To whom then will you liken Me? Who is My equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes to heaven, and see who has created these things, who brings out the stars and planets by number and calls them all by name. By the greatness of God, who is strong in power, nothing is missing.

[27-31] Why do you say, Jacob, and speak, Israel, “My way is hidden from Yahweh, and the fairness due Me is forgotten by My God?” Haven’t you known? Haven’t you heard? The everlasting God, Yahweh, The Creator of All the Earth, doesn’t get tired. No, You aren’t tired. Your understanding is unsearchable. You give power to the weak and strength to those who have none. Even the youths give up and quit, and the young ones fall out when they’re tired; but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They’ll fly on wings like eagles. They’ll run, and not give up. They’ll walk, and not quit.

41[1-4] “Keep silent before Me, nations, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come near and speak. Let’s meet together for judgment. Who has raised up this one (Cyrus) from the east? Whom called him to his foot in goodness? Who hands over the nations to them, and makes him rule over rulers. Who gives them to him for death as if they were already dust, like scattered weeds driven by the wind of his arrow? Who chases them, and passes by safely, by a way that they had not gone before. Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Yahweh, the first, and with the last, I am that One.”

[5-10] The nations have seen, and are afraid. The ends of the earth shake in fear. They approach, and come, everyone helping their neighbor. They say to them, “Be strong!” So the carpenter encourages the goldsmith. Those who smooth with the hammer encourage those who hit the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It’s good;” and they fasten it with nails, that it might not fall. “But you, Israel, My worker, Jacob, whom I’ve chosen, the descendents of Abraham, My friend, whom I’ve taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest places, and said to you, ‘You are My worker, I’ve chosen you and not thrown you away;’ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be upset, for I am your God. I’ll strengthen you. Yes, I’ll help you. Yes, I’ll uphold you with the power of My goodness.

[11-14] Look, all those who are angry with you will be ashamed and confused. Those who fight with you will be like nothing, and die out. You’ll look for them, and won’t find them, even those who fight with you. Those who war against you will all be gone, as if they never existed. I, Yahweh, your God, will hold your hand, saying to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I’ll help you.’ Don’t be afraid, even as weak and powerless as you are Jacob, and you people ofIsrael. I Myself will help you,” says Yahweh, I am your Savior, the Holy One of Israel.

[15-20] Look, I’ve made you into a new sharp instrument with teeth to thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and to make the hills like chaff. You’ll toss them into the air, and the wind will carry them away, and the strong wind will scatter them. You’ll celebrate in Yahweh. You’ll glory in the Holy One of Israel. The poor and needy look for water, but there’s not any. They’re dying of thirst. I, Yahweh, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, won’t leave them. I’ll open rivers on the bare mountains, and make creeks flow in the middle of the valleys. I’ll make the countryside a pool of water, and the dry land will have creeks of water. I’ll put cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive oil trees in the countryside. I’ll set fir trees, pine, and box trees together in the desert; that they may see, know, think about, and understand together, that the hand of Yahweh has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.

[21-23] Make your case you false gods,” says Yahweh. “Give Me your strong reasons,” says the Ruler of Jacob. “Let them announce, and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, whatever they are, that we may think about them, and know what happened in the end; or show us the things to come. Tell the things that will happen after this, that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do good, or do evil, that we may be afraid, and see it together.

[24-26] Look, you are nothing, and your work is unimportant. The one who chooses a false god is evil. “I’ve raised up someone (Cyrus, 550 B.C.) from the north, and they’ve come from the east, one who calls on My name; and who’ll come on rulers as on mortar, and as the potter stomps clay. Who has told it from the beginning, so that we may know it? And before, that we may say, ‘They were right?’ Without a doubt, there’s no one who said it, but Me. Without a doubt, there’s no one who showed it, but Me. Without a doubt, there’s no one who listens to your words.

27-29] I am the first to say to Zion (Jerusalem), ‘Look, look at them;’ and I’ll give you someone who brings the New Word toJerusalem. When I looked, there was no one; not even a counselor who, when I asked of them, could answer a word. Look, all of them, and their works are empty and worthless. Their false gods are nothing but empty air and stupidity.

42[1-4] “Look, My worker, You whom I uphold; My chosen, in whom My soul enjoys, whom I’ve put My Spirit on, will judge the nations fairly. You won’t shout, nor raise Your voice, nor let it be heard in the street. You won’t break those who are hurting and won’t put out those whose spiritual flame is barely burning. You’ll faithfully make good judgments. You won’t fail nor be discouraged, until You’ve brought justice to the earth, and the nations will wait for Your law.”

[5-9] Yahweh God says this, who created the heavens and enlarged them, who enlarged the earth and what grows on it, who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it. “I, Yahweh, have called You in goodness, and will hold Your hand, and will keep You, and make You a promise for the people. You will be as a light for the nations; to make the blind eyes see, to bring the prisoners out of the jails, and free those who sit in spiritual darkness. “I am Yahweh. That is My name. I won’t let another get My fame, nor let My praise go to false gods. Look, what has happened has happened, but I tell you something new. I tell you about it before it happens.”

[10-13] Sing to Yahweh a new song, praise God from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all the nations and their people that is in it. Let the countryside and its cities raise their voices, along with the villages that Kedar lives in. Let the people of city ofSelasing. Let them shout from the top of the mountains! Let them praise Yahweh, and tell the nations of God’s greatness. Yahweh will go out like a strong soldier and will stir up passion like a soldier of war and will raise a war cry. Yes, Yahweh will shout out and will triumph over the enemies of God.

[14-20] “I’ve been silent too long. I’ve been quiet and controlled myself. Now I’ll cry out like a woman in childbirth. I’ll both gasp and pant. I’ll destroy mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs. I’ll make the rivers islands, and will dry up the ponds. I’ll bring the blind a way they don’t know. I’ll lead them in paths that they don’t know. I’ll shine a light on the darkness before them, and make winding paths straight. I’ll do these things, and I won’t leave them. “Those who trust in false gods, who tell those man-made likeness, ‘You are our gods’ will be turned back. They’ll be completely ashamed. “Hear, you deaf people, and look, you blind people, so that you may see. Who is blind, but My people,Israel? Or who is as deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who are as blind as those who are at peace, and as blind as Yahweh’s workers?  You see many things, but don’t know what they mean. Your ears are open, but they don’t really listen.

[21-25] It pleased Yahweh, for goodness’ sake, to make the law great, and to teach people to honor it. But these people have been robbed of their treasure. All of them are trapped in holes, and they’re locked in prisons. They’ve become prisoners, and no one frees them; and they’ve lost everything, and no one says, ‘ Return it to them!’ Who is there among you who will listen to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come? Who let Jacob andIsraelbe broken into and robbed? Didn’t Yahweh do it, against whom we’ve sinned? For they wouldn’t walk in God’s ways, and they disobeyed the law God gave them. So the fierceness of God’s anger fell on them, and they were troubled by war; and it set them on fire all around, but they didn’t know it; and it burned them, and they didn’t think about why it was happening to them.”

43[1-5] But now Yahweh who created you, Jacob, and who formed you,Israelsays this, “Don’t be afraid, for I’ve saved you. I’ve called you by your Name. You are mine. When you go through the waters, I’ll be with you; and through the rivers, they won’t drown you. When you walk through the fire, you won’t be burned, and the flames won’t even scorch you. For I am Yahweh your God, the Holy One ofIsrael, your Savior. I’ve bought you back and givenEgyptas your ransom,Ethiopiaand Seba in your place. Since you’re precious to Me and honored in My sight, and I love you; I’ll give people in your place, and nations instead of your life. Don’t be afraid because I am with you. I’ll bring your descendants from the east, and gather you together from the west.

[6-9] I’ll tell the north, ‘Give them up!’ and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back! Bring My sons from far away, and My daughters from the ends of the earth, that is, everyone who is called by My name, and whom I’ve created for My glory, whom I’ve formed, yes, whom I’ve made.’” Bring out the blind people who see and the deaf who hear. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be gathered. Who among them can tell this, and show us the things that happened before this? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, “That’s true.”

