חֲזוֹן֙ יְשַֽׁעְיָ֣הוּ בֶן־אָמ֔וֹץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָזָ֔ה עַל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירֽוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם בִּימֵ֨י עֻזִּיָּ֧הוּ יוֹתָ֛ם אָחָ֥ז יְחִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ מַלְכֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃ The prophecies of Isaiah son of Amoz, who prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

שִׁמְע֤וּ שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְהַאֲזִ֣ינִי אֶ֔רֶץ כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבֵּ֑ר בָּנִים֙ גִּדַּ֣לְתִּי וְרוֹמַ֔מְתִּי וְהֵ֖ם פָּ֥שְׁעוּ בִֽי׃ Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth,
For GOD has spoken:
“I reared children and brought them up—
And they have rebelled against Me!

יָדַ֥ע שׁוֹר֙ קֹנֵ֔הוּ וַחֲמ֖וֹר אֵב֣וּס בְּעָלָ֑יו יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔ע עַמִּ֖י לֹ֥א הִתְבּוֹנָֽן׃ An ox knows its owner,
A donkey its master’s crib:
Israel does not know,
My people takes no thought.”

ה֣וֹי ׀ גּ֣וֹי חֹטֵ֗א עַ֚ם כֶּ֣בֶד עָוֺ֔ן זֶ֣רַע מְרֵעִ֔ים בָּנִ֖ים מַשְׁחִיתִ֑ים עָזְב֣וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֗ה נִֽאֲצ֛וּ אֶת־קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נָזֹ֥רוּ אָחֽוֹר׃ Ah, sinful nation!
People laden with iniquity!
Brood of evildoers!
Depraved children!
They have forsaken GOD,
Spurned the Holy One of Israel,
Turned their backs.

עַ֣ל מֶ֥ה תֻכּ֛וּ ע֖וֹד תּוֹסִ֣יפוּ סָרָ֑ה כׇּל־רֹ֣אשׁ לׇֽחֳלִ֔י וְכׇל־לֵבָ֖ב דַּוָּֽי׃ Why do you seek further beatings,
That you continue to offend?
Every head is ailing,
And every heart is sick.

מִכַּף־רֶ֤גֶל וְעַד־רֹאשׁ֙ אֵֽין־בּ֣וֹ מְתֹ֔ם פֶּ֥צַע וְחַבּוּרָ֖ה וּמַכָּ֣ה טְרִיָּ֑ה לֹא־זֹ֙רוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א חֻבָּ֔שׁוּ וְלֹ֥א רֻכְּכָ֖ה בַּשָּֽׁמֶן׃ From head to foot
No spot is sound:
All bruises, and welts,
And festering sores—
Not pressed out, not bound up,
Not softened with oil.

אַרְצְכֶ֣ם שְׁמָמָ֔ה עָרֵיכֶ֖ם שְׂרֻפ֣וֹת אֵ֑שׁ אַדְמַתְכֶ֗ם לְנֶגְדְּכֶם֙ זָרִים֙ אֹכְלִ֣ים אֹתָ֔הּ וּשְׁמָמָ֖ה כְּמַהְפֵּכַ֥ת זָרִֽים׃ Your land is a waste,
Your cities burnt down;
Before your eyes, the yield of your soil
Is consumed by strangers—
A wasteland as overthrown by strangers!^aas overthrown by strangers Emendation yields “like Sodom overthrown.”

וְנוֹתְרָ֥ה בַת־צִיּ֖וֹן כְּסֻכָּ֣ה בְכָ֑רֶם כִּמְלוּנָ֥ה בְמִקְשָׁ֖ה כְּעִ֥יר נְצוּרָֽה׃ Fair^bFair Lit. “Daughter.” Zion is left
Like a booth in a vineyard,
Like a hut in a cucumber field,
Like a city beleaguered.

לוּלֵי֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הוֹתִ֥יר לָ֛נוּ שָׂרִ֖יד כִּמְעָ֑ט כִּסְדֹ֣ם הָיִ֔ינוּ לַעֲמֹרָ֖ה דָּמִֽינוּ׃ {פ}
Had not GOD of Hosts
Left us some survivors,
We should be like Sodom,
Another Gomorrah.

שִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה קְצִינֵ֣י סְדֹ֑ם הַאֲזִ֛ינוּ תּוֹרַ֥ת אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ עַ֥ם עֲמֹרָֽה׃ Hear the word of GOD,
You chieftains of Sodom;
Give ear to our God’s instruction,
You folk of Gomorrah!

לָמָּה־לִּ֤י רֹב־זִבְחֵיכֶם֙ יֹאמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שָׂבַ֛עְתִּי עֹל֥וֹת אֵילִ֖ים וְחֵ֣לֶב מְרִיאִ֑ים וְדַ֨ם פָּרִ֧ים וּכְבָשִׂ֛ים וְעַתּוּדִ֖ים לֹ֥א חָפָֽצְתִּי׃ “What need have I of all your sacrifices?”
Says GOD.
“I am sated with burnt offerings of rams,
And suet of fatlings,
And blood of bulls;
And I have no delight
In lambs and he-goats.

כִּ֣י תָבֹ֔אוּ לֵֽרָא֖וֹת פָּנָ֑י מִֽי־בִקֵּ֥שׁ זֹ֛את מִיֶּדְכֶ֖ם רְמֹ֥ס חֲצֵרָֽי׃ That you come to appear before Me—
Who asked that of you?
Trample My courts

לֹ֣א תוֹסִ֗יפוּ הָבִיא֙ מִנְחַת־שָׁ֔וְא קְטֹ֧רֶת תּוֹעֵבָ֛ה הִ֖יא לִ֑י חֹ֤דֶשׁ וְשַׁבָּת֙ קְרֹ֣א מִקְרָ֔א לֹא־אוּכַ֥ל אָ֖וֶן וַֽעֲצָרָֽה׃ no more;
Bringing oblations is futile,^cof you? / Trample My courts no more; / Bringing oblations is futile In contrast to others “To trample My courts? / 13Bring no more vain oblations.”
Incense is offensive to Me.
New moon and sabbath,
Proclaiming of solemnities,
Assemblies with iniquity^dAssemblies with iniquity Septuagint “Fast and assembly”; cf. Joel 1.14.
I cannot abide.

חׇדְשֵׁיכֶ֤ם וּמֽוֹעֲדֵיכֶם֙ שָֽׂנְאָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֔י הָי֥וּ עָלַ֖י לָטֹ֑רַח נִלְאֵ֖יתִי נְשֹֽׂא׃ Your new moons and fixed seasons
Fill Me with loathing;
They are become a burden to Me,
I cannot endure them.

וּבְפָרִשְׂכֶ֣ם כַּפֵּיכֶ֗ם אַעְלִ֤ים עֵינַי֙ מִכֶּ֔ם גַּ֛ם כִּֽי־תַרְבּ֥וּ תְפִלָּ֖ה אֵינֶ֣נִּי שֹׁמֵ֑עַ יְדֵיכֶ֖ם דָּמִ֥ים מָלֵֽאוּ׃ And when you lift up your hands,
I will turn My eyes away from you;
Though you pray at length,
I will not listen.
Your hands are stained with crime—

רַֽחֲצוּ֙ הִזַּכּ֔וּ הָסִ֛ירוּ רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם מִנֶּ֣גֶד עֵינָ֑י חִדְל֖וּ הָרֵֽעַ׃ Wash yourselves clean;
Put your evil doings
Away from My sight.
Cease to do evil;

לִמְד֥וּ הֵיטֵ֛ב דִּרְשׁ֥וּ מִשְׁפָּ֖ט אַשְּׁר֣וּ חָמ֑וֹץ שִׁפְט֣וּ יָת֔וֹם רִ֖יבוּ אַלְמָנָֽה׃ {ס}         Learn to do good.
Devote yourselves to justice;
Aid the wronged.^eAid the wronged Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Uphold the rights of the orphan;
Defend the cause of the widow.

לְכוּ־נָ֛א וְנִוָּכְחָ֖ה יֹאמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה אִם־יִהְי֨וּ חֲטָאֵיכֶ֤ם כַּשָּׁנִים֙ כַּשֶּׁ֣לֶג יַלְבִּ֔ינוּ אִם־יַאְדִּ֥ימוּ כַתּוֹלָ֖ע כַּצֶּ֥מֶר יִֽהְיֽוּ׃ “Come, let us reach an understanding,^flet us reach an understanding Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
—says GOD.
Be your sins like crimson,
They can turn snow-white;
Be they red as dyed wool,
They can become like fleece.”

אִם־תֹּאב֖וּ וּשְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם ט֥וּב הָאָ֖רֶץ תֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃ If, then, you agree and give heed,
You will eat the good things of the earth;

וְאִם־תְּמָאֲנ֖וּ וּמְרִיתֶ֑ם חֶ֣רֶב תְּאֻכְּל֔וּ כִּ֛י פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃ {פ}
But if you refuse and disobey,
You will be devoured [by] the sword.^gYou will be devoured [by] the sword Or “you will be fed the sword.” —
For it was GOD who spoke.

אֵיכָה֙ הָיְתָ֣ה לְזוֹנָ֔ה קִרְיָ֖ה נֶאֱמָנָ֑ה מְלֵֽאֲתִ֣י מִשְׁפָּ֗ט צֶ֛דֶק יָלִ֥ין בָּ֖הּ וְעַתָּ֥ה מְרַצְּחִֽים׃ Alas, she has become a whore,
The faithful city
That was filled with justice,
Where righteousness dwelt—
But now murderers.

כַּסְפֵּ֖ךְ הָיָ֣ה לְסִיגִ֑ים סׇבְאֵ֖ךְ מָה֥וּל בַּמָּֽיִם׃ Your^hYour I.e., Jerusalem’s. silver has turned to dross;
Your wine is cut with water.ⁱYour wine is cut with water Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

שָׂרַ֣יִךְ סוֹרְרִ֗ים וְחַבְרֵי֙ גַּנָּבִ֔ים כֻּלּוֹ֙ אֹהֵ֣ב שֹׁ֔חַד וְרֹדֵ֖ף שַׁלְמֹנִ֑ים יָתוֹם֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁפֹּ֔טוּ וְרִ֥יב אַלְמָנָ֖ה לֹא־יָב֥וֹא אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ {ס}         Your rulers are rogues
And cronies of thieves,
Every one avid for presents
And greedy for gifts;
They do not judge the case of the orphan,
And the widow’s cause never reaches them.

לָכֵ֗ן נְאֻ֤ם הָאָדוֹן֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת אֲבִ֖יר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ה֚וֹי אֶנָּחֵ֣ם מִצָּרַ֔י וְאִנָּקְמָ֖ה מֵאוֹיְבָֽי׃ Assuredly, this is the declaration
Of the Sovereign, GOD of Hosts,
The Mighty One of Israel:
“Ah, I will get satisfaction from My foes;
I will wreak vengeance on My enemies!

וְאָשִׁ֤יבָה יָדִי֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ וְאֶצְרֹ֥ף כַּבֹּ֖ר סִיגָ֑יִךְ וְאָסִ֖ירָה כׇּל־בְּדִילָֽיִךְ׃ I will turn My hand against you,
And smelt out your dross as with lye,^jas with lye Emendation yields “in a crucible”; cf. 48.10.
And remove all your slag:

וְאָשִׁ֤יבָה שֹׁפְטַ֙יִךְ֙ כְּבָרִ֣אשֹׁנָ֔ה וְיֹעֲצַ֖יִךְ כְּבַתְּחִלָּ֑ה אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן יִקָּ֤רֵא לָךְ֙ עִ֣יר הַצֶּ֔דֶק קִרְיָ֖ה נֶאֱמָנָֽה׃ I will restore your magistrates as of old,
And your counselors as of yore.
After that you shall be called
City of Righteousness, Faithful City.”

צִיּ֖וֹן בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט תִּפָּדֶ֑ה וְשָׁבֶ֖יהָ בִּצְדָקָֽה׃ ^kIn contrast to others “Zion shall be saved by justice, / Her repentant ones by righteousness.” Zion shall be saved in the judgment;
Her repentant ones, in the retribution.^lretribution For this meaning cf. 5.16; 10.22.

וְשֶׁ֧בֶר פֹּשְׁעִ֛ים וְחַטָּאִ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו וְעֹזְבֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה יִכְלֽוּ׃ But rebels and sinners shall all be crushed,
And those who forsake GOD shall perish.