[10-15] “You are My witnesses,” says Yahweh, “With My Worker whom I’ve chosen; that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am that One. Before Me there was no God formed, nor will there be another after Me. I myself am Yahweh; and besides Me there’s no other Savior. I’ve told you this, I’ve saved you, and I’ve shown it to you; and there was no false god among you. So you are My witnesses,” says Yahweh, “and I am God. Yes, since the day was, I am that One; and there’s no one who can take you out of My hand. I’ll do it, and who can stop what I do?” Yahweh says this, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel, “For your sake, I’ve sent to Babylon, and I’ll bring all of them down as those who are running away, even the Chaldeans (Babylonians, Iraq), in the ships on which they celebrate.

[15-21] I am Yahweh, your Holy One, the Creator ofIsrael, your Ruler.” Yahweh says this, who makes a path in the sea, and a way in the strong currents; who brings out the vehicles of war, the army and the strong soldiers, who die and won’t rise; They’re all gone, They’re put out like a wick. “Don’t remember the things of the past, and don’t think about the things that happened long ago. Look, I’ll do a new thing. It’s coming now. Don’t you know it? I’ll even make a way in the countryside, and rivers in the desert. The animals of the field will honor Me, the dragons and the ostriches; because I give water in the countryside and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen ones, the people which I formed for myself, that they might give Me My praise.

[22-28] Yet you’ve not called on Me, Jacob; but you’ve been tired of Me,Israel. You’ve not brought Me your sheep for burnt offerings; nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices. I haven’t troubled you with offerings, nor tired you with burning incense. You haven’t bought Me sweet cane with your money, nor filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices; but You’ve troubled Me with your sins. You’ve tired Me with your wrongdoings. I, even I, am that One who forgives your sins for My own sake; and I won’t remember your wrongdoings. Remind Me of this. Let’s argue this together. Make your case, so that you may be justified. Your first father sinned, and your teachers have also sinned against Me. So I’ll ruin the rulers of your safe haven; and I’ll punish Jacob, andIsraelwill be ashamed.”

44[1-5] Yet listen now, Jacob, My worker, andIsrael, whom I’ve chosen. This is what Yahweh who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you says, “Don’t be afraid, Jacob, My worker; and you, Jeshurun (Israel), whom I’ve chosen. I’ll pour water on those who are thirsty, and creeks on the dry ground. I’ll pour My Spirit out on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring and they’ll spring up among the grass, as willows by the waters. One will say, ‘I am Yahweh’s;’ and another will be called by the name of Jacob; and another will write with the hand ‘to Yahweh,’ and honor the name ofIsrael.”

[6-9] This is what Yahweh, the Ruler of Israel, and God’s Savior, Yahweh, the God of All Creation, says, “I am the first, and I am the last; and there’s no God besides Me. Who is like Me? Who will call, and will tell it, and set it in order for Me, since I set up the people from the beginning? Let them tell the things that are coming, and what will happen. Don’t fear, nor be afraid. Haven’t I told it to you long ago, and shown it to you ahead of time? You are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me? No, there isn’t. I don’t know any other Rock.” Everyone who makes a false god is empty headed and stupid. The things that they enjoy won’t do them any good. Their own witnesses don’t see the truth, nor know it, so that they may be ashamed.

[10-15] Who has made a false god, or molds a likeness that is good for nothing? Look, all their friends will be ashamed; and the craftspeople are only humans. Let them all be gathered together. Let them stand up. They’ll be afraid and put to shame together. The blacksmiths make axes, work in the hot coals, beat with a hammer, and work with their strong arms. Yes, they are hungry, and their strength fails; they drink no water, and are faint. The carpenters measure, mark it out with a pencil, shape it with planes, mark it out with the compasses, and shape them in the figure of human beings, according to the beauty of a human being, to live in a house. They cut down cedars, and take the cypress and the oak, and strengthen for themselves one among the trees of the forest. They plant a fir tree, and the rain waters it. Then people will burn it; and take part of it, and warm themselves; yes, they kindle it, and bake bread with it; yes, and then they make a false god out of it, and worship it; they make it a false god, and fall down to worship it.

[16-20] They burn part of it in the fire; with part of it they cook their food; they roast meat, and are full; yes, they warm themselves, and say, ‘Aha, I’m warm, sitting by the fire.’ The rest of it they make into a false god that they fall down and worship, and pray to it, and say, ‘Save Me; for you are My god.’ They don’t know, nor do they even think about it, because they’ve shut their eyes, so that they can’t see; and closed their hearts, so that they can’t understand. No one remembers, or has knowledge to understand and say, ‘I’ve burned part of it in the fire; yes, I’ve also baked bread on the coals; I’ve roasted meat and eaten it and I’ll make the rest of it into an evil thing? I’ll fall down to the stump of a tree? They’ll eat their ashes because their lying hearts have turned them away from Me; and they can’t save their souls, or say, there’s truth in what I do!

[21-23] Remember these things, Jacob andIsrael; for you are Mine; I’ve formed you; you areMine,Israel, and you won’t be forgotten by Me. I’ve covered your sins, as a thick cloud, yes as a cloud; I’ve covered your sins! Come back to Me; for I’ve saved you! Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done it; shout, you lower parts of the earth; break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree there, for Yahweh has bought Jacob back, and will be praised in Israel.

[24-28] Yahweh says this, your Savior, who formed you from the womb, I am Yahweh, who makes all things; who alone enlarges the heavens; who enlarges the earth (who is with Me?); who confuses the signs of the liars, and makes fortune tellers go crazy; who turns educated people around, and makes their knowledge stupid; who confirms the Word of God’s people, and does what the messengers of God say; who says of Jerusalem, It will be lived in; and of the cities of Judah (southern Israel), they’ll be built, and I’ll raise up its ruins; who says to the deep waters, Be dry, and I’ll dry up your rivers; Who says of Cyrus (559-530B.C.), You are My worker, and will do what I want you to do, even saying of Jerusalem, It will be built; and of the Place of Worship, Your foundation will be laid.

45[1-4] Yahweh says to the one who is set apart for this, to Cyrus, whose strong hand I’ve held, to control nations, and to remove rulers from power; to open the doors before him, and the gates won’t be shut. I’ll go before you, and make the winding paths straight; I’ll break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut the bars of iron in half; and I’ll give you buried treasures, and riches hidden in secret places, that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your name, even the God of Israel. For Jacob My worker’s sake, andIsraelMy chosen, I’ve called you by your name. I’ve honored your name, though You don’t know Me.

[5-10] I am Yahweh, and there’s no one else; there’s no God besides Me. I’ll clothe you, though You don’t know Me; that they may know from the east, and from the west, that there’s no God besides Me. I am Yahweh, and there’s no one else. I create the light and darkness; I give peace, and make punishments. I am Yahweh, who does all these things. Let the heavens above rain, and let the skies pour down its goodness. Let the earth open, that it may bring forth saving grace, and let goodness spring up with it; I, Yahweh, have created it. Sorrow will come to those who fight with their Maker, who are nothing but broken clay pots among all the other broken clay pots of the earth! Will the clay ask the One who molds it, “What are you making?” or your work say, “You have no hands?” Sorrow will come to those who say to a father, “What! Have you become our father?” or to a woman, “Why are you suffering?”

[11-13] Yahweh says this, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker, Ask Me about what is to happen; Ask me about My people, and about the work of My hands. I’ve made the earth, and created human beings to live on it. I, even My hands, have enlarged the heavens; and put all the heavenly bodies in place. I’ve raised Cyrus up for goodness, and I’ll make whatever he does go well, who will build My city, and let My people go free. He’ll do it out of goodness, not for a price or reward, says Yahweh, the God of All Creation.

[14-17] Yahweh says this, “Everything that belongs toEgyptandEthiopiawill be yours, and the tall dark- skinned Sabeans, will come over to you, and they’ll be yours. They’ll follow you. They’ll come over in chains; and fall down and say to you, ‘Without a doubt, God is in you; and there’s no one else, there’s no other god. Most certainly you are a God who hides yourself, the God of Israel, the Savior.’” They’ll be ashamed, yes, confused, all of them; They’ll be confused along with those who make false gods. ButIsraelwill be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting saving grace! You won’t be ashamed, nor confused for ever.

[18-21] Yahweh says this, who created the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, who established it and didn’t create it for nothing, but formed it to be lived in. I am Yahweh; and there’s no one else. I haven’t spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness; I didn’t say to the descendents of Jacob, Look for Me for nothing! I, Yahweh, speak goodness, I tell things that are right. Gather yourselves and come here; come here together, you who have escaped from the nations. They don’t know anything, who carry the wood of their false god, and pray to a god that can’t save them. Tell what is going to happen; yes, let them make agreements with each other. Who has shown this from long ago? Who has told it since the old days? Haven’t I, Yahweh? and there’s no God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there’s no one besides Me.

[22-25] Look to Me, and you’ll be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there’s no one else to save you. I’ve promised in My own Name, the word is gone forth from My mouth in goodness, and won’t be taken back, that every knee will bow to Me, every mouth will say that I am God. I’ll come to those who say of Me, only in Yahweh is goodness and strength; and all those who were angry at Me will be ashamed. In Yahweh all the people ofIsraelwill be justified, and will celebrate.

46[1-5] Bel and Nebo are brought down; the false gods ofBabylonare carried off on the backs of animals! The things that you carried around are made a heavy load for the tired animals. They stoop, they bow down together; they couldn’t save the heavy load, but have themselves gone into captivity. Listen to Me, family of Jacob, and all who’s left of the family of Israel, that have been borne by Me from their birth, that have been carried from the womb, and even to their old age! I am your God, and even to your gray hairs I’ll carry you. I’ve made you, and I’ll carry you; yes, I’ll help you, and I’ll save you. To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be like?

[6-8] Some people pour out their gold and silver, and weigh it in the balance. They hire a metal smith, who makes it into a god. They fall down and worship it. They carry it on the shoulder, yes, they carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands there, and it won’t move from its place. Yes, someone may cry to it, yet it can’t answer them, nor save them out of trouble. Remember this, and show yourselves to be only human; Remember it, you sinners.

[9-13] Remember the things that happened before, for I am God, and there’s no one else; I am God, and there’s no one like Me; I tell the end from the beginning, and from old times things that haven’t happened yet; saying, My counsel will stand, and I’ll do whatever I want; I call a hungry bird from the east, a person from a far country to do what I want; yes, I’ve spoken, I’ll also make it happen; I’ve planned it, and I’ll also do it. Listen to Me, you stubborn people, who are far from goodness. I am bringing My good plans to pass, it won’t be long, and My saving grace won’t wait any longer! I’ll saveZion(Jerusalem) forIsrael, My beautiful city.

47[1-5] Come down, and sit in the dust, city ofBabylon; Come down from your throne and sit on the ground, city of the Chaldeans (Babylonians,Iraq)! You won’t be called gentle and sensitive any more. You’ll work like a slave, so take off your veil, and strip off the train, bare your leg, and go through the rivers. Your nakedness will be uncovered, yes; your shame will be seen by everyone! I’ll repay you for everything you’ve done, and won’t spare anyone. Our Savior, whose name is Yahweh, the God of All Creation, is the Holy One of Israel. Sit silent, and go into darkness, city of the Chaldeans (Babylonians,Iraq); for you won’t be called The Ruler of the Nations any more.

[6-10] I was angry with My people, I ruined My inheritance, and gave them into your power, but you didn’t show them any compassion; and even made the elderly work very hard. You said, I’ll rule forever; so that you didn’t even think about it, nor did you know how it would turn out in the end.  So hear this, you who do whatever you want to, who sit safely, who say in your heart, I am, and there’s no one else besides me; I won’t know the loss of spouse or children, but these two things will come on you at the same time in one day, the loss of children and spouse. You’ll be repaid in full and they’ll come on you, for all your witchcraft, and the many spells you cast. For you’ve trusted in your sinfulness and said, No one sees me; your wisdom and your knowledge has perverted you, and you’ve said in your heart, I am, and there’s no one else besides Me.

[11-15] So evil will come on you and you won’t see it coming; and trouble will fall on you and you won’t be able to overcome it; and you’ll suddenly be alone, and you won’t know what to do. Stand there now with your spells, and your witchcraft, in which you’ve practiced since your youth; if you think you’ll be able to profit, if you think you may win. You are tired of your many counsels, but let the astrologers, the stargazers, and their monthly horoscopes stand up and save you now from the things that will come on you. Look, they’ll be like weeds and the fire will burn them up; They won’t save themselves from the power of the flame, and it won’t be like a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before. Those in which you’ve worked and done business with from your youth will be like this to you.  They’ll all wander off, everyone to their own place; There won’t be any one to save you.

48[1-5] Hear this, family of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come from the line of Judah (southern Israel); who swear by the name of Yahweh, and talk about the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in goodness (for they claim to be from the holy city, and count on the God of Israel; Yahweh, the God of All Creation). I’ve told you what would happen from the first; yes, the Word went out of My mouth, and I showed them to you. I did what I said suddenly, and it all happened just as I said, because I knew that you are stubborn, and your neck is as stiff as iron, and your brow is as tough as brass; So I’ve told it to you before it ever happened; from the days of old, I showed it you; so you couldn’t say, ‘My false god has done this, and My man-made likeness has said this.’

[6-9] You’ve heard it and see all this; so won’t you tell others about it? Now, from this time forward, I’ll show you new things, even secret things, which You didn’t know. They’re happening now, and not in the past; and you’ve never heard of them before; so you can’t say, ‘See, I knew it!’ Yes, you didn’t hear; yes, you didn’t know; yes, from the beginning your ear wasn’t listening. I knew that you’d be very unfaithful, and were called a sinner from the womb. For My Name’s sake, I’ll hold My anger, and for My praise I won’t destroy you completely.

[10-16] Look, I’ve refined you, but not as silver; I’ve chosen you to go through the fire of trouble. For My own sake, for My own sake, I’ll do it; Why should My Name be ruined? and why should I share My praise with another. Listen to Me, O Jacob, andIsrael, who I’ve called. I am your God; I am the first, and the last. Yes, I’ve laid the foundation of the earth, and I’ve enlarged the heavens with My own hands.  When I call to My creations, they stand up together. Gather yourselves together, and listen; who among any of these false gods has foretold these things? Cyrus, whom I love, will do what he wants toBabylon, whose power will take control over the Chaldeans (Babylonians,Iraq). I, even I, have spoken this; yes, I’ve called him and brought him, and I’ll make his way succeed. Come near to Me, and listen to this; from the beginning I haven’t spoken in secret; from the time that it happens, I am there, too.  Yahweh God and the Holy Spirit have sent Me.

[17-22] Yahweh, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel, says this, I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you how to do well, who leads you by the way that you should go. Oh, how I wanted you to listen to what I say! Then your peace would have flowed like a river, and your goodness would overflow like the waves of the sea, your people would have been as the sand, and your children like its grains, whose name wouldn’t be cut off nor destroyed from before Me. Leave Babylon, leave from the Chaldeans (Babylonians, Iraq); with a voice of singing tell this, speak it all over the earth! Say, Yahweh has bought you back, Jacob. You didn’t get thirsty when God led you through the deserts; God made the waters flow out of the rock for you; and split the rock also, and the waters poured out. But Yahweh says, “There’s no peace for the sinners.”