כִּ֣י יֵבֹ֔שׁוּ מֵאֵילִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר חֲמַדְתֶּ֑ם וְתַ֨חְפְּר֔וּ מֵהַגַּנּ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּחַרְתֶּֽם׃ Truly, you^myou Heb. “they.” shall be shamed
Because of the terebinths you desired,
And you shall be confounded
Because of the gardens you coveted.

כִּ֣י תִֽהְי֔וּ כְּאֵלָ֖ה נֹבֶ֣לֶת עָלֶ֑הָ וּֽכְגַנָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־מַ֖יִם אֵ֥ין לָֽהּ׃ For you shall be like a terebinth
Wilted of leaf,
And like a garden
That has no water,

וְהָיָ֤ה הֶחָסֹן֙ לִנְעֹ֔רֶת וּפֹעֲל֖וֹ לְנִיצ֑וֹץ וּבָעֲר֧וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם יַחְדָּ֖ו וְאֵ֥ין מְכַבֶּֽה׃ {פ}
Stored wealthⁿStored wealth Connecting ḥason with ḥasan “to store” (23.18), and ḥosen “treasure” (33.6). shall become as tow,
And he who amassed it a spark;
And the two shall burn together,
With none to quench.

הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָזָ֔ה יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־אָמ֑וֹץ עַל־יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירֽוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ The word that Isaiah son of Amoz prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בְּאַחֲרִ֣ית הַיָּמִ֗ים נָכ֨וֹן יִֽהְיֶ֜ה הַ֤ר בֵּית־יְהֹוָה֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הֶהָרִ֔ים וְנִשָּׂ֖א מִגְּבָע֑וֹת וְנָהֲר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִֽם׃ In the days to come,
The Mount of GOD’s House
Shall stand firm above the mountains
And tower above the hills;
And all the nations
Shall gaze on it with joy.

וְֽהָלְכ֞וּ עַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ לְכ֣וּ ׀ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה אֶל־הַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־בֵּית֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְיֹרֵ֙נוּ֙ מִדְּרָכָ֔יו וְנֵלְכָ֖ה בְּאֹרְחֹתָ֑יו כִּ֤י מִצִּיּוֹן֙ תֵּצֵ֣א תוֹרָ֔ה וּדְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה מִירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ And the many peoples shall go and say:
“Come,
Let us go up to the Mount of GOD,
To the House of the God of Jacob;
That we may be instructed in God’s ways,
And that we may walk in God’s paths.”
For instruction shall come forth^ainstruction shall come forth I.e., oracles will be obtainable. from Zion,
The word of GOD from Jerusalem.

וְשָׁפַט֙ בֵּ֣ין הַגּוֹיִ֔ם וְהוֹכִ֖יחַ לְעַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים וְכִתְּת֨וּ חַרְבוֹתָ֜ם לְאִתִּ֗ים וַחֲנִיתֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ לְמַזְמֵר֔וֹת לֹא־יִשָּׂ֨א ג֤וֹי אֶל־גּוֹי֙ חֶ֔רֶב וְלֹֽא־יִלְמְד֥וּ ע֖וֹד מִלְחָמָֽה׃ {פ}
Thus [God] will judge among the nations
And arbitrate for the many peoples,
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares^bplowshares More exactly, the iron points with which wooden plows were tipped.
And their spears into pruning hooks:
Nation shall not take up
Sword against nation;
They shall never again know^cknow Cf. Judg. 3.2. war.

בֵּ֖ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב לְכ֥וּ וְנֵלְכָ֖ה בְּא֥וֹר יְהֹוָֽה׃ O House of Jacob!
Come, let us walk
By the light of GOD.

כִּ֣י נָטַ֗שְׁתָּה עַמְּךָ֙ בֵּ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֔ב כִּ֤י מָֽלְאוּ֙ מִקֶּ֔דֶם וְעֹנְנִ֖ים כַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וּבְיַלְדֵ֥י נׇכְרִ֖ים יַשְׂפִּֽיקוּ׃ For you have forsaken [the ways of] your people,
O House of Jacob!
For they are full [of practices] from the East,
And of soothsaying like the Philistines;
They abound in customs^dcustoms Cf. Targum; lit. “children.” of the aliens.^eFor they are full [of practices] from the East, / And of soothsaying like the Philistines; / They abound in customs of the aliens Emendation yields “For they are full of divination / and have abundance of soothsaying, / Like Philistines / And like alien folk.”

וַתִּמָּלֵ֤א אַרְצוֹ֙ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב וְאֵ֥ין קֵ֖צֶה לְאֹצְרֹתָ֑יו וַתִּמָּלֵ֤א אַרְצוֹ֙ סוּסִ֔ים וְאֵ֥ין קֵ֖צֶה לְמַרְכְּבֹתָֽיו׃ Their land is full of silver and gold,
There is no limit to their treasures;
Their land is full of horses,
There is no limit to their chariots.

וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א אַרְצ֖וֹ אֱלִילִ֑ים לְמַעֲשֵׂ֤ה יָדָיו֙ יִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֔וּ לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשׂ֖וּ אֶצְבְּעֹתָֽיו׃ And their land is full of idols;
They bow down to the work of their hands,
To what their own fingers have wrought.

וַיִּשַּׁ֥ח אָדָ֖ם וַיִּשְׁפַּל־אִ֑ישׁ וְאַל־תִּשָּׂ֖א לָהֶֽם׃ But human shall be humbled,
And mortal brought low—
Oh, do not forgive them!^fOh, do not forgive them Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “And their idols with them”; cf. vv. 17–21.

בּ֣וֹא בַצּ֔וּר וְהִטָּמֵ֖ן בֶּעָפָ֑ר מִפְּנֵי֙ פַּ֣חַד יְהֹוָ֔ה וּמֵהֲדַ֖ר גְּאֹנֽוֹ׃ Go deep into the rock,
Bury yourselves in the ground,
Before the terror of GOD
And God’s dread majesty!

עֵינֵ֞י גַּבְה֤וּת אָדָם֙ שָׁפֵ֔ל וְשַׁ֖ח ר֣וּם אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְנִשְׂגַּ֧ב יְהֹוָ֛ה לְבַדּ֖וֹ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃ {פ}
The haughty look of humans shall be brought low,
And the pride of mortals shall be humbled.
None but GOD shall be
Exalted in that day.

כִּ֣י י֞וֹם לַיהֹוָ֧ה צְבָא֛וֹת עַ֥ל כׇּל־גֵּאֶ֖ה וָרָ֑ם וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־נִשָּׂ֥א וְשָׁפֵֽל׃ For GOD of Hosts has ready a day
Against all that is proud and arrogant,
Against all that is lofty—so that it is brought low:

וְעַל֙ כׇּל־אַרְזֵ֣י הַלְּבָנ֔וֹן הָרָמִ֖ים וְהַנִּשָּׂאִ֑ים וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־אַלּוֹנֵ֥י הַבָּשָֽׁן׃ Against all the cedars of Lebanon,
Tall and stately,
And all the oaks of Bashan;

וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־הֶהָרִ֣ים הָרָמִ֑ים וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־הַגְּבָע֥וֹת הַנִּשָּׂאֽוֹת׃ Against all the high mountains
And all the lofty hills;

וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־מִגְדָּ֣ל גָּבֹ֑הַּ וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־חוֹמָ֥ה בְצוּרָֽה׃ Against every soaring tower
And every mighty wall;

וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ וְעַ֖ל כׇּל־שְׂכִיּ֥וֹת הַחֶמְדָּֽה׃ Against all the ships of Tarshish^gships of Tarshish Probably a type of large ship.
And all the gallant barks.

וְשַׁח֙ גַּבְה֣וּת הָאָדָ֔ם וְשָׁפֵ֖ל ר֣וּם אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְנִשְׂגַּ֧ב יְהֹוָ֛ה לְבַדּ֖וֹ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃ Then human haughtiness shall be humbled
And the pride of mortals brought low.
None but GOD shall be
Exalted in that day.

וְהָאֱלִילִ֖ים כָּלִ֥יל יַחֲלֹֽף׃ As for idols, they shall vanish completely.

וּבָ֙אוּ֙ בִּמְעָר֣וֹת צֻרִ֔ים וּבִמְחִלּ֖וֹת עָפָ֑ר מִפְּנֵ֞י פַּ֤חַד יְהֹוָה֙ וּמֵהֲדַ֣ר גְּאוֹנ֔וֹ בְּקוּמ֖וֹ לַעֲרֹ֥ץ הָאָֽרֶץ׃ And people shall enter caverns in the rock
And hollows in the ground—
Before the terror of GOD
And God’s dread majesty,
When [the Holy One] comes forth to overawe the earth.

בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ יַשְׁלִ֣יךְ הָאָדָ֔ם אֵ֚ת אֱלִילֵ֣י כַסְפּ֔וֹ וְאֵ֖ת אֱלִילֵ֣י זְהָב֑וֹ אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָֽשׂוּ־לוֹ֙ לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֔ת לַחְפֹּ֥ר פֵּר֖וֹת וְלָעֲטַלֵּפִֽים׃ On that day, humans shall fling away,
To the flying foxes^hflying foxes Exact meaning of Heb. uncertain. and the bats,
The idols of silver
And the idols of gold
Which they made for worshiping.

לָבוֹא֙ בְּנִקְר֣וֹת הַצֻּרִ֔ים וּבִסְעִפֵ֖י הַסְּלָעִ֑ים מִפְּנֵ֞י פַּ֤חַד יְהֹוָה֙ וּמֵהֲדַ֣ר גְּאוֹנ֔וֹ בְּקוּמ֖וֹ לַעֲרֹ֥ץ הָאָֽרֶץ׃ And they shall enter the clefts in the rocks
And the crevices in the cliffs,
Before the terror of GOD
And God’s dread majesty,
When [the Holy One] comes forth to overawe the earth.

חִדְל֤וּ לָכֶם֙ מִן־הָ֣אָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר נְשָׁמָ֖ה בְּאַפּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־בַמֶּ֥ה נֶחְשָׁ֖ב הֽוּא׃ {פ}
Oh, cease to glorify human beings,
Who have only a breath in their nostrils!
For by what do they merit esteem?

כִּי֩ הִנֵּ֨ה הָאָד֜וֹן יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת מֵסִ֤יר מִירוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ וּמִ֣יהוּדָ֔ה מַשְׁעֵ֖ן וּמַשְׁעֵנָ֑ה כֹּ֚ל מִשְׁעַן־לֶ֔חֶם וְכֹ֖ל מִשְׁעַן־מָֽיִם׃ For lo!
The Sovereign GOD of Hosts
Will remove from Jerusalem and from Judah
Prop and stay,
Every prop of food
And every prop of water:^awater Emendation yields “clothing”; cf. v. 7; 4.1.

גִּבּ֖וֹר וְאִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֑ה שׁוֹפֵ֥ט וְנָבִ֖יא וְקֹסֵ֥ם וְזָקֵֽן׃ Soldier and warrior,
Magistrate and prophet,
Augur and elder;

שַׂר־חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וּנְשׂ֣וּא פָנִ֑ים וְיוֹעֵ֛ץ וַחֲכַ֥ם חֲרָשִׁ֖ים וּנְב֥וֹן לָֽחַשׁ׃ Captain of fifty,
Magnate and counselor,
Skilled artisan and expert enchanter;^benchanter Emendation yields “craftsman.”

וְנָתַתִּ֥י נְעָרִ֖ים שָׂרֵיהֶ֑ם וְתַעֲלוּלִ֖ים יִמְשְׁלוּ־בָֽם׃ And I^cI I.e., GOD. will make boys their rulers,
And babes shall govern them.

וְנִגַּ֣שׂ הָעָ֔ם אִ֥ישׁ בְּאִ֖ישׁ וְאִ֣ישׁ בְּרֵעֵ֑הוּ יִרְהֲב֗וּ הַנַּ֙עַר֙ בַּזָּקֵ֔ן וְהַנִּקְלֶ֖ה בַּנִּכְבָּֽד׃ So the people shall oppress one another—
Each man oppressing his fellow:
The youth shall bully the elder;
And the despised [shall bully] the honored.