49[1-6] Listen to Me, nations; listen, you peoples from far away! Yahweh has called Me from the womb of My mother and has made mention of My name and has made My mouth like a sharp weapon. Yahweh has kept Me safe and has made Me like a polished weapon, keeping Me close, who said to Me, You are My worker;Israel, in whom I’ll be made well known. But I said, I’ve worked for nothing, I’ve used all My strength for nothing; yet Without a doubt the fairness due Me is with Yahweh, and I’ll be repaid by My God. Now says Yahweh who formed Me from the womb to be a worker of God, to bring Jacob back to God, and that Israel would come back (for I am honorable in the eyes of Yahweh, and My God is My strength); Yes, God says, Is it too little that you should be My worker to raise up the families of Jacob, and to restore the saved ones of Israel? I’ll also make you a light to the nations, that you may be My saving grace to the end of the earth.

[7-11] Yahweh says this, the One who bought Israel back, and the Holy One, who human beings hate, to the One whom the nations hate, to a worker of rulers, Rulers will see and get up; yes, rulers, and they’ll worship; because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you. Yahweh says this also, I’ve answered you in an acceptable time, and I’ve helped you in a day of saving grace; and I’ll save you, and give you for a promise to the people, to raise up the land, to make them get the heritage that they had left, saying to those who are imprisoned, Go free; and to those who are in darkness, Come out! They’ll be fed in the roads, and their pasture will be on all bare hills. They won’t be hungry or thirsty; nor will the heat of the sun burn them. The One who has compassion on them will lead them, and guide them by the flowing creeks of water. I’ll make all My mountains have roads, and My highways will be made.

[12-17] Look, they’ll come from far away; they’ll come from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim (Syene, Aswan). Sing, heavens; and be happy, earth; and break out into singing, mountains, because Yahweh has comforted the people of God, and will have compassion on those who are troubled. But Zion (Jerusalem) said, Yahweh has left Me, and God has forgotten Me. Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the child in whom she gave birth? Yes, even these may forget, but I won’t forget you. Look, I’ve carved you on the palms of My hands; and I’ll watch over you forever. Your children will come back soon; and those who abused and destroyed you will leave.

[18-21] Open your eyes and look around you! They’ll all gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live, says Yahweh, you’ll clothe yourself with them all as with jewels, and dress yourself with them, like a bride. As for your ruined and deserted places, and your land that has been destroyed will now be too small for the people, and those who took your land will be moved far away. The children, who mourned your death, will yet say in your ears, This place is too small for Me; make room for Me that I may live. Then you’ll say in your heart, Who has conceived these for Me, seeing I’ve lost all My children, and am alone, sent away to wander back and forth? and who has brought these up? Look, I was left alone; where were these?

[22-26] This says Yahweh God, Look, I’ll lift up My hand to the nations, and set up My flag as a symbol to the peoples; and they’ll bring your sons and your daughters in their arms and on their shoulders. Rulers will take care of all your children. They’ll bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and taste the dust of your feet; and you’ll know that I am Yahweh God; and those who wait for Me won’t be ashamed. Will the prey be taken from the strong, or those taken prisoner legally be freed? But Yahweh says this, Even the prisoners of the strong will be taken away, and the prey of the terrible will be set free; for I’ll fight with those who fight with you, and I’ll save your children. I’ll feed those who abuse you with their own children; and they’ll be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine and all people will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, the One who bought you back, the Strong One of Jacob.

50[1-5] Yahweh says this, “Do you think I’ve divorced you and sent you away forever? Where are the divorce papers, with which I’ve put you away? or do you think I’ve sold you to My creditors? Look, you were sold for your wrongdoings, and you were put away for your sins. Why wasn’t any one there when I came? Why didn’t any one answer when I called? Am I not strong enough, to buy you back? Don’t I have the power to save you? Look, I dry up the sea with a word, I make the rivers dry up like a desert. The fish die and stink, because there’s no water. I cover the heavens with darkness, and I make mourning clothes its covering.” Yahweh God has given Me the right words to say, so that I may know how to help those who are weak and tired. God wakens Me each morning, and makes My ear to hear as those who are taught. Yahweh God has opened My ear, and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.

[6-11] I gave My back to those who hit Me, and My cheeks to those who abused Me. I didn’t hide My face when they spoke shamefully and spit on Me. So I won’t be ashamed because Yahweh God is My help; So I’ve made up My mind, and I know that I won’t be ashamed. God is near, who will prove Me right; so who will bring charges against Me? Whoever is My enemy, must accuse Me to My face. Let them come to Me. Look, Yahweh God will help Me; so who will prove Me wrong? Look, they’ll all grow old like a piece of clothes that a moth has eaten up. Who among you respects Yahweh, and who obeys the voice of God’s worker? Those who walk in darkness, and have no light, let them trust in the Name of Yahweh, and fully rely on God. Look, all you who start fires of trouble, who clothe yourselves with flaming accusations; You’ll walk in the flame of your own fire, and be burned by the fires that you’ve started. You’ll get this from My hand and you’ll die in sorrow.

51[1- 4] Listen to Me, you who do what is good, you who look for Yahweh God. Look at who you came from, and where you came from. Look at Abraham and to Sarah, who are your ancestors; I called Abraham when there was no one but him, and I blessed him, and made him have many descendants. Yahweh has comfortedZion(Jerusalem); and all its deserted places, and has made its countryside like the Garden of Eden, and its desert like the Garden of God; You’ll be happy and enjoy yourselves there, and be thankful, and sing with melody in your voice. Pay attention to Me, My people; and listen to Me, My nation; I’ll give you a law, and I’ll set up My fairness to show the peoples how to live.

[5-8] I am coming soon, and My goodness will save you, and My power will judge the peoples; the nations will wait for Me, and put their trust in Me. Look up to the heavens, and look on the earth below; for the heavens will disappear like smoke, and the earth will grow old like a piece of clothes; and those who live in It’ll die in the same way; but My saving grace will be forever, and My goodness won’t come to an end. Listen to Me, you who know what goodness is, the people who keep My law in their hearts; don’t be afraid of what human beings will say to you, nor be upset at their insults. They’ll disappear as quickly as moth eaten wool clothes; but My goodness will last forever, and My saving grace is for all generations.

[9-11] Awake, awake, use Your strength, Yahweh; awake, as in the old days of the generations of long ago. Isn’t it You who cut Rahab in pieces, who killed that sea monster long ago (symbolic of Egypt, and God’s control over the chaos of Creation)? Isn’t it You who dried up theRed Sea, the deep waters of the sea; who made a road across the bottom of the sea for those you saved to walk on? Those who are saved by Yahweh will come back, and come with singing to Zion (Jerusalem); and they’ll be happy forever! They’ll be glad and celebrate; and sorrow and sighing will end forever.

[12-16] I am Yahweh who comforts you. Why are you afraid of ordinary human beings, who will die, and wither like grass? Why have you forgotten Yahweh, your Maker, who enlarged the heavens, and set the earth in its place? Why are you so afraid all day long because of the anger of those who abuse you, who try to destroy you? Where are they now? Everyone who cries out in pain will be freed soon; they’ll be freed from the power of death and hell, and they won’t go hungry anymore. For I am Yahweh your God, who makes the oceans roar and stirs up its waves. My name is Yahweh, the God of All Creation. I tell you what to say, and I’ll keep you safe in the palm of My hand, that I may stretch out the heavens, and put the earth in its place, and tell Zion (Jerusalem), You are My people.

[17-22] Awake, awake, stand up,Jerusalem, those who have tasted Yahweh’s great anger; You’ve drunk the cup of punishment, and drained it dry. There’s no one to guide you among all the children you’ve had; there’s no one who takes you by the hand among all the children you’ve brought up. Two terrible things have happened to you, but no one will cry for you. You were deserted and destroyed with the famine and war; so how will I comfort you? Your children faint, and fall in the streets, as an animal in a net; They’re being punished by Yahweh’s great anger, and God has corrected them. So hear this now, you troubled, and drunken, but not with wine. Yahweh God says this, who defends you, “Look, I’ve taken out of your hand the cup that made you drunk, the cup of My great anger; you won’t ever drink it again and I’ll put it into the hand of those who abuse you, who have said to you, We’ll walk all over you; and You’ve been trampled on by them.

52[1-5] Awake, awake, put on your strength, Zion (Jerusalem); put on your beautiful clothes, Jerusalem, the holy city. From now on, no one who is unfit sinner will come into you. Shake yourself from the dust; get up and sit on your throne, Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains that hold you, city of Zion (Jerusalem), which was taken. Yahweh says this, You were sold for nothing; and you’ll be bought you back without money. Yahweh God says this, My people went down at first intoEgyptto live there and now the Assyrians have abused them for no reason. So now, what do I do here, says Yahweh, seeing that My people is taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them mock them, says Yahweh, and My name is continually disrespected all day long.

[6-10] So My people will know My name.  They’ll know then that I am the One who speaks; Look, it’s Me. How beautiful are the feet of those coming down the mountains who bring good news, who speak peace, who publishes the New Word of God’s saving grace, who says to Zion (Jerusalem), Your God reigns! Listen to the voice of your guards! They lift up their voices, and sing together; because they’ll see for themselves when Yahweh come backs to Zion (Jerusalem). Break out in happy singing together, you ruins of Jerusalem; for Yahweh has comforted the people of God, and has bought you back, Jerusalem. Yahweh, you have shown Your power in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth have seen the saving grace of our God.

[11-15] Leave, leave, go out from there, and touch nothing that is unfit; come out of it (Babylon) and cleanse yourselves, you who keep the things used to worship Yahweh. For you won’t go out running, nor will you go by flight, because Yahweh is going ahead of you; and the God of Israel is watching behind you. You who I am sending will act wisely, and be lifted up in praise and highly honored. Many will be shocked at You (who will be beaten so badly, You won’t even look human), and You’ll sprinkle many nations; rulers will shut their mouths when they see You, and what they hadn’t been told they’ll see for themselves; and what they hadn’t heard they’ll understand.

53[1-5] Who has believed our message? and to whom has the power of Yahweh been made known? For You grew up before God as a young plant that roots out of dry ground. You had no great physical form or beauty; and when we see You, there’s no beauty that we would want You. You were hated, and rejected by human beings, someone who suffered greatly, and knew sorrow personally; and like someone who others refuse to look at, You were hated; and we didn’t respect You. Without a doubt, You’ve taken our sickness on Yourself, and You took our place in Your suffering; yet we thought of You as being punished, struck by God, and troubled. But You were pierced for our sins, and killed for our wrongdoings; Your undeserved punishment brought our peace; and by Your wounds we are healed.

[6-12] All we, like sheep, have gone astray; everyone of us have done as we wanted to; and Yahweh has put on You all our sin. You were abused, yet when You were troubled You didn’t even open Your mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is quiet, You didn’t even open Your mouth. By abuse and false judgment You were taken away; and as for Your generation, who among them thought that You would be cut off out of the land of the living for the disobedience of my people who rightfully deserved the punishment? You were punished with sinners, and You were buried in the grave of a rich man; although You had done nothing wrong, nor had spoken any lie. Yet it was Yahweh’s will to hurt You and make You suffer, because You give Your soul as an offering for sin, and You’ll see Your children and prolong Your days, and You’ll do what Yahweh wants. God will see the suffering of Your soul, and be satisfied, and You’ll come back to life again.  You’ll justify many people by their knowledge of You; and that You suffered for their sins. So God will make You stand with great people, and You’ll be rewarded with the powerful ones; because You’ve given Your soul to death, and You were counted as a sinner, though You died for the sins of others, and asked forgiveness for their sins.

54[1-3] Sing, you, who haven’t had children; break out into singing, and cry out, you who haven’t suffered in childbirth! You, who were deserted, will have more children than the married wife, says Yahweh. Enlarge your home, and stretch out its area; and don’t spare, but make plenty of room, and make it strong. You’ll spread out on the right and on the left; and your children will have the nations, and fill the deserted cities with people.

[4-8] Don’t be afraid; you won’t be ashamed, nor be confused; You won’t be ashamed and you’ll forget the shame of your youth; and you won’t remember the troubles of when you were left any more. Your Maker is your husband, whose name is Yahweh, the God of All Creation; and the Holy One of Israel has bought you back, who is called the God of all the earth. Yahweh has called you like a wife who was left and very upset in her spirit, like a young wife, who has been thrown away, says your God. I left you for a little while; but with great compassion I’ll take you back. I turned from you in great anger for a little while; but with everlasting love I’ll have compassion on you, says Yahweh, who bought you back.

[9-12] This promise is as the waters of Noah to Me; just like I promised that the waters of Noah wouldn’t cover the earth anymore, so I’ve promised that I won’t be angry with you, nor correct you anymore. The mountains may disappear, and the hills be gone; but I won’t stop loving you, nor will I break My promise of peace to you, says Yahweh, who has compassion on you. You, who are troubled and storm-tossed, and not comforted; Look, I’ll set your gemstones in beautiful colors, and lay your base with blue sapphires. I’ll set rubies on your highest point, and set emeralds in your gates, and all your border will be set with precious stones.

[13-17] All your children will be taught by Yahweh; and your children’s peace will be great. You’ll be approved and settled in goodness and you’ll be far from abuse. You won’t be afraid; and nothing terrible will come near you. If anyone stirs up trouble, it’s not from Me.Whoever stirs up trouble for you will fall because of you. Look, I’ve created those who make the weapons and I’ve created the destroyer to destroy. No weapon that is used against you will be successful; and you’ll condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the workers of Yahweh, and their proof of goodness which is from Me, says Yahweh.

55[1-5] Look, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and those who have no money; come, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what isn’t food? and work for what doesn’t satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what’s good, and let your soul enjoy itself in goodness. Listen to Me, and come to Me; hear, and your soul will live and I’ll make an everlasting promise with you, as faithful as the promises I made to David. Look, I’ve given him as a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples. Look, you’ll call a nation that you don’t know; and a nation that didn’t know you will run to you, because of Yahweh your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, who has made you great.

[6-13] Turn to Yahweh who can yet be found; call out to God who is near. Give up your crooked ways and your evil thoughts, you sinners; Come back to Yahweh your God, who will have compassion; and to your God, who will forgive all your sins. My thoughts and ways aren’t like your thoughts and ways, says Yahweh. As the heavens are higher than the earth, My thoughts and ways are higher than your thoughts and ways. Rain and snow fall from the sky, and doesn’t go back there, until it waters the earth, and makes it bloom and bud, and gives you seed to plant, and food to eat; So it is with My word, which goes out of My mouth and doesn’t come back to Me without doing what I want it to, and It’ll prosper in whatever I sent it to do. You’ll go out with happiness, and be led with peace; the mountains and hills will break out in singing to you; and all the trees of the fields will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn will come up the fir tree; and instead of the brier will come up the myrtle tree; and It’ll be to make Yahweh’s name well known, for an everlasting sign that won’t ever come to an end.

56[1 Yahweh says this, Keep fairness, and do what’s right; for My saving grace is near to come, and My goodness is soon to be made known. Blessed is the one who does this, and the child of one who holds on to it; who keeps the Seventh Day from disrespecting it, and keeps from doing anything evil. Don’t let the foreigner, who follows Yahweh, say, Yahweh will, without a doubt, separate me from the people of God; and don’t let the emasculated say, Look, I am a withered tree that won’t produce fruit. Yahweh says this of the emasculated who keep My Seventh Days, and choose the things that please Me, and hold on to My promise; I’ll give to them in My House and within My walls a name to be remembered which is better than sons and daughters; I’ll give them an everlasting name, that won’t be cut off.

[6-8] Also the foreigners who join themselves to Yahweh, to minister to Me, and to love the Name of Yahweh, to be My workers, everyone who keeps from disrespecting the Seventh Day, and holds on to My promise, I’ll bring to My holy mountain, and make them happy in My House of Prayer. Their offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My House will be called a House of Prayer for all peoples. Yahweh God, who gathers the outcasts ofIsrael, says, I’ll gather others to Myself, besides My own who are gathered here.