כִּי־יִתְפֹּ֨שׂ אִ֤ישׁ בְּאָחִיו֙ בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יו שִׂמְלָ֣ה לְכָ֔ה קָצִ֖ין תִּֽהְיֶה־לָּ֑נוּ וְהַמַּכְשֵׁלָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את תַּ֥חַת יָדֶֽךָ׃ For should a man seize his brother,^dbrother Or “kinsman.”
In whose father’s house there is clothing:^eIn whose father’s house there is clothing Emendation yields “His father’s son, saying…”
“Come, be a chief over us,
And let this ruin^fruin Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “wound.” be under your care,”

יִשָּׂא֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַה֤וּא ׀ לֵאמֹר֙ לֹא־אֶהְיֶ֣ה חֹבֵ֔שׁ וּבְבֵיתִ֕י אֵ֥ין לֶ֖חֶם וְאֵ֣ין שִׂמְלָ֑ה לֹ֥א תְשִׂימֻ֖נִי קְצִ֥ין עָֽם׃ The other will thereupon protest,
“I will not be a dresser of wounds,
With no food or clothing in my own house.
You shall not make me chief of a people!”

כִּ֤י כָֽשְׁלָה֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וִיהוּדָ֖ה נָפָ֑ל כִּֽי־לְשׁוֹנָ֤ם וּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶם֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה לַמְר֖וֹת עֵנֵ֥י כְבוֹדֽוֹ׃ Ah, Jerusalem has stumbled,
And Judah has fallen,
Because by word and deed
They insult GOD,
Defying God’s majestic glance.

הַכָּרַ֤ת פְּנֵיהֶם֙ עָ֣נְתָה בָּ֔ם וְחַטָּאתָ֛ם כִּסְדֹ֥ם הִגִּ֖ידוּ לֹ֣א כִחֵ֑דוּ א֣וֹי לְנַפְשָׁ֔ם כִּי־גָמְל֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם רָעָֽה׃ Their partiality in judgment^gjudgment So Targum; cf. Deut. 1.17; 16.19. accuses them;
They avow their sins like Sodom,
They do not conceal them.
Woe to them! For ill
Have they served themselves.

אִמְר֥וּ צַדִּ֖יק כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּֽי־פְרִ֥י מַעַלְלֵיהֶ֖ם יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ (Hail^hHail Emendation yields “Happy is.” the righteous, for they shall fare well;
They shall eat the fruit of their works.

א֖וֹי לְרָשָׁ֣ע רָ֑ע כִּֽי־גְמ֥וּל יָדָ֖יו יֵעָ֥שֶׂה לּֽוֹ׃ Woe to the wicked, for they shall fare ill;
As their hands have dealt, so shall it be done to them.)

עַמִּי֙ נֹגְשָׂ֣יו מְעוֹלֵ֔ל וְנָשִׁ֖ים מָ֣שְׁלוּ ב֑וֹ עַמִּי֙ מְאַשְּׁרֶ֣יךָ מַתְעִ֔ים וְדֶ֥רֶךְ אֹרְחֹתֶ֖יךָ בִּלֵּֽעוּ׃ {פ}
My people’s rulers are babes,
It is governed by women.ⁱbabes…women Emendation yields the parallel terms “babes…boys”; cf. v. 4 (and v. 5). Alternatively, emendation yields “oppressors…usurers”; cf. Septuagint.
O my people!
Your leaders are misleaders;
They have confused the course of your paths.

נִצָּ֥ב לָרִ֖יב יְהֹוָ֑ה וְעֹמֵ֖ד לָדִ֥ין עַמִּֽים׃ GOD stands up to plead a cause,
And rises to champion peoples.^jpeoples Septuagint “His people”; cf. vv. 14, 15.

יְהֹוָה֙ בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט יָב֔וֹא עִם־זִקְנֵ֥י עַמּ֖וֹ וְשָׂרָ֑יו וְאַתֶּם֙ בִּעַרְתֶּ֣ם הַכֶּ֔רֶם גְּזֵלַ֥ת הֶעָנִ֖י בְּבָתֵּיכֶֽם׃ GOD will bring this charge
Against the elders and officers of this covenanted people:
“It is you who have ravaged the vineyard;
That which was robbed from the poor is in your houses.

(מלכם) [מַה־לָּכֶם֙] תְּדַכְּא֣וּ עַמִּ֔י וּפְנֵ֥י עֲנִיִּ֖ים תִּטְחָ֑נוּ נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִ֖ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ {ס}         How dare you crush My people
And grind the faces of the poor?”
—says my Sovereign GOD of Hosts.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה יַ֚עַן כִּ֤י גָֽבְהוּ֙ בְּנ֣וֹת צִיּ֔וֹן וַתֵּלַ֙כְנָה֙ (נטוות) [נְטוּי֣וֹת] גָּר֔וֹן וּֽמְשַׂקְּר֖וֹת עֵינָ֑יִם הָל֤וֹךְ וְטָפֹף֙ תֵּלַ֔כְנָה וּבְרַגְלֵיהֶ֖ם תְּעַכַּֽסְנָה׃ GOD said:
“Because the daughters of Zion
Are so vain
And walk with heads thrown back,^kheads thrown back Lit. “throats bent back.”
With roving eyes,
And with mincing gait,
Making a tinkling with their feet”—

וְשִׂפַּ֣ח אֲדֹנָ֔י קׇדְקֹ֖ד בְּנ֣וֹת צִיּ֑וֹן וַיהֹוָ֖ה פׇּתְהֵ֥ן יְעָרֶֽה׃ {ס}         My Sovereign will bare^lbare So Saadia. Apparently, to bare a woman’s head in public was an intolerable humiliation; cf. Mishnah Baba Kamma 8.6. the pates
Of the daughters of Zion,
GOD will uncover their heads.

בַּיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא יָסִ֣יר אֲדֹנָ֗י אֵ֣ת תִּפְאֶ֧רֶת הָעֲכָסִ֛ים וְהַשְּׁבִיסִ֖ים וְהַשַּׂהֲרֹנִֽים׃ In that day, my Sovereign will strip off the finery^mfinery Many of the articles named in vv. 18–24 cannot be identified with certainty. of the anklets, the fillets, and the crescents;

הַנְּטִפ֥וֹת וְהַשֵּׁיר֖וֹת וְהָרְעָלֽוֹת׃ of the eardrops, the bracelets, and the veils;

הַפְּאֵרִ֤ים וְהַצְּעָדוֹת֙ וְהַקִּשֻּׁרִ֔ים וּבָתֵּ֥י הַנֶּ֖פֶשׁ וְהַלְּחָשִֽׁים׃ the turbans, the armlets, and the sashes; of the talismans and the amulets;

הַטַּבָּע֖וֹת וְנִזְמֵ֥י הָאָֽף׃ the signet rings and the nose rings;

הַמַּֽחֲלָצוֹת֙ וְהַמַּ֣עֲטָפ֔וֹת וְהַמִּטְפָּח֖וֹת וְהָחֲרִיטִֽים׃ of the festive robes, the mantles, and the shawls; the purses,

וְהַגִּלְיֹנִים֙ וְהַסְּדִינִ֔ים וְהַצְּנִיפ֖וֹת וְהָרְדִידִֽים׃ the lace gowns, and the linen vests; and the kerchiefs and the capes.

וְהָיָה֩ תַ֨חַת בֹּ֜שֶׂם מַ֣ק יִֽהְיֶ֗ה וְתַ֨חַת חֲגוֹרָ֤ה נִקְפָּה֙ וְתַ֨חַת מַעֲשֶׂ֤ה מִקְשֶׁה֙ קׇרְחָ֔ה וְתַ֥חַת פְּתִיגִ֖יל מַֽחֲגֹ֣רֶת שָׂ֑ק כִּי־תַ֖חַת יֹֽפִי׃ And then—
Instead of perfume, there shall be rot;
And instead of an apron, a rope;
Instead of a diadem of beaten-work,
A shorn head;
Instead of a rich robe,
A girding of sackcloth;
A burn instead of beauty.ⁿA burn instead of beauty The complete Isaiah scroll from Qumran, hereafter 1QIsᵃ, reads “For shame shall take the place of beauty”; cf. note at v. 17.

מְתַ֖יִךְ בַּחֶ֣רֶב יִפֹּ֑לוּ וּגְבוּרָתֵ֖ךְ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ Her^oHer I.e., Zion’s; cf. vv. 16, 17; Heb. “your.” men shall fall by the sword,
Her force, in battle;

וְאָנ֥וּ וְאָבְל֖וּ פְּתָחֶ֑יהָ וְנִקָּ֖תָה לָאָ֥רֶץ תֵּשֵֽׁב׃ And her gates shall lament and mourn,
And she shall be emptied,^pshe shall be emptied Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “her wall”; cf. Lam. 2.8.
Shall sit on the ground.

וְהֶחֱזִ֩יקוּ֩ שֶׁ֨בַע נָשִׁ֜ים בְּאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֗ד בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לַחְמֵ֣נוּ נֹאכֵ֔ל וְשִׂמְלָתֵ֖נוּ נִלְבָּ֑שׁ רַ֗ק יִקָּרֵ֤א שִׁמְךָ֙ עָלֵ֔ינוּ אֱסֹ֖ף חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ׃ {ס}         In that day, seven women shall take hold of one man, saying,
“We will eat our own food
And wear our own clothes;
Only let us be called by your name—
Take away our disgrace!”

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִֽהְיֶה֙ צֶ֣מַח יְהֹוָ֔ה לִצְבִ֖י וּלְכָב֑וֹד וּפְרִ֤י הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ לְגָא֣וֹן וּלְתִפְאֶ֔רֶת לִפְלֵיטַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ^aFor the interpretation of this verse, cf. 28.5. For “radiance,” cf. Septuagint and the Syriac ṣemḥa, and for “splendor,” cf. the meaning of peri in 10.12. In that day,
GOD’s radiance
Will lend beauty and glory,
And the splendor of the land^bthe land Emendation yields “my Sovereign”; cf. the parallelism (in reverse order) in 3.17.
[Will give] dignity and majesty,
To the survivors of Israel.

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ הַנִּשְׁאָ֣ר בְּצִיּ֗וֹן וְהַנּוֹתָר֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם קָד֖וֹשׁ יֵאָ֣מֶר ל֑וֹ כׇּל־הַכָּת֥וּב לַחַיִּ֖ים בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ And those who remain in Zion
And are left in Jerusalem—
All who are inscribed for life in Jerusalem—
Shall be called holy.

אִ֣ם ׀ רָחַ֣ץ אֲדֹנָ֗י אֵ֚ת צֹאַ֣ת בְּנוֹת־צִיּ֔וֹן וְאֶת־דְּמֵ֥י יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם יָדִ֣יחַ מִקִּרְבָּ֑הּ בְּר֥וּחַ מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּבְר֥וּחַ בָּעֵֽר׃ When the Sovereign has washed away
The filth of the daughters of Zion,^cthe daughters of Zion Emendation yields “Daughter Zion,” i.e., Zion personified; cf. 1.8 and note.
And from Jerusalem’s midst
Has rinsed out her infamy—
In a spirit of judgment
And in a spirit of purging—

וּבָרָ֣א יְהֹוָ֡ה עַל֩ כׇּל־מְכ֨וֹן הַר־צִיּ֜וֹן וְעַל־מִקְרָאֶ֗הָ עָנָ֤ן ׀ יוֹמָם֙ וְעָשָׁ֔ן וְנֹ֛גַהּ אֵ֥שׁ לֶהָבָ֖ה לָ֑יְלָה כִּ֥י עַל־כׇּל־כָּב֖וֹד חֻפָּֽה׃ GOD will create^dcreate Emendation yields “spread”; cf. Ps. 105.39. over the whole shrine and meeting place of Mount Zion cloud by day and smoke with a glow of flaming fire by night. Indeed, over all the glory^eall the glory Emendation yields “God’s whole shrine.” shall hang a canopy,

וְסֻכָּ֛ה תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה לְצֵל־יוֹמָ֖ם מֵחֹ֑רֶב וּלְמַחְסֶה֙ וּלְמִסְתּ֔וֹר מִזֶּ֖רֶם וּמִמָּטָֽר׃ {פ}
which shall serve as a pavilion for shade from heat by day and as a shelter for protection against drenching rain.