[9-12] All you animals of the field, come and eat, yes, all you animals in the forest. My guards are all blind, and without knowledge; They’re all mute dogs, which can’t bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to sleep. Yes, these dogs are greedy, and can never have enough; and these are preachers who can’t understand. They all go their own way, trying to get what they can for themselves. Come here, they say, I’ll get wine, and we’ll get drunk; and tomorrow will be like today, only better.

57[1-5] Good people die, and no one takes it to heart; and kindhearted ones are taken away, none thinking that they’re spared from the evil to come. Everyone who does what is right will rest in peace in their graves. But come here, you who do witchcraft, the children of those who are unfaithful. Of whom are you making fun? To whom are you sticking out your tongues? Aren’t you like disobedient children, you unfaithful liars? You have sex among yourselves under every green oak tree, worshiping your false gods; You kill your own children, sacrificing them in the valleys, and in the mountains!

[6-10] You’ve chosen the smooth stones of the valley as your gods; so that’s what you’ll get; You’ve even poured out a drink offering to them, and made your offering. Will I be quiet about these things? On a high and proud mountain you’ve made your bed and there you also went up to offer your child sacrifices. Behind the doors and the posts of your houses you’ve set up your memorials to your false gods, and you’ve been unfaithful with them, and have gone up to worship them; You’ve shared your bed, and made a promise to them, and you loved their bed when you saw it. You went to your false god Molech with oil, and put on more perfume, and sent messengers far away, and lowered yourself to the pits of Hell. You tired yourself out; yet you didn’t say, ‘It’s for nothing!’ You found your strength and didn’t give up on them.

[11-14] Of whom have you been so afraid, that you lie, and haven’t remembered Me, nor kept My ways in your heart? Haven’t I held My peace a very long time, and you still don’t respect Me? I’ll tell you of your goodness; and as for what you’ve done, none of it will help you. When you cry, let those who you’ve been serving save you; but the wind will take them, a breath will carry them all away; but those whose safe haven is in Me will get the land, and will have My holy mountain. God says, Clear the way, clear the way, and move the rocks that My people trip over out of the way!

[15-21] For this says the high and proud One who lives in eternity, whose Name is Holy; I live in the high and holy place, with  those who are of a broken and depressed spirit, to revive the depressed spirit, and to revive the broken heart. For I won’t fight forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would faint before Me, and the souls who I’ve made would die. For their sinful greed I was angry, and punished them; I hid My face and was angry; and they went on rebelling in their own ways. I’ve seen their ways, and will heal them.  I’ll lead them also, and give comfort to those who mourn. I create praise on the lips of My people. Peace, peace, to those who are far off and to those who are near, says Yahweh; and I’ll heal them. But sinners are like the troubled sea; which can’t rest, and its waters stir up sand and muck. There’s no peace, says My God, to the sinners.

58[1-5] Cry aloud, don’t spare, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and tell My people of their disobedience, and to the family of Jacob their sins. Yet they look for Me daily, and want to know My ways. As if they were a nation that did what’s right, and didn’t leave the laws of their God, they ask Me to judge them rightly; and they want to draw near to God. Why have we fasted, they say, and you don’t see us? Why have we troubled ourselves, and you don’t pay attention? Look, in the day of your fast you do what you want to do, and make all your workers work. Look, you fast to argue and fight, and hit each other with the fist. You don’t fast today, in such a way as to make your prayers heard in heaven. Is this the fast that I’ve chosen? A day for people to trouble their souls? Is it to bow down their heads like a rush, and to put on mourning clothes and put ashes under themselves? Will you call this a fast, and a day that Yahweh accepts?

[6-11] Isn’t this the fast that I’ve chosen? To loose the chains of sin, and take off their heavy load, and to let the abused go free, and that you take off every heavy load? Isn’t it to give your food to the hungry and that you bring the poor who are thrown out to your house? And when you see the naked, that you clothe them; and that you not close your eyes to the needs of your own people? Then your light will shine like the dawn, and you’ll be healed quickly; and your goodness will go before you; and the praise of Yahweh will watch your back. Then you’ll pray, and Yahweh will answer; you’ll cry, and I’ll say, Here I am. If you take away the heavy loads of others, and stop pointing fingers at each other, and speaking hurtful things to one another; and if you do everything you can to feed the hungry, and help the troubled soul, then will your light will rise in the darkness, and you will shine like the noonday; and Yahweh will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in dry places, and make you strong; and you’ll be like a watered garden, and like a creek, whose waters won’t fail.

[12-14] Those who will come from you will rebuild the old ruins; you’ll build on the foundations of many generations; and you’ll be called The Repairer of What was Broken, The Restorer of the Way to Live. If you turn away from misusing the Seventh Day, from doing what you want on My holy day; and call the Seventh Day a day to enjoy, and make what Yahweh set aside to be honored; and will honor it yourself, not going your own ways, nor doing whatever you want, nor saying your own words but saying My words, then you’ll enjoy yourself in the worship of Yahweh; and I’ll put you in high places in the earth; and I’ll feed you on the land I gave to your ancestor, Jacob; for the mouth of Yahweh has said it.

59[1-6] Look, Yahweh’s hand isn’t weakened, that it can’t save you; nor is God’s ear closed, that it can’t hear you, but your sins have separated you from your God, and your wrongdoings have made God turn away from you, and not listen to you. You have blood on your hands, and they are filled with sin; your mouth has spoken lies, and your tongue says what is wrong. No one sues because they’re right, and no one goes to court in truth. They trust in their empty lies; they make up trouble, and find sin. They hatch snakes’ eggs, and weave a spider’s web and whoever eats their eggs will dies and what is broken opens up to hatch a snake. Their spiders’ webs won’t make clothes, nor will they cover themselves with what they’ve made; what they’ve done are acts of sin, and violence is in their hands.

[7-11] Their feet run to evil, and they shed innocent blood quickly; they think sinful thoughts and leave a path of pain and suffering behind them. They don’t know the way of peace; and there’s no fairness in what they do. They’ve made themselves crooked paths; whoever follows them doesn’t know peace. So fairness is out of our reach, nor can we grasp what’s right. We look for light, but we see nothing but darkness; for brightness, but we walk in the shadows. We grope for the wall like the blind; yes, we grope as those who have no eyes to see and we trip at noonday as in the dark; we are as dead people among the living. We all growl like bears, and moan greatly like doves. We want fairness, but there’s none; We want God’s saving grace, but it’s out of our reach.

[12-15] For our sins are many in Your sight, and they are witnesses against us. Our sins are with us, and as for our wrongdoings, we know them well. We sin and turn our backs on Yahweh, turning away from following our God, speaking of abuse and rebellion, thinking and speaking lying words from our hearts. Fairness is backwards, and goodness is out of our reach; truth isn’t in us, and we don’t even know what’s right and wrong any more. Yes, truth is lacking; and those who stop doing evil make themselves prey to those who do evil. Yahweh saw it, and was displeased that there was no fairness.

[16-21] I saw that there was no one to help you, and thought about there being no one to stand up for you; So by My own power, I brought you My saving grace; and My goodness was My strength; I put on goodness as a breastplate, and a helmet of saving grace; I put on clothes of judgment, and wore passion as a coat; I’ll repay everyone for their actions, having great anger on My enemies, to repay them and will repay the nations what’s due them. So they’ll fear the name of Yahweh from the west, and My fame will rise like the sun; and come like a rushing river, which the breath of Yahweh drives. A Savior will come to Zion (Jerusalem), and to those who turn from their disobedience in Jacob (Israel), says Yahweh. As for Me, this is My promise to you, says Yahweh. My Spirit which is on you, and My words which I’ve put in your mouth, won’t leave out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your children, nor out of the mouth of your grandchildren, says Yahweh, from now on and forever.