אָשִׁ֤ירָה נָּא֙ לִֽידִידִ֔י שִׁירַ֥ת דּוֹדִ֖י לְכַרְמ֑וֹ כֶּ֛רֶם הָיָ֥ה לִידִידִ֖י בְּקֶ֥רֶן בֶּן־שָֽׁמֶן׃ Let me sing for my beloved
A song of my lover about his vineyard.
My beloved had a vineyard
On a fruitful hill.^aOn a fruitful hill Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וַֽיְעַזְּקֵ֣הוּ וַֽיְסַקְּלֵ֗הוּ וַיִּטָּעֵ֙הוּ֙ שֹׂרֵ֔ק וַיִּ֤בֶן מִגְדָּל֙ בְּתוֹכ֔וֹ וְגַם־יֶ֖קֶב חָצֵ֣ב בּ֑וֹ וַיְקַ֛ו לַֽעֲשׂ֥וֹת עֲנָבִ֖ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ בְּאֻשִֽׁים׃ He broke the ground, cleared it of stones,
And planted it with choice vines.
He built a watchtower inside it,
He even hewed a wine press in it;
For he hoped it would yield grapes.
Instead, it yielded wild grapes.

וְעַתָּ֛ה יוֹשֵׁ֥ב יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם וְאִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֑ה שִׁפְטוּ־נָ֕א בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵ֥ין כַּרְמִֽי׃ “Now, then,
Dwellers of Jerusalem
And citizenry of Judah,
You be the judges
Between Me and My vineyard:

מַה־לַּעֲשׂ֥וֹת עוֹד֙ לְכַרְמִ֔י וְלֹ֥א עָשִׂ֖יתִי בּ֑וֹ מַדּ֧וּעַ קִוֵּ֛יתִי לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עֲנָבִ֖ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ בְּאֻשִֽׁים׃ What more could have been done for My vineyard
That I failed to do in it?
Why, when I hoped it would yield grapes,
Did it yield wild grapes?

וְעַתָּה֙ אוֹדִיעָה־נָּ֣א אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י עֹשֶׂ֖ה לְכַרְמִ֑י הָסֵ֤ר מְשׂוּכָּתוֹ֙ וְהָיָ֣ה לְבָעֵ֔ר פָּרֹ֥ץ גְּדֵר֖וֹ וְהָיָ֥ה לְמִרְמָֽס׃ “Now I am going to tell you
What I will do to My vineyard:
I will remove its hedge,
That it may be ravaged;
I will break down its wall,
That it may be trampled.

וַאֲשִׁיתֵ֣הוּ בָתָ֗ה לֹ֤א יִזָּמֵר֙ וְלֹ֣א יֵעָדֵ֔ר וְעָלָ֥ה שָׁמִ֖יר וָשָׁ֑יִת וְעַ֤ל הֶֽעָבִים֙ אֲצַוֶּ֔ה מֵהַמְטִ֥יר עָלָ֖יו מָטָֽר׃ And I will make it a desolation;^bmake it a desolation Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
It shall not be pruned or hoed,
And it shall be overgrown with briers and thistles.
And I will command the clouds
To drop no rain on it.”

כִּ֣י כֶ֜רֶם יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה נְטַ֖ע שַׁעֲשׁוּעָ֑יו וַיְקַ֤ו לְמִשְׁפָּט֙ וְהִנֵּ֣ה מִשְׂפָּ֔ח לִצְדָקָ֖ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה צְעָקָֽה׃ {פ}
For the vineyard of GOD of Hosts
Is the House of Israel,
And the seedlings he lovingly tended
Is the citizenry of Judah.
^cThis sentence contains two word-plays: “And [God] hoped for mishpaṭ, And there is mispaḥ [exact meaning uncertain]; / For ṣedaqah, But there is ṣeʻaqah [lit. ‘outcry’].” And [God] hoped for justice,
But behold, injustice;
For equity,
But behold, iniquity!

ה֗וֹי מַגִּיעֵ֥י בַ֙יִת֙ בְּבַ֔יִת שָׂדֶ֥ה בְשָׂדֶ֖ה יַקְרִ֑יבוּ עַ֚ד אֶ֣פֶס מָק֔וֹם וְהוּשַׁבְתֶּ֥ם לְבַדְּכֶ֖ם בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃ Ah,
Those who add house to house
And join field to field,
Till there is room for none but you
To dwell in the land!

בְּאׇזְנָ֖י יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת אִם־לֹ֞א בָּתִּ֤ים רַבִּים֙ לְשַׁמָּ֣ה יִֽהְי֔וּ גְּדֹלִ֥ים וְטוֹבִ֖ים מֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵֽׁב׃ In my hearing [said] GOD of Hosts:
Surely, great houses
Shall lie forlorn,
Spacious and splendid ones
Without occupants.

כִּ֗י עֲשֶׂ֙רֶת֙ צִמְדֵּי־כֶ֔רֶם יַעֲשׂ֖וּ בַּ֣ת אֶחָ֑ת וְזֶ֥רַע חֹ֖מֶר יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֵיפָֽה׃ {ס}         For ten acres of vineyard
Shall yield just one bath,^djust one bath Of wine. The bath was the liquid equivalent of the ephah; and the ḥomer was ten baths or ephahs (Ezek. 45.11).
And a field sown with a ḥomer of seed
Shall yield a mere ephah.

ה֛וֹי מַשְׁכִּימֵ֥י בַבֹּ֖קֶר שֵׁכָ֣ר יִרְדֹּ֑פוּ מְאַחֲרֵ֣י בַנֶּ֔שֶׁף יַ֖יִן יַדְלִיקֵֽם׃ Ah,
Those who chase liquor
From early in the morning,
And till late in the evening
Are inflamed by wine!

וְהָיָ֨ה כִנּ֜וֹר וָנֶ֗בֶל תֹּ֧ף וְחָלִ֛יל וָיַ֖יִן מִשְׁתֵּיהֶ֑ם וְאֵ֨ת פֹּ֤עַל יְהֹוָה֙ לֹ֣א יַבִּ֔יטוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדָ֖יו לֹ֥א רָאֽוּ׃ Who, at their banquets,
Have^eWho, at their banquets, / Have Emendation yields “whose interests are” (mishʻehem, from shaʻah “to turn to,” 17.7, 8; 31.1). lyre and lute,
Timbrel, flute, and wine;
But who never give a thought
To the divine plan,
And take no note
Of GOD’s design.

לָכֵ֛ן גָּלָ֥ה עַמִּ֖י מִבְּלִי־דָ֑עַת וּכְבוֹדוֹ֙ מְתֵ֣י רָעָ֔ב וַהֲמוֹנ֖וֹ צִחֵ֥ה צָמָֽא׃ Assuredly,
My people will suffer exile
For not giving heed,
Its multitude victims of hunger
And its masses parched with thirst.

לָכֵ֗ן הִרְחִ֤יבָה שְּׁאוֹל֙ נַפְשָׁ֔הּ וּפָעֲרָ֥ה פִ֖יהָ לִבְלִי־חֹ֑ק וְיָרַ֨ד הֲדָרָ֧הּ וַהֲמוֹנָ֛הּ וּשְׁאוֹנָ֖הּ וְעָלֵ֥ז בָּֽהּ׃ Assuredly,
Sheol has opened wide its gullet
And parted its jaws in a measureless gape;
And down into it shall go,
That splendor and tumult,
That din and revelry.

וַיִּשַּׁ֥ח אָדָ֖ם וַיִּשְׁפַּל־אִ֑ישׁ וְעֵינֵ֥י גְבֹהִ֖ים תִּשְׁפַּֽלְנָה׃ Yea, human is bowed,
And mortal brought low;
Brought low is the pride of the haughty.

וַיִּגְבַּ֛הּ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וְהָאֵל֙ הַקָּד֔וֹשׁ נִקְדָּ֖שׁ בִּצְדָקָֽה׃ And GOD of Hosts is exalted by judgment,
The Holy God proved holy by retribution.

וְרָע֥וּ כְבָשִׂ֖ים כְּדׇבְרָ֑ם וְחׇרְב֥וֹת מֵחִ֖ים גָּרִ֥ים יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ {ס}         ^fMeaning of verse uncertain. Emendation yields “The lambs shall graze / In the pasture of the fat [rams], / And the kids shall feed / On the ranges of the stout [bucks].” The lambs and the kids are the poor, and the rams and bucks are the rich oppressors (cf. Ezek. 34.17–22). Then lambs shall graze
As in their meadows,
And strangers shall feed
On the ruins of the stout.

ה֛וֹי מֹשְׁכֵ֥י הֶעָוֺ֖ן בְּחַבְלֵ֣י הַשָּׁ֑וְא וְכַעֲב֥וֹת הָעֲגָלָ֖ה חַטָּאָֽה׃ Ah,
Those who haul sin with cords of falsehood
And iniquity as with cart ropes!

הָאֹמְרִ֗ים יְמַהֵ֧ר ׀ יָחִ֛ישָׁה מַעֲשֵׂ֖הוּ לְמַ֣עַן נִרְאֶ֑ה וְתִקְרַ֣ב וְתָב֗וֹאָה עֲצַ֛ת קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְנֵדָֽעָה׃ {פ}
Who say,^gWho say By way of retort to v. 12.
“Let [God] speed, let God’s purpose be hastened,
If we are to give thought;
Let the plans of the Holy One of Israel
Be quickly fulfilled,
If we are to give heed.”

ה֣וֹי הָאֹמְרִ֥ים לָרַ֛ע ט֖וֹב וְלַטּ֣וֹב רָ֑ע שָׂמִ֨ים חֹ֤שֶׁךְ לְאוֹר֙ וְא֣וֹר לְחֹ֔שֶׁךְ שָׂמִ֥ים מַ֛ר לְמָת֖וֹק וּמָת֥וֹק לְמָֽר׃ {ס}         Ah,
Those who call evil good
And good evil;
Who present darkness as light
And light as darkness;
Who present bitter as sweet
And sweet as bitter!

ה֖וֹי חֲכָמִ֣ים בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם וְנֶ֥גֶד פְּנֵיהֶ֖ם נְבֹנִֽים׃ {ס}         Ah,
Those who are so wise—
In their own opinion;
So clever—
In their own judgment!

ה֕וֹי גִּבּוֹרִ֖ים לִשְׁתּ֣וֹת יָ֑יִן וְאַנְשֵׁי־חַ֖יִל לִמְסֹ֥ךְ שֵׁכָֽר׃ Ah,
Those who are so doughty—
As drinkers of wine,
And so valiant—
As mixers of drink!

מַצְדִּיקֵ֥י רָשָׁ֖ע עֵ֣קֶב שֹׁ֑חַד וְצִדְקַ֥ת צַדִּיקִ֖ים יָסִ֥ירוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ {פ}
Who vindicate the one who is in the wrong
In return for a bribe,
And withhold vindication
From those who are in the right.

לָכֵן֩ כֶּֽאֱכֹ֨ל קַ֜שׁ לְשׁ֣וֹן אֵ֗שׁ וַחֲשַׁ֤שׁ לֶהָבָה֙ יִרְפֶּ֔ה שׇׁרְשָׁם֙ כַּמָּ֣ק יִֽהְיֶ֔ה וּפִרְחָ֖ם כָּאָבָ֣ק יַעֲלֶ֑ה כִּ֣י מָאֲס֗וּ אֵ֚ת תּוֹרַת֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וְאֵ֛ת אִמְרַ֥ת קְדֽוֹשׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נִאֵֽצוּ׃ Assuredly,
As straw is consumed by a tongue of fire
And hay shrivels as it burns,^hshrivels as it burns Emendation yields “is burned by flame”; cf. 33.11–12; 47.14.
Their stock shall become like rot,
And their buds shall blow away like dust.
For they have rejected the instruction of GOD of Hosts,
Spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

עַל־כֵּ֡ן חָרָה֩ אַף־יְהֹוָ֨ה בְּעַמּ֜וֹ וַיֵּ֣ט יָד֧וֹ עָלָ֣יו וַיַּכֵּ֗הוּ וַֽיִּרְגְּזוּ֙ הֶהָרִ֔ים וַתְּהִ֧י נִבְלָתָ֛ם כַּסּוּחָ֖ה בְּקֶ֣רֶב חוּצ֑וֹת בְּכׇל־זֹאת֙ לֹא־שָׁ֣ב אַפּ֔וֹ וְע֖וֹד יָד֥וֹ נְטוּיָֽה׃ That is why
GOD ’s anger was roused
Against this covenanted people,
Why God’s arm was stretched out against it
And struck it,
So that the mountains quaked,ⁱquaked An allusion to the destructive earthquake in the reign of King Uzziah: Amos 1.1; Zech. 14.5; cf. Isa. 9.18a.
And its corpses lay
Like refuse in the streets.
Yet God’s anger has not turned back,
And a divine arm is outstretched still.

וְנָֽשָׂא־נֵ֤ס לַגּוֹיִם֙ מֵרָח֔וֹק וְשָׁ֥רַק ל֖וֹ מִקְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהִנֵּ֥ה מְהֵרָ֖ה קַ֥ל יָבֽוֹא׃ [God] will raise an ensign to a nation^ja nation Heb. “nations.” afar,
Whistle to one at the end of the earth.
There it comes with lightning speed!

אֵין־עָיֵ֤ף וְאֵין־כּוֹשֵׁל֙ בּ֔וֹ לֹ֥א יָנ֖וּם וְלֹ֣א יִישָׁ֑ן וְלֹ֤א נִפְתַּח֙ אֵז֣וֹר חֲלָצָ֔יו וְלֹ֥א נִתַּ֖ק שְׂר֥וֹךְ נְעָלָֽיו׃ In its ranks, none is weary or stumbles,
They never sleep or slumber;
The belts on their waists do not come loose,
Nor do the thongs of their sandals break.

אֲשֶׁ֤ר חִצָּיו֙ שְׁנוּנִ֔ים וְכׇל־קַשְּׁתֹתָ֖יו דְּרֻכ֑וֹת פַּרְס֤וֹת סוּסָיו֙ כַּצַּ֣ר נֶחְשָׁ֔בוּ וְגַלְגִּלָּ֖יו כַּסּוּפָֽה׃ Their arrows are sharpened,
And all their bows are drawn.
Their horses’ hoofs are like flint,
Their chariot wheels like the whirlwind.

שְׁאָגָ֥ה ל֖וֹ כַּלָּבִ֑יא (ושאג) [יִשְׁאַ֨ג] כַּכְּפִירִ֤ים וְיִנְהֹם֙ וְיֹאחֵ֣ז טֶ֔רֶף וְיַפְלִ֖יט וְאֵ֥ין מַצִּֽיל׃ Their roaring is like a lion’s,
They roar like the great beasts;
When they growl and seize a prey,
They carry it off and none can recover it.

וְיִנְהֹ֥ם עָלָ֛יו בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא כְּנַהֲמַת־יָ֑ם וְנִבַּ֤ט לָאָ֙רֶץ֙ וְהִנֵּה־חֹ֔שֶׁךְ צַ֣ר וָא֔וֹר חָשַׁ֖ךְ בַּעֲרִיפֶֽיהָ׃ {פ}
But in that day, a roaring shall resound over My people^kMy people Lit. “it.” like that of the sea;^la roaring shall resound … of the sea I.e., GOD will intervene and come to Israel’s aid. Cf. 29.6–7; 30.27. This verse may constitute a transition between chaps. 8 and 9. and then they shall look below and, behold,
Distressing darkness, with light;
Darkness, in its lowering clouds.^min its lowering clouds Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

בִּשְׁנַת־מוֹת֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ עֻזִּיָּ֔הוּ וָאֶרְאֶ֧ה אֶת־אֲדֹנָ֛י יֹשֵׁ֥ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֖א רָ֣ם וְנִשָּׂ֑א וְשׁוּלָ֖יו מְלֵאִ֥ים אֶת־הַהֵיכָֽל׃ In the year that King Uzziah died, I beheld my Sovereign seated on a high and lofty throne; and the skirts of God’s robe filled the temple.

שְׂרָפִ֨ים עֹמְדִ֤ים ׀ מִמַּ֙עַל֙ ל֔וֹ שֵׁ֧שׁ כְּנָפַ֛יִם שֵׁ֥שׁ כְּנָפַ֖יִם לְאֶחָ֑ד בִּשְׁתַּ֣יִם ׀ יְכַסֶּ֣ה פָנָ֗יו וּבִשְׁתַּ֛יִם יְכַסֶּ֥ה רַגְלָ֖יו וּבִשְׁתַּ֥יִם יְעוֹפֵֽף׃ Seraphs stood in attendance, each with six wings—two covering the face, two covering the body, and two to fly with.

וְקָרָ֨א זֶ֤ה אֶל־זֶה֙ וְאָמַ֔ר קָד֧וֹשׁ ׀ קָד֛וֹשׁ קָד֖וֹשׁ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת מְלֹ֥א כׇל־הָאָ֖רֶץ כְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃ And one would call to the other,
“Holy, holy, holy!
GOD of Hosts—
Whose presence fills all the earth!”

וַיָּנֻ֙עוּ֙ אַמּ֣וֹת הַסִּפִּ֔ים מִקּ֖וֹל הַקּוֹרֵ֑א וְהַבַּ֖יִת יִמָּלֵ֥א עָשָֽׁן׃ The doorposts^adoorposts Meaning of Heb. uncertain. would shake at the sound of the one who called, and the House kept filling with smoke.

וָאֹמַ֞ר אֽוֹי־לִ֣י כִֽי־נִדְמֵ֗יתִי כִּ֣י אִ֤ישׁ טְמֵֽא־שְׂפָתַ֙יִם֙ אָנֹ֔כִי וּבְתוֹךְ֙ עַם־טְמֵ֣א שְׂפָתַ֔יִם אָנֹכִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֑ב כִּ֗י אֶת־הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת רָא֥וּ עֵינָֽי׃ I cried,
“Woe is me; I am lost!
For I am a man of impure lips^bof impure lips I.e., speaking impiety; cf. 9.16, and contrast “pure of speech [lit. ‘lip’]” in Zeph. 3.9.
And I live among a people
Of impure lips;
Yet my own eyes have beheld
The Sovereign GOD of Hosts.”

וַיָּ֣עׇף אֵלַ֗י אֶחָד֙ מִן־הַשְּׂרָפִ֔ים וּבְיָד֖וֹ רִצְפָּ֑ה בְּמֶ֨לְקַחַ֔יִם לָקַ֖ח מֵעַ֥ל הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ Then one of the seraphs—who had taken a live coal from the altar with a pair of tongs—flew over to me,

וַיַּגַּ֣ע עַל־פִּ֔י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֛ה נָגַ֥ע זֶ֖ה עַל־שְׂפָתֶ֑יךָ וְסָ֣ר עֲוֺנֶ֔ךָ וְחַטָּאתְךָ֖ תְּכֻפָּֽר׃ touched it to my lips, and declared,
“Now that this has touched your lips,
Your guilt shall depart
And your sin be purged away.”

וָאֶשְׁמַ֞ע אֶת־ק֤וֹל אֲדֹנָי֙ אֹמֵ֔ר אֶת־מִ֥י אֶשְׁלַ֖ח וּמִ֣י יֵֽלֶךְ־לָ֑נוּ וָאֹמַ֖ר הִנְנִ֥י שְׁלָחֵֽנִי׃ Then I heard the voice of my Sovereign saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me.”

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֵ֥ךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה שִׁמְע֤וּ שָׁמ֙וֹעַ֙ וְאַל־תָּבִ֔ינוּ וּרְא֥וּ רָא֖וֹ וְאַל־תֵּדָֽעוּ׃ And [God] said, “Go, say to that people:
‘Hear, indeed, but do not understand;
See, indeed, but do not grasp.’

הַשְׁמֵן֙ לֵב־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה וְאׇזְנָ֥יו הַכְבֵּ֖ד וְעֵינָ֣יו הָשַׁ֑ע פֶּן־יִרְאֶ֨ה בְעֵינָ֜יו וּבְאׇזְנָ֣יו יִשְׁמָ֗ע וּלְבָב֥וֹ יָבִ֛ין וָשָׁ֖ב וְרָ֥פָא לֽוֹ׃ Dull that people’s mind,
Stop its ears,
And seal its eyes—
Lest, seeing with its eyes
And hearing with its ears,
It also grasp with its mind,
And repent and save^csave Lit. “heal.” itself.”

וָאֹמַ֕ר עַד־מָתַ֖י אֲדֹנָ֑י וַיֹּ֡אמֶר עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁר֩ אִם־שָׁא֨וּ עָרִ֜ים מֵאֵ֣ין יוֹשֵׁ֗ב וּבָתִּים֙ מֵאֵ֣ין אָדָ֔ם וְהָאֲדָמָ֖ה תִּשָּׁאֶ֥ה שְׁמָמָֽה׃ I asked, “How long, my Sovereign?” And [God] replied:
“Till towns lie waste without inhabitants
And houses without people,
And the ground lies waste and desolate—

וְרִחַ֥ק יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־הָאָדָ֑ם וְרַבָּ֥ה הָעֲזוּבָ֖ה בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃ For GOD will banish the population—
And deserted sites are many
In the midst of the land.

וְע֥וֹד בָּהּ֙ עֲשִׂ֣רִיָּ֔ה וְשָׁ֖בָה וְהָיְתָ֣ה לְבָעֵ֑ר כָּאֵלָ֣ה וְכָאַלּ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּשַׁלֶּ֙כֶת֙ מַצֶּ֣בֶת בָּ֔ם זֶ֥רַע קֹ֖דֶשׁ מַצַּבְתָּֽהּ׃ {פ}
“But while a tenth part yet remains in it, it shall repent. It shall be ravaged like the terebinth and the oak, of which stumps are left even when they are felled: its stump shall be a holy seed.”

וַיְהִ֡י בִּימֵ֣י אָ֠חָ֠ז בֶּן־יוֹתָ֨ם בֶּן־עֻזִּיָּ֜הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֗ה עָלָ֣ה רְצִ֣ין מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲ֠רָ֠ם וּפֶ֨קַח בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֤הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עָלֶ֑יהָ וְלֹ֥א יָכֹ֖ל לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם עָלֶֽיהָ׃ In the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel marched upon Jerusalem to attack it; but they were not able to attack it.

וַיֻּגַּ֗ד לְבֵ֤ית דָּוִד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר נָ֥חָה אֲרָ֖ם עַל־אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיָּ֤נַע לְבָבוֹ֙ וּלְבַ֣ב עַמּ֔וֹ כְּנ֥וֹעַ עֲצֵי־יַ֖עַר מִפְּנֵי־רֽוּחַ׃ {ס}         Now, when it was reported to the House of David that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim, their hearts and the hearts of their people trembled as trees of the forest sway before a wind.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָה֮ אֶֽל־יְשַֽׁעְיָ֒הוּ֒ צֵא־נָא֙ לִקְרַ֣את אָחָ֔ז אַתָּ֕ה וּשְׁאָ֖ר יָשׁ֣וּב בְּנֶ֑ךָ אֶל־קְצֵ֗ה תְּעָלַת֙ הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה הָעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה אֶל־מְסִלַּ֖ת שְׂדֵ֥ה כוֹבֵֽס׃ But GOD said to Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-jashub^aShear-jashub Meaning “[only] a remnant will turn back,” i.e., repent; cf. 6.13; 10.21. to meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the Upper Pool, by the road of the Fuller’s Field.

וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵ֠לָ֠יו הִשָּׁמֵ֨ר וְהַשְׁקֵ֜ט אַל־תִּירָ֗א וּלְבָֽבְךָ֙ אַל־יֵרַ֔ךְ מִשְּׁנֵ֨י זַנְב֧וֹת הָאוּדִ֛ים הָעֲשֵׁנִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה בׇּחֳרִי־אַ֛ף רְצִ֥ין וַאֲרָ֖ם וּבֶן־רְמַלְיָֽהוּ׃ And say to him: Be firm and be calm. Do not be afraid and do not lose heart on account of those two smoking stubs of firebrands, on account of the raging of Rezin and his Arameans and the son of Remaliah.^bthe son of Remaliah To refer to a person only as “the son of—” is slighting; cf. note at 1 Sam. 10.11.

יַ֗עַן כִּֽי־יָעַ֥ץ עָלֶ֛יךָ אֲרָ֖ם רָעָ֑ה אֶפְרַ֥יִם וּבֶן־רְמַלְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר׃ Because the Arameans—with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah—have plotted against you, saying,

נַעֲלֶ֤ה בִֽיהוּדָה֙ וּנְקִיצֶ֔נָּה וְנַבְקִעֶ֖נָּה אֵלֵ֑ינוּ וְנַמְלִ֥יךְ מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ אֵ֖ת בֶּן־טָֽבְאַֽל׃ {פ}
‘We will march against Judah and invade and conquer it, and we will set up as king in it the son of Tabeel,’^cthe son of Tabeel Cf. note at v. 4.

כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה לֹ֥א תָק֖וּם וְלֹ֥א תִֽהְיֶֽה׃ thus said my Sovereign GOD:
It shall not succeed,
It shall not come to pass.

כִּ֣י רֹ֤אשׁ אֲרָם֙ דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וְרֹ֥אשׁ דַּמֶּ֖שֶׂק רְצִ֑ין וּבְע֗וֹד שִׁשִּׁ֤ים וְחָמֵשׁ֙ שָׁנָ֔ה יֵחַ֥ת אֶפְרַ֖יִם מֵעָֽם׃ For the chief city of Aram is Damascus,
And the chief of Damascus is Rezin;

וְרֹ֤אשׁ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ שֹׁמְר֔וֹן וְרֹ֥אשׁ שֹׁמְר֖וֹן בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֑הוּ אִ֚ם לֹ֣א תַאֲמִ֔ינוּ כִּ֖י לֹ֥א תֵאָמֵֽנוּ׃ {פ}
The chief city of Ephraim is Samaria,
And the chief of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.^dThe thought is continued by 8.8b–10; cf. 2 Chron. 13.8–12.
And in another sixty-five years,
Ephraim shall be shattered as a people.^eAnd in another sixty-five years, / Ephraim shall be shattered as a people Moved down from v. 8 for clarity.
If you will not believe, for you cannot be trusted…”^ffor you cannot be trusted In contrast to others “surely, you shall not be established.”

וַיּ֣וֹסֶף יְהֹוָ֔ה דַּבֵּ֥ר אֶל־אָחָ֖ז לֵאמֹֽר׃ GOD spoke further^gGod spoke further I.e., Isaiah continued to speak in God’s name; cf. Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Kimhi. to Ahaz:

שְׁאַל־לְךָ֣ א֔וֹת מֵעִ֖ם יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ הַעְמֵ֣ק שְׁאָ֔לָה א֖וֹ הַגְבֵּ֥הַּ לְמָֽעְלָה׃ “Ask for a sign from the ETERNAL your God, anywhere down to Sheol or up to the sky.”

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָחָ֑ז לֹא־אֶשְׁאַ֥ל וְלֹֽא־אֲנַסֶּ֖ה אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃ But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask, and I will not test GOD.”

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֖א בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד הַמְעַ֤ט מִכֶּם֙ הַלְא֣וֹת אֲנָשִׁ֔ים כִּ֥י תַלְא֖וּ גַּ֥ם אֶת־אֱלֹהָֽי׃ “Listen, House of David,” [Isaiah] retorted, “is it not enough for you to treat the agents^hthe agents I.e., the prophets; cf. Targum, Rashi, Kimhi. as helpless that you also treat my God as helpless?ⁱas helpless By insisting on soliciting the aid of Assyria (see 2 Kings 16.7ff.; cf. below, v. 20). “Treat as helpless” follows the translation of Saadia; cf. Gen. 19.11.

לָ֠כֵ֠ן יִתֵּ֨ן אֲדֹנָ֥י ה֛וּא לָכֶ֖ם א֑וֹת הִנֵּ֣ה הָעַלְמָ֗ה הָרָה֙ וְיֹלֶ֣דֶת בֵּ֔ן וְקָרָ֥את שְׁמ֖וֹ עִמָּ֥נוּ אֵֽל׃ Assuredly, my Sovereign will give you a sign nonetheless! Look, the young woman is with child and about to give birth to a son. Let her name him Immanuel.^jImmanuel Meaning “with us is God.”

חֶמְאָ֥ה וּדְבַ֖שׁ יֹאכֵ֑ל לְדַעְתּ֛וֹ מָא֥וֹס בָּרָ֖ע וּבָח֥וֹר בַּטּֽוֹב׃ (By the time he learns to reject the bad and choose the good, people will be feeding on curds and honey.)

כִּ֠י בְּטֶ֨רֶם יֵדַ֥ע הַנַּ֛עַר מָאֹ֥ס בָּרָ֖ע וּבָחֹ֣ר בַּטּ֑וֹב תֵּעָזֵ֤ב הָאֲדָמָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֣ה קָ֔ץ מִפְּנֵ֖י שְׁנֵ֥י מְלָכֶֽיהָ׃ For before the lad knows to reject the bad and choose the good, the ground whose two kings you dread shall be abandoned.

יָבִ֨יא יְהֹוָ֜ה עָלֶ֗יךָ וְעַֽל־עַמְּךָ֮ וְעַל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֒יךָ֒ יָמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־בָ֔אוּ לְמִיּ֥וֹם סוּר־אֶפְרַ֖יִם מֵעַ֣ל יְהוּדָ֑ה אֵ֖ת מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃ {פ}
GOD will cause to come upon you and your people and your ancestral house such days as have not come since Ephraim turned away from Judah—that selfsame king of Assyria!^kAssyria Cf. note at v. 13.

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִשְׁרֹ֤ק יְהֹוָה֙ לַזְּב֔וּב אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּקְצֵ֖ה יְאֹרֵ֣י מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלַ֨דְּבוֹרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּאֶ֥רֶץ אַשּֽׁוּר׃ “In that day, GOD will whistle to the flies at the ends of the water channels of Egypt and to the bees in the land of Assyria;

וּבָ֨אוּ וְנָח֤וּ כֻלָּם֙ בְּנַחֲלֵ֣י הַבַּתּ֔וֹת וּבִנְקִיקֵ֖י הַסְּלָעִ֑ים וּבְכֹל֙ הַנַּ֣עֲצוּצִ֔ים וּבְכֹ֖ל הַנַּֽהֲלֹלִֽים׃ and they shall all come and alight in the rugged wadis, and in the clefts of the rocks, and in all the thornbrakes, and in all the watering places.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֡וּא יְגַלַּ֣ח אֲדֹנָי֩ בְּתַ֨עַר הַשְּׂכִירָ֜ה בְּעֶבְרֵ֤י נָהָר֙ בְּמֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר אֶת־הָרֹ֖אשׁ וְשַׂ֣עַר הָרַגְלָ֑יִם וְגַ֥ם אֶת־הַזָּקָ֖ן תִּסְפֶּֽה׃ {פ}
“In that day, my Sovereign will cut away with the razor that is hired beyond the Euphrates—with the king of Assyria^lking of Assyria Who was hired by Ahaz; cf. notes at vv. 13 and 17. —the hair of the head and the hair of the legs,^mthe hair of the legs I.e., the pubic hair. and it shall clip off the beard as well.

וְהָיָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא יְחַיֶּה־אִ֛ישׁ עֶגְלַ֥ת בָּקָ֖ר וּשְׁתֵּי־צֹֽאן׃ And in that day, each household shall save alive a heifer of the herd and two animals of the flock.

וְהָיָ֗ה מֵרֹ֛ב עֲשׂ֥וֹת חָלָ֖ב יֹאכַ֣ל חֶמְאָ֑ה כִּֽי־חֶמְאָ֤ה וּדְבַשׁ֙ יֹאכֵ֔ל כׇּל־הַנּוֹתָ֖ר בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃ {ס}         (And they shall obtain so much milk that they shall eat curds.) Thus everyone who is left in the land shall feed on curds and honey.

וְהָיָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא יִהְיֶ֣ה כׇל־מָק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֧ר יִֽהְיֶה־שָּׁ֛ם אֶ֥לֶף גֶּ֖פֶן בְּאֶ֣לֶף כָּ֑סֶף לַשָּׁמִ֥יר וְלַשַּׁ֖יִת יִֽהְיֶֽה׃ “For in that day, every spot where there could stand a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silverⁿevery spot where … silver I.e., all the best farmland, corresponding to the hairiest parts of the body; v. 20. shall become a wilderness of thornbush and thistle.

בַּחִצִּ֥ים וּבַקֶּ֖שֶׁת יָ֣בוֹא שָׁ֑מָּה כִּֽי־שָׁמִ֥יר וָשַׁ֖יִת תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה כׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ One will have to go there with bow and arrows,^owith bow and arrows Because of dangerous beasts. for the country shall be all thornbushes and thistles.

וְכֹ֣ל הֶהָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בַּמַּעְדֵּר֙ יֵעָ֣דֵר֔וּן לֹא־תָב֣וֹא שָׁ֔מָּה יִרְאַ֖ת שָׁמִ֣יר וָשָׁ֑יִת וְהָיָה֙ לְמִשְׁלַ֣ח שׁ֔וֹר וּלְמִרְמַ֖ס שֶֽׂה׃ {פ}
But the perils of thornbush and thistle shall not spread to any of the hills that could only be tilled with a hoe;^phills that could only be tilled with a hoe Marginal farmland, too rocky for the plow, corresponding to areas of the body with scant hair. and here cattle shall be let loose, and sheep and goats^qsheep and goats See note at Exod. 12.3. shall tramp about.”

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י קַח־לְךָ֖ גִּלָּי֣וֹן גָּד֑וֹל וּכְתֹ֤ב עָלָיו֙ בְּחֶ֣רֶט אֱנ֔וֹשׁ לְמַהֵ֥ר שָׁלָ֖ל חָ֥שׁ בַּֽז׃ GOD said to me, “Get yourself a large sheet and write on it in common script^ain common script Meaning of Heb. uncertain. ‘For Maher-shalal-hash-baz’;^bMaher-shalal-hash-baz I.e., “Pillage hastens, looting speeds,” indicating that two cities are to be pillaged at an early date; see v. 4.

וְאָעִ֣ידָה לִּ֔י עֵדִ֖ים נֶֽאֱמָנִ֑ים אֵ֚ת אוּרִיָּ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְאֶת־זְכַרְיָ֖הוּ בֶּ֥ן יְבֶרֶכְיָֽהוּ׃ and call reliable witnesses, the priest Uriah and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah, to witness for Me.”

וָֽאֶקְרַב֙ אֶל־הַנְּבִיאָ֔ה וַתַּ֖הַר וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֑ן {ס}        וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י קְרָ֣א שְׁמ֔וֹ מַהֵ֥ר שָׁלָ֖ל חָ֥שׁ בַּֽז׃ I was intimate with the prophetess,^cthe prophetess I.e., Isaiah’s wife. and she conceived and bore a son; and GOD said to me, “Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz.^dMaher-shalal-hash-baz See note at v. 1.

כִּ֗י בְּטֶ֙רֶם֙ יֵדַ֣ע הַנַּ֔עַר קְרֹ֖א אָבִ֣י וְאִמִּ֑י יִשָּׂ֣א ׀ אֶת־חֵ֣יל דַּמֶּ֗שֶׂק וְאֵת֙ שְׁלַ֣ל שֹֽׁמְר֔וֹן לִפְנֵ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּֽׁוּר׃ {ס}         For before the boy learns to call ‘Father’ and ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria, and the delights of Rezin and of the son of Remaliah,^eand the delights of Rezin and of the son of Remaliah Moved up from v. 6 for clarity. shall be carried off before the king of Assyria.”

וַיֹּ֣סֶף יְהֹוָ֔ה דַּבֵּ֥ר אֵלַ֛י ע֖וֹד לֵאמֹֽר׃ Again GOD spoke to me, thus:

יַ֗עַן כִּ֤י מָאַס֙ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֵ֚ת מֵ֣י הַשִּׁלֹ֔חַ הַהֹלְכִ֖ים לְאַ֑ט וּמְשׂ֥וֹשׂ אֶת־רְצִ֖ין וּבֶן־רְמַלְיָֽהוּ׃ “Because that people has spurned
The gently flowing waters of Siloam”^fflowing waters of Siloam The conduit—and later the tunnel—of Siloam conveyed into Jerusalem the waters of Gihon, which symbolize “GOD of Hosts who dwells on Mount Zion” (v. 18). For the nature of the rejection see note at 7.13. —

וְלָכֵ֡ן הִנֵּ֣ה אֲדֹנָי֩ מַעֲלֶ֨ה עֲלֵיהֶ֜ם אֶת־מֵ֣י הַנָּהָ֗ר הָעֲצוּמִים֙ וְהָ֣רַבִּ֔ים אֶת־מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּׁ֖וּר וְאֶת־כׇּל־כְּבוֹד֑וֹ וְעָלָה֙ עַל־כׇּל־אֲפִיקָ֔יו וְהָלַ֖ךְ עַל־כׇּל־גְּדוֹתָֽיו׃ Assuredly,
The Sovereign will bring up against them
The mighty, massive waters of the Euphrates,
The king of Assyria and all his multitude.
It shall rise above all its channels,
And flow over all its beds,

וְחָלַ֤ף בִּֽיהוּדָה֙ שָׁטַ֣ף וְעָבַ֔ר עַד־צַוָּ֖אר יַגִּ֑יעַ וְהָיָה֙ מֻטּ֣וֹת כְּנָפָ֔יו מְלֹ֥א רֹחַב־אַרְצְךָ֖ עִמָּ֥נוּ אֵֽל׃ {ס}         And swirl through Judah like a flash flood
Reaching up to the neck.^gup to the neck I.e., Judah shall be imperiled, but, in contrast to Aram and Ephraim (v. 4), not destroyed.
^hSee note at 7.9. But with us is God,
Whose wings are spread
As wide as your land is broad!