60[1-5] Get up, and shine; for your light is come, and the light of Yahweh is dawning on you. Look, darkness will cover the earth, and black darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will dawn on you, whose light will be seen on you. Nations will come to your light and rulers to the brightness of your dawning. Look up and all around you, and see them all gathering themselves together, and coming to you; your children will come from far, and be carried in their arms. Then you’ll see and shine beautifully, and your heart will be very happy and be proud; because the riches of the sea will be brought to you, and the wealth of the nations will come to you.

[6-10] Many camels will cover you, coming from Midian, Ephah, andSheba. They’ll bring gold and fragrant oils, and will tell others the praises of Yahweh. All the flocks of Kedar (south of Palestine) will be gathered together to you, the rams of Nebaioth (Arabs) will minister to you; They’ll come to My altar and be accepted; and I’ll praise the House of My glory. What are these ships that sail like clouds, and fly like doves going home? Without a doubt, the nations will wait for Me, and the ships of Tarshish (Spain) will lead them, to bring your children from far away, bringing their silver and gold with them, to worship the name of Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, who has made you well known. Foreigners will build your walls, and their rulers will minister to you; for in My great anger I punished you, but in My grace I’ve had compassion on you.

[11-15] Your gates will be open continually, also; They won’t be shut day or night; so that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their rulers will be in your power. For that nation and realm that won’t serve you will die; yes, those nations will be completely destroyed. The beauty ofLebanonwill come to you, the fir tree, the pine, and the myrtle tree together, to beautify the place of My safe haven; and I’ll make the place of My feet wonderful. The children of those who troubled you will come bowing down to you; and all those who hated you will bow themselves down at your feet; and they’ll call you “The City of Yahweh, Zion (Jerusalem) of the Holy One of Israel. Just as you’ve been deserted and hated, so that no one passed through you, I’ll make you eternally great, a many generations will be happy in you.

[16-22] You’ll also suck the milk of the nations, and will nurse at the breast of their rulers; and you’ll know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, and the One who bought you back, the Strong One of Jacob. For brass I’ll bring gold, and for iron I’ll bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron. I’ll also make your officers peaceful and your ruler good. Violence won’t be heard in your land any more, neither ruin nor destruction will come within your borders; but you’ll call your walls Saving Grace, and your gates Praise. The sun won’t be your light by day any more; nor for its brightness will the moon be your light, but Yahweh will be to you an everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. The sun won’t go down any more, nor will your moon hide itself; Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be over. Your people will all do what’s right, also; they’ll have the land forever, being the branch of My planting, and the work of My hands, so that I may be praised. The smallest family will become great, and strong like a nation; I, Yahweh, will do this quickly at the right time.

61[1-3] The Spirit of Yahweh God is on Me; because Yahweh has anointed Me to preach good news to the humble and has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, to free the prisoners from jail, and to let loose those who are trapped; to tell others the year of Yahweh’s grace, and the day of judgment of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to appoint to those who mourn in Zion (Jerusalem), to give to them a wreath for ashes, the oil of happiness for mourning, the clothes of praise for their heavy spirits; that they may be called trees of goodness, the planting of Yahweh, that God may be praised.

[4-7] They’ll build the old ruins, and they’ll raise up the places that were deserted, and they’ll repair the cities that were destroyed, which were deserted by many generations. Foreigners will stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners will be your farmers and gardeners. But you’ll be named the priests of Yahweh; other people will call you the ministers of our God and you’ll eat the wealth of the nations, and you’ll brag about yourselves in their glory. Instead of your shame you’ll have double blessings; and instead of dishonor you’ll celebrate in your land. So in their land they’ll get twice what they had; and they’ll be happy forever.

[8-11] For I, Yahweh, love fairness, I hate stealing and other sins; and I’ll repay in truth, and I’ll make a promise with them forever. Their children will be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them will acknowledge them, and say that they’re the people Yahweh has blessed. I’ll greatly celebrate in Yahweh, My soul will be happy in My God; who has clothed Me with the clothes of God’s saving grace, and has covered Me with the robe of goodness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a rosebud, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are planted to grow; so Yahweh God will cause goodness and praise to grow in all the nations.

62[1- 5] For Zion (Jerusalem)’s sake I won’t hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I won’t rest, until her goodness shines as brightness, and her saving grace as a lamp that burns brightly. The nations will see your goodness, and all rulers your glory, and you’ll be called by a new name, which the mouth of Yahweh will name. You’ll also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Yahweh, and a royal head dress in the hand of your God. You won’t be called the Divorced Wife anymore; nor will your land be called Infertile but you’ll be called Hephzibah (My Happiness is in Her), and your land Beulah (Married Wife); for Yahweh’s happiness is in you, and your land will be fertile. For as a young man marries a young woman, so will your people marry you; and as the bridegroom celebrates over the bride, so your God will celebrate over you.

[6-12] I’ve set guards on your walls, Jerusalem; They’ll never be quiet day or night. You who call on Yahweh, don’t rest, and don’t let God rest, untilJerusalemis set up and made a praise in the earth. Yahweh has promised by God’s strong hand, and by the power of God’s strength, “Without a doubt, I won’t give your grain to be food for your enemies; and foreigners won’t drink your new wine, for which you’ve worked, but those who have gathered it will eat it, and praise Yahweh; and those who have gathered it will drink it in the courts of My Safe Haven.” Go through the gates; make the way for the people; Make the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a flag for the peoples. Look, Yahweh has told others all over the world, “Say to the city of Zion (Jerusalem), ‘Look, your saving grace comes; Look, God will reward you, and repay you.’” They’ll call them “The Holy People,” the “Saved Ones of Yahweh” and you’ll be called “God Wants You,” a city not divorced.

63[1-6] Who is this who comes from Edom (Arab nations), with dyed clothes from Bozrah? Who is this who wears wonderful clothes, and marches in great strength? “I, who speak in goodness, am powerful enough to save you.” Why are you wearing red clothes, and why do your clothes look like someone who presses the grapes? “I’ve stomped the winepress alone; and there was no one with Me of the peoples. Yes, I stomped on them in My anger, and trampled them in My great anger; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on My clothes, and I’ve stained all My clothes. For the day of judgment was in My heart, and the year of My saving grace is come. I looked, and there was no one to help you; and I wondered that there was no one to strengthen you. So by My own power, I brought My saving grace; and My great anger strengthened Me. I stomped down the nations in My anger, and made them drunk in My great anger, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.

[7-14] I’ll tell you of the loving kindnesses of Yahweh, and the praises of Yahweh, according to all that Yahweh has done for us, and the great goodness done toward the family of Israel, which God has done to us with mercy, and with great loving kindnesses. God said, Without a doubt, they’re My people, children who won’t be unfaithful, so God was our Savior. In all our trouble, You were troubled, and the angel of the presence of God saved us; In love and pity, You saved us; and helped us, and carried us through all the old days. But we rebelled, and grieved Your Holy Spirit, so You became our enemy, and fought against us. Then You remembered the old days, Moses and Your people, saying, Where is the one who brought us up out of the sea with the shepherds of the flock? Who put Your Holy Spirit in us? Whose power saved us as Moses lifted his hands? Who divided the waters before us, to make the Name of God an everlasting name? Who led us through the depths, as a horse in the countryside, so that they didn’t trip? As the livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of Yahweh caused us to rest; so You led your people, to make Yourself a wonderful Name.

[15-19] Look down from heaven, and see from the place of Your holiness and of Your glory. Where are Your passion and Your acts of strength? The longing of Your heart and Your compassion is kept from me. You are Who we are from, though Abraham doesn’t know us, andIsraeldoesn’t acknowledge us; Yes, You, Yahweh, are Who we are from; You’re the God who saves us. Your Name will be remembered forever. O Yahweh, why do You make us stray from Your ways, and harden our hearts from Your fear? Come back for Your workers’ sake, Your family. Your holy people had it but a little while. Our enemies have stomped down Your safe haven. We’ve become like those whom You’ve never ruled, as those who weren’t called by Your Name.