רֹ֤עוּ עַמִּים֙ וָחֹ֔תּוּ וְהַֽאֲזִ֔ינוּ כֹּ֖ל מֶרְחַקֵּי־אָ֑רֶץ הִתְאַזְּר֣וּ וָחֹ֔תּוּ הִֽתְאַזְּר֖וּ וָחֹֽתּוּ׃ Band together, O peoples—you shall be broken!
Listen to this, you remotest parts of the earth:
Gird yourselves—you shall be broken;
Gird yourselves—you shall be broken!

עֻ֥צוּ עֵצָ֖ה וְתֻפָ֑ר דַּבְּר֤וּ דָבָר֙ וְלֹ֣א יָק֔וּם כִּ֥י עִמָּ֖נוּ אֵֽל׃ {ס}         Hatch a plot—it shall be foiled;
Agree on action—it shall not succeed.
For with us is God!

כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י כְּחֶזְקַ֣ת הַיָּ֑ד וְיִסְּרֵ֕נִי מִלֶּ֛כֶת בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ הָֽעָם־הַזֶּ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃ For this is what GOD said to me, upon taking me by the handⁱtaking me by the hand I.e., singling me out; cf. 41.9, 13; 42.6; 45.1; Jer. 31.32 (v. 31 in some editions). and charging me not to walk in the path of that people:

לֹֽא־תֹאמְר֣וּן קֶ֔שֶׁר לְכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמַ֛ר הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה קָ֑שֶׁר וְאֶת־מוֹרָא֥וֹ לֹא־תִֽירְא֖וּ וְלֹ֥א תַעֲרִֽיצוּ׃ ^jThe Heb. forms here and in vv. 13 and 19 are plural to include the disciples (v. 16) and the children (v. 18). “You must not call conspiracy^kconspiracy Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “holy”; cf. v. 13.
All that that people calls conspiracy,^lconspiracy See preceding note.
Nor revere what it reveres,
Nor hold it in awe.

אֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת אֹת֣וֹ תַקְדִּ֑ישׁוּ וְה֥וּא מוֹרַאֲכֶ֖ם וְה֥וּא מַעֲרִֽצְכֶֽם׃ None but GOD of Hosts
Shall you account holy;
Give reverence to [God] alone,
Hold [God] alone in awe.

וְהָיָ֖ה לְמִקְדָּ֑שׁ וּלְאֶ֣בֶן נֶ֠גֶף וּלְצ֨וּר מִכְשׁ֜וֹל לִשְׁנֵ֨י בָתֵּ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְפַ֣ח וּלְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ לְיוֹשֵׁ֖ב יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ [God] shall become a sanctuary,
A stone^mbecome a sanctuary, / A stone Emendation yields “be for God’s holy domain [cf. Ps. 114.2] / A stone…” people strike against:
A rock people stumble over
For the two Houses of Israel,
And a trap and a snare for those
Who dwell in Jerusalem.

וְכָ֥שְׁלוּ בָ֖ם רַבִּ֑ים וְנָפְל֣וּ וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ וְנוֹקְשׁ֖וּ וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ׃ {פ}
The masses shall trip over these
And shall fall and be injured,
Shall be snared and be caught.

צ֖וֹר תְּעוּדָ֑ה חֲת֥וֹם תּוֹרָ֖ה בְּלִמֻּדָֽי׃ Bind up the message,
Seal the instruction with My disciples.”

וְחִכִּ֙יתִי֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה הַמַּסְתִּ֥יר פָּנָ֖יו מִבֵּ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְקִוֵּ֖יתִי־לֽוֹ׃ So I will wait for GOD, whose face is hidden from the House of Jacob, and in whom I will trust.

הִנֵּ֣ה אָנֹכִ֗י וְהַיְלָדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַן־לִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה לְאֹת֥וֹת וּלְמוֹפְתִ֖ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מֵעִם֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הַשֹּׁכֵ֖ן בְּהַ֥ר צִיּֽוֹן׃ {ס}         Here stand I and the children GOD has given me as signs and portents in Israel from GOD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.

וְכִֽי־יֹאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵיכֶ֗ם דִּרְשׁ֤וּ אֶל־הָֽאֹבוֹת֙ וְאֶל־הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים הַֽמְצַפְצְפִ֖ים וְהַמַּהְגִּ֑ים הֲלוֹא־עַם֙ אֶל־אֱלֹהָ֣יו יִדְרֹ֔שׁ בְּעַ֥ד הַחַיִּ֖ים אֶל־הַמֵּתִֽים׃ Now, should people say to you, “Inquire of the ghosts and familiar spirits that chirp and moan; for a people may inquire of its divine beingsⁿdivine beings I.e., the shades of the dead; cf. 1 Sam. 28.13. —of the dead on behalf of the living—

לְתוֹרָ֖ה וְלִתְעוּדָ֑ה אִם־לֹ֤א יֹֽאמְרוּ֙ כַּדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵֽין־ל֖וֹ שָֽׁחַר׃ for instruction and message,” surely, for those who speak thus there shall be no dawn.

וְעָ֥בַר בָּ֖הּ נִקְשֶׁ֣ה וְרָעֵ֑ב וְהָיָ֨ה כִֽי־יִרְעַ֜ב וְהִתְקַצַּ֗ף וְקִלֵּ֧ל בְּמַלְכּ֛וֹ וּבֵאלֹהָ֖יו וּפָנָ֥ה לְמָֽעְלָה׃ ^oThis sentence would read well after v. 22. And they shall go about in it wretched and hungry; and when they are hungry, they shall rage and revolt against their king and their divine beings. They may turn their face upward

וְאֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ יַבִּ֑יט וְהִנֵּ֨ה צָרָ֤ה וַחֲשֵׁכָה֙ מְע֣וּף צוּקָ֔ה וַאֲפֵלָ֖ה מְנֻדָּֽח׃ or they may look below, but behold
Distress and darkness, with no daybreak;^pwith no daybreak Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Straitness and gloom, with no dawn.^qwith no dawn Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

כִּ֣י לֹ֣א מוּעָף֮ לַאֲשֶׁ֣ר מוּצָ֣ק לָהּ֒ כָּעֵ֣ת הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן הֵקַ֞ל אַ֤רְצָה זְבֻלוּן֙ וְאַ֣רְצָה נַפְתָּלִ֔י וְהָאַחֲר֖וֹן הִכְבִּ֑יד דֶּ֤רֶךְ הַיָּם֙ עֵ֣בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן גְּלִ֖יל הַגּוֹיִֽם׃ For if there were to be^rif there were to be So 1QIsᵃ; the others have “there is not.” any break of day for that [land] that is in straits, only the former [king] would have brought abasement to the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali—while the later one would have brought honor to the Way of the Sea, the other side of the Jordan, and Galilee of the Nations.^sMeaning of verse uncertain. The rendering here assumes that “the former [king]” refers to Pekah and “the later” to Hoshea (cf. 2 Kings 15.29–30). For the construction lu…ka-ʻeth, see Judg. 13.23.

הָעָם֙ הַהֹלְכִ֣ים בַּחֹ֔שֶׁךְ רָא֖וּ א֣וֹר גָּד֑וֹל יֹֽשְׁבֵי֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ צַלְמָ֔וֶת א֖וֹר נָגַ֥הּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ ^aSee the first note at 5.30. The people that walked in darkness
Have seen a brilliant light;
On those who dwelt in a land of gloom
Light has dawned.

הִרְבִּ֣יתָ הַגּ֔וֹי (לא) [ל֖וֹ] הִגְדַּ֣לְתָּ הַשִּׂמְחָ֑ה שָׂמְח֤וּ לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ כְּשִׂמְחַ֣ת בַּקָּצִ֔יר כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָגִ֖ילוּ בְּחַלְּקָ֥ם שָׁלָֽל׃ You have magnified that nation,
Have given it great joy;
They have rejoiced before You
As they rejoice at reaping time,
As they exult
When dividing spoil.

כִּ֣י ׀ אֶת־עֹ֣ל סֻבֳּל֗וֹ וְאֵת֙ מַטֵּ֣ה שִׁכְמ֔וֹ שֵׁ֖בֶט הַנֹּגֵ֣שׂ בּ֑וֹ הַחִתֹּ֖תָ כְּי֥וֹם מִדְיָֽן׃ For the yoke that they bore
And the stick on their back—
The rod of their taskmaster—
You have broken as on the day of Midian.^bthe day of Midian See Judg. 7–8.

כִּ֤י כׇל־סְאוֹן֙ סֹאֵ֣ן בְּרַ֔עַשׁ וְשִׂמְלָ֖ה מְגוֹלָלָ֣ה בְדָמִ֑ים וְהָיְתָ֥ה לִשְׂרֵפָ֖ה מַאֲכֹ֥לֶת אֵֽשׁ׃ Truly, all the boots put on to stamp with^cto stamp with Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “in wickedness”; cf. Targum.
And all the garments donned in infamy
Have been fed to the flames,
Devoured by fire.

כִּי־יֶ֣לֶד יֻלַּד־לָ֗נוּ בֵּ֚ן נִתַּן־לָ֔נוּ וַתְּהִ֥י הַמִּשְׂרָ֖ה עַל־שִׁכְמ֑וֹ וַיִּקְרָ֨א שְׁמ֜וֹ פֶּ֠לֶא יוֹעֵץ֙ אֵ֣ל גִּבּ֔וֹר אֲבִי־עַ֖ד שַׂר־שָׁלֽוֹם׃ For a child has been born to us,
A son has been given us.
And authority has settled on his shoulders.
He has been named
“The Mighty God is planning grace;^dgrace As in 25.1.
The Eternal Father,^eFather See note at Deut. 32.6. a peaceable ruler”—

(לם רבה) [לְמַרְבֵּ֨ה] הַמִּשְׂרָ֜ה וּלְשָׁל֣וֹם אֵֽין־קֵ֗ץ עַל־כִּסֵּ֤א דָוִד֙ וְעַל־מַמְלַכְתּ֔וֹ לְהָכִ֤ין אֹתָהּ֙ וּֽלְסַעֲדָ֔הּ בְּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּבִצְדָקָ֑ה מֵעַתָּה֙ וְעַד־עוֹלָ֔ם קִנְאַ֛ת יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת תַּעֲשֶׂה־זֹּֽאת׃ {פ}
In token of abundant authority
And of peace without limit
Upon David’s throne and kingdom,
That it may be firmly established
In justice and in equity
Now and evermore.
The zeal of GOD of Hosts
Shall bring this to pass.

דָּבָ֛ר שָׁלַ֥ח אֲדֹנָ֖י בְּיַעֲקֹ֑ב וְנָפַ֖ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ The Sovereign
Let loose a word^fLet loose a word Septuagint reads “Let loose pestilence”; cf. Amos 4.10. In vv. 7–20 Isaiah alludes to and builds upon Amos 4.10–12. against Jacob
And it fell upon Israel.