64[1-4] Oh that you would open the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence, as when fire burns the wood, and makes water boil; to make Your Name known to Your enemies, that the nations may shake in fear at your presence! When you did terrible things which we never thought You’d do, You came down, and the mountains quaked at Your presence. Human beings have never heard, nor understood by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides you, who works for those who waits for God to save them.

[5-7] You meet those who celebrate and do what’s right, those who remember You in Your ways. Look, You were angry, and we sinned. We’ve been sinning a long time; and will we still be saved? For we’ve all become unfit, and all our goodness is like filthy clothes. We all fade as a leaf; and our wrongdoings, like the wind, will take us away. There’s no one who calls on Your Name, who troubles themselves to find You; You’ve hid Your face from us, and destroyed us by our own wrongdoings.

[8-12] But now, Yahweh, You are our Creator. We are the clay, and You are our potter; and we all are the work of Your hand. Don’t be very angry, Yahweh, nor remember our sin forever; see, look, we beg you; we are all Your people. Your holy cities are deserted, Zion (Jerusalem) is deserted like a countryside. Our holy and beautiful house of worship, where our ancestors praised You, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant places are destroyed. Will You keep yourself from punishing us for these things, Yahweh? Or will You keep silent, and trouble us much more?

65[1-5] I am asked for by those who didn’t ask; I am found by those who didn’t look for Me. I said, Look at Me, look at Me, to a nation that was not called by My name. I’ve spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who act in a way that isn’t good, following their own thoughts; a people who continually provoke Me to My face, worshiping in the gardens and burning incense on the altars of false gods; who go to graves and secret places to talk to the dead; who eat pig’s meat, and broth of things that aren’t good; who say, Stay away, don’t come near me, for I am holier than you. These are smoke in My nose, a fire that burns all day long.

[6-12] Look, it’s been written before about Me: I won’t keep silence, but I’ll repay, yes, I’ll repay you for your own sins, and the sins of your ancestors together, says Yahweh, who have burned incense on the mountains, and disrespected Me on the hills by worshipping your false gods. So I’ll repay them for what they’ve done first. Yahweh says this, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and someone says, Don’t destroy it, for there’s still a blessing in it, so I’ll do for My workers’ sake, that I won’t destroy them all. I’ll give children to the families of Jacob (Israel), and Judah (southern Israel) will get My mountains; My chosen people will inherit it, and My workers will live there. Sharon (near Jaffa on the Mediterranean coast) will be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor (near Jericho) a place for herds to lie down in, for My people who have followed Me. But you who forget Yahweh, who leave My holy mountain, who eat meat and drink alcohol for Gad and Meni, (the false gods of luck or fortune and fate or destiny); I’ll destine you to be killed, and your fortune will be to bow down to die; because when I called, you didn’t answer; when I spoke, you didn’t hear; but you did what was evil in My eyes, and chose to do that which I didn’t enjoy.

[13-16] So Yahweh God says this, Look, My workers will eat, but you’ll be hungry; Look, My workers will drink, but you’ll be thirsty; Look, My workers will celebrate, but you’ll be ashamed; Look, My workers will sing for joy, but you’ll cry for sorrow of heart, and scream for the trouble of your spirit. You’ll leave Your Name for a curse to My chosen ones; and Yahweh God will kill you; and call the workers of God by another name (Christians).  So that those who bless themselves in the earth will bless themselves in the God of truth; and those who make promises in the earth will promise by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and they’re hid from My eyes.

[17-20] For, Look, I create a new heavens and a new earth; and the old things won’t be remembered, nor come into mind. But be happy and celebrate forever in what I create; Look, I create Jerusalem a place of celebration, and her people a happy people. I’ll celebrate inJerusalem, and be happy in My people; and the sound of crying and screaming won’t be heard there any more. There won’t be any more babies dying at just a few days old, nor will an old person not live out their days; a hundred years old will be young, and if a sinner reaches a hundred years old, they’ll be punished.

[21-25] They’ll build houses, and live in them; and they’ll plant gardens, and eat what they grow. They won’t build, and someone else live in it; They won’t plant, and someone else eat it. My people will live as long as the trees and My chosen ones will enjoy the work of their hands for a long time. They won’t work for nothing, nor have children that will die; for they and their children are blessed by Yahweh. Before they call, I’ll answer them; and while they’re still speaking, I’ll hear them. The wolf and the lamb will eat together, and the lion will eat straw like the cow; and dust will be the snake’s food. They won’t hurt nor kill anything in all My holy mountain, says Yahweh.

66[1-6] Yahweh says this, heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build to Me? and what will be My place of rest? I’ve made all these things, and so all these things came to be, says Yahweh. But I’ll watch over those who are poor and have a sorrowful spirit, and who shake in fear at My word. Those who kill a cow are like those who kill a human being; those who sacrifice a lamb, as those who break a dog’s neck; those who make an offering, as those who offer a pig’s blood; those who burn spices, as those who bless a false god. Yes, they’ve chosen their own ways, and their soul enjoys their evil ways. So I’ll also choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them; because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, no one heard; but they did what was evil in My eyes, and chose to do what I didn’t enjoy. Hear the word of Yahweh, you who shake in fear at God’s Word. Your family members who hate you, who threw you out for My Name’s sake, have said, “Let Yahweh be praised, that we may see your happiness;” but it’s them who will be ashamed. There’s a sound of chaos from the city, a voice from the Place of Worship, a voice of Yahweh, who brings judgment on the enemies of God.

[7-11] Before she suffered, she birthed; before her pain came, she had a child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Will a nation be born in one day? Will a nation be born at once? As soon as Zion (Jerusalem) suffered, she had her children. Will I bring to birth, and not cause a child to be born? says Yahweh. Will I, who cause birth, shut the womb? says your God. Celebrate with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her, celebrate for happiness with her, all you who mourn over her; that you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts; that you may suck, and be happy with how much milk she has.

[12-16] Yahweh says this, Look, I’ll give peace to her like a river, and she’ll be the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream. You’ll suck of it; you’ll be carried on her side, and will be bounced on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so I’ll comfort you; and you’ll be comforted inJerusalem. You’ll see it, and your heart will celebrate, and your bones will grow like the tender grass. The workers of God will know the hand of Yahweh, who will be rightfully angry with the enemies of God. Look, Yahweh will come with fire, whose vehicles will be like a tornado; to bring God’s anger with fierceness, and judgment with flames of fire. For Yahweh will bring judgment by fire, and with weapons, on all people; and Yahweh will kill many.

[17-21] Those who set themselves apart and cleanse themselves to go worship false gods in the gardens, following behind their leader, eating pig’s meat, and rats and other things that are bad for them, will be destroyed together, says Yahweh. I know their works and their thoughts. The time comes, that I’ll gather all nations and languages; and they’ll come, and see My glory. I’ll set a sign among them, and I’ll send those who escape to the nations, to Tarshish (Spain), Pul, and Lud (Libya and Lydia and other Arab-African nations), who draw their weapons, to Tubal (Turkey) and Javan (Greece), to the nations afar off, who haven’t heard of My fame, nor have seen My glory; and they’ll make Me well-known among the nations. They’ll bring all your family members out of all the nations for an offering to Yahweh, in vehicles, and on horses, mules, and camels, to My holy mountain inJerusalem, says Yahweh, as the people ofIsraelbring their offering in a clean bowl into the House of God. I’ll choose some of them for priests and workers in the Place of Worship, says Yahweh.

[22-24] For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I’ll make, will last forever before Me, says Yahweh, so your children and Your Name will last forever. From one new moon to another, and from one Seventh Day to another, all people will come to worship before Me, says Yahweh. They’ll go out, and look on the dead bodies of those who have sinned against Me, whose maggots won’t ever die out, nor will their fire be put out; and they’ll be hated by all people.