וְיָֽדְעוּ֙ הָעָ֣ם כֻּלּ֔וֹ אֶפְרַ֖יִם וְיוֹשֵׁ֣ב שֹׁמְר֑וֹן בְּגַאֲוָ֛ה וּבְגֹ֥דֶל לֵבָ֖ב לֵאמֹֽר׃ But all the people noted^gnoted 1QIsᵃ reads “shouted.” —
Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—
In arrogance and haughtiness:

לְבֵנִ֥ים נָפָ֖לוּ וְגָזִ֣ית נִבְנֶ֑ה שִׁקְמִ֣ים גֻּדָּ֔עוּ וַאֲרָזִ֖ים נַחֲלִֽיף׃ “Bricks have fallen—
We’ll rebuild with dressed stone;
Sycamores have been felled—
We’ll grow cedars instead!”

וַיְשַׂגֵּ֧ב יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־צָרֵ֥י רְצִ֖ין עָלָ֑יו וְאֶת־אֹיְבָ֖יו יְסַכְסֵֽךְ׃ So GOD let the enemies of Rezin^hthe enemies of Rezin Emendation yields “its enemies.”
Triumph over it
And stirred up its foes—

אֲרָ֣ם מִקֶּ֗דֶם וּפְלִשְׁתִּים֙ מֵאָח֔וֹר וַיֹּאכְל֥וּ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּכׇל־פֶּ֑ה בְּכׇל־זֹאת֙ לֹא־שָׁ֣ב אַפּ֔וֹ וְע֖וֹד יָד֥וֹ נְטוּיָֽה׃ Aram from the east
And Philistia from the west—
Who devoured Israel
With greedy mouths.
Yet God’s anger has not turned back,
And the divine arm is outstretched still.

וְהָעָ֥ם לֹא־שָׁ֖ב עַד־הַמַּכֵּ֑הוּ וְאֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת לֹ֥א דָרָֽשׁוּ׃ {ס}         For this people has not turned back
To the One who struck it;
They have not sought
GOD of Hosts.

וַיַּכְרֵ֨ת יְהֹוָ֜ה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֗ל רֹ֧אשׁ וְזָנָ֛ב כִּפָּ֥ה וְאַגְמ֖וֹן י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃ So GOD will cut off from Israel
Head and tail,
Palm branch and reed,
In a single day.

זָקֵ֥ן וּנְשֽׂוּא־פָנִ֖ים ה֣וּא הָרֹ֑אשׁ וְנָבִ֥יא מֽוֹרֶה־שֶּׁ֖קֶר ה֥וּא הַזָּנָֽב׃ Elders and magnatesⁱand magnates Emendation yields “who practice partiality.” —
Such are the heads;
Prophets who give false instruction,
Such are the tails^jtails Emendation yields “palm branches”; the elders and the prophets are the leaders, the people are the led; cf. 3.1–2, 12.

וַיִּֽהְי֛וּ מְאַשְּׁרֵ֥י הָֽעָם־הַזֶּ֖ה מַתְעִ֑ים וּמְאֻשָּׁרָ֖יו מְבֻלָּעִֽים׃ That people’s leaders have been misleaders,
So those who are led have been confused.

עַל־כֵּ֨ן עַל־בַּחוּרָ֜יו לֹא־יִשְׂמַ֣ח ׀ אֲדֹנָ֗י וְאֶת־יְתֹמָ֤יו וְאֶת־אַלְמְנוֹתָיו֙ לֹ֣א יְרַחֵ֔ם כִּ֤י כֻלּוֹ֙ חָנֵ֣ף וּמֵרַ֔ע וְכׇל־פֶּ֖ה דֹּבֵ֣ר נְבָלָ֑ה בְּכׇל־זֹאת֙ לֹא־שָׁ֣ב אַפּ֔וֹ וְע֖וֹד יָד֥וֹ נְטוּיָֽה׃ That is why the Sovereign
Will not spare^kspare Cf. Arabic samuḥa. 1QIsᵃ reads yḥmw. their youths,
Nor show compassion
To their orphans and widows;
For all are ungodly and wicked,
And every mouth speaks impiety.

כִּֽי־בָעֲרָ֤ה כָאֵשׁ֙ רִשְׁעָ֔ה שָׁמִ֥יר וָשַׁ֖יִת תֹּאכֵ֑ל וַתִּצַּת֙ בְּסִֽבְכֵ֣י הַיַּ֔עַר וַיִּֽתְאַבְּכ֖וּ גֵּא֥וּת עָשָֽׁן׃ Already wickedness has blazed forth like a fire
Devouring thorn and thistle.
It has kindled the thickets of the wood,
Which have turned into billowing smoke.^lWhich have turned into billowing smoke Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
Yet God’s anger has not turned back,
And the divine arm is outstretched still.^mYet God’s anger has not turned back, / And the divine arm is outstretched still Moved down from v. 16 for clarity.

בְּעֶבְרַ֛ת יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת נֶעְתַּ֣ם אָ֑רֶץ וַיְהִ֤י הָעָם֙ כְּמַאֲכֹ֣לֶת אֵ֔שׁ אִ֥ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֖יו לֹ֥א יַחְמֹֽלוּ׃ By the fury of GOD of Hosts,
The earth was shaken.ⁿearth was shaken Cf. note at 5.25.
Next, the people became like devouring fire:
Not one of them spared the others.

וַיִּגְזֹ֤ר עַל־יָמִין֙ וְרָעֵ֔ב וַיֹּ֥אכַל עַל־שְׂמֹ֖אול וְלֹ֣א שָׂבֵ֑עוּ אִ֥ישׁ בְּשַׂר־זְרֹע֖וֹ יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ They snatched on the right, but remained hungry,
And consumed on the left without being sated.
Each devoured the flesh of its own kindred^oown kindred Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “fellow”; cf. Targum. —

מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה אֶת־אֶפְרַ֗יִם וְאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ אֶת־מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה יַחְדָּ֥ו הֵ֖מָּה עַל־יְהוּדָ֑ה בְּכׇל־זֹאת֙ לֹא־שָׁ֣ב אַפּ֔וֹ וְע֖וֹד יָד֥וֹ נְטוּיָֽה׃ {ס}         Manasseh Ephraim’s, and Ephraim Manasseh’s,^pManasseh … Manasseh’s Alludes to the civil wars of 2 Kings 15.10, 14–16, 25.
And both of them against Judah!^qagainst Judah Cf. 7.1–9.
Yet God’s anger has not turned back,
And the divine arm is outstretched still.

ה֥וֹי הַחֹֽקְקִ֖ים חִקְקֵי־אָ֑וֶן וּֽמְכַתְּבִ֥ים עָמָ֖ל כִּתֵּֽבוּ׃ Ha!
Those who write out evil writs
And compose iniquitous documents,

לְהַטּ֤וֹת מִדִּין֙ דַּלִּ֔ים וְלִגְזֹ֕ל מִשְׁפַּ֖ט עֲנִיֵּ֣י עַמִּ֑י לִֽהְי֤וֹת אַלְמָנוֹת֙ שְׁלָלָ֔ם וְאֶת־יְתוֹמִ֖ים יָבֹֽזּוּ׃ To subvert the cause of the poor,
To rob of their rights the needy of My people;
That widows may be their spoil,
And fatherless children their booty!

וּמַֽה־תַּעֲשׂוּ֙ לְי֣וֹם פְּקֻדָּ֔ה וּלְשׁוֹאָ֖ה מִמֶּרְחָ֣ק תָּב֑וֹא עַל־מִי֙ תָּנ֣וּסוּ לְעֶזְרָ֔ה וְאָ֥נָה תַעַזְב֖וּ כְּבוֹדְכֶֽם׃ What will you do on the day of punishment,
When the calamity comes from afar?
To whom will you flee for help,
And how will you save your carcasses^acarcasses Meaning of Heb. uncertain; for “carcasses,” compare the rendering of kabod in v. 16; 22.18.

בִּלְתִּ֤י כָרַע֙ תַּ֣חַת אַסִּ֔יר וְתַ֥חַת הֲרוּגִ֖ים יִפֹּ֑לוּ בְּכׇל־זֹאת֙ לֹא־שָׁ֣ב אַפּ֔וֹ וְע֖וֹד יָד֥וֹ נְטוּיָֽה׃ {פ}
From collapsing under [fellow] prisoners,
From falling beneath the slain?
Yet God’s anger has not turned back,
And the divine arm is outstretched still.

ה֥וֹי אַשּׁ֖וּר שֵׁ֣בֶט אַפִּ֑י וּמַטֶּה־ה֥וּא בְיָדָ֖ם זַעְמִֽי׃ Ha!
Assyria, rod of My anger,
In whose hand, as a staff, is My fury!^bIn whose hand, as a staff, is My fury Emendation yields “Who is a staff in the hand of my fury.”

בְּג֤וֹי חָנֵף֙ אֲשַׁלְּחֶ֔נּוּ וְעַל־עַ֥ם עֶבְרָתִ֖י אֲצַוֶּ֑נּוּ לִשְׁלֹ֤ל שָׁלָל֙ וְלָבֹ֣ז בַּ֔ז (ולשימו) [וּלְשׂוּמ֥וֹ] מִרְמָ֖ס כְּחֹ֥מֶר חוּצֽוֹת׃ I send him against an ungodly nation,
I charge him against a people that provokes Me,
To take its spoil and to seize its booty
And to make it a thing trampled
Like the mire of the streets.

וְהוּא֙ לֹא־כֵ֣ן יְדַמֶּ֔ה וּלְבָב֖וֹ לֹא־כֵ֣ן יַחְשֹׁ֑ב כִּ֚י לְהַשְׁמִ֣יד בִּלְבָב֔וֹ וּלְהַכְרִ֥ית גּוֹיִ֖ם לֹ֥א מְעָֽט׃ But he has evil plans,
His mind harbors evil designs;
For he means to destroy,
To wipe out nations, not a few.

כִּ֖י יֹאמַ֑ר הֲלֹ֥א שָׂרַ֛י יַחְדָּ֖ו מְלָכִֽים׃ For he thinks,
“After all, I have kings as my captains!^cI have kings as my captains! Emendation yields “all the kingdoms fared alike!”

הֲלֹ֥א כְּכַרְכְּמִ֖ישׁ כַּלְנ֑וֹ אִם־לֹ֤א כְאַרְפַּד֙ חֲמָ֔ת אִם־לֹ֥א כְדַמֶּ֖שֶׂק שֹֽׁמְרֽוֹן׃ Was Calno any different from Carchemish?
Or Hamath from Arpad?
Or Samaria from Damascus?

כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ מָצְאָ֣ה יָדִ֔י לְמַמְלְכֹ֖ת הָֽאֱלִ֑יל וּפְסִ֣ילֵיהֶ֔ם מִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם וּמִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן׃ Since I was able to seize
The insignificant kingdoms,
Whose images exceeded
Jerusalem’s and Samaria’s,^dSince I was able to seize / The insignificant kingdoms, / Whose images exceeded / Jerusalem’s and Samaria’s Emendation yields “Since I was able to seize / those kingdoms and their images, / Why is Jerusalem better than Samaria?”

הֲלֹ֗א כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֛יתִי לְשֹׁמְר֖וֹן וְלֶאֱלִילֶ֑יהָ כֵּ֛ן אֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה לִירֽוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם וְלַעֲצַבֶּֽיהָ׃ {פ}
Shall I not do to Jerusalem and her images
What I did to Samaria and her idols?”

וְהָיָ֗ה כִּֽי־יְבַצַּ֤ע אֲדֹנָי֙ אֶת־כׇּל־מַֽעֲשֵׂ֔הוּ בְּהַ֥ר צִיּ֖וֹן וּבִירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם אֶפְקֹ֗ד עַל־פְּרִֽי־גֹ֙דֶל֙ לְבַ֣ב מֶלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֔וּר וְעַל־תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת ר֥וּם עֵינָֽיו׃ But when all of my Sovereign’s purpose has been carried out on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, the majestic pride and overbearing arrogance of the king of Assyria will be punished.^ewill be punished Heb. “I will punish.”

כִּ֣י אָמַ֗ר בְּכֹ֤חַ יָדִי֙ עָשִׂ֔יתִי וּבְחׇכְמָתִ֖י כִּ֣י נְבֻנ֑וֹתִי וְאָסִ֣יר ׀ גְּבוּלֹ֣ת עַמִּ֗ים (ועתידתיהם) [וַעֲתֽוּדֹתֵיהֶם֙] שׁוֹשֵׂ֔תִי וְאוֹרִ֥יד כַּאבִּ֖יר יֽוֹשְׁבִֽים׃ For he thought,
“By the might of my hand have I wrought it,
By my skill, for I am clever:
I have erased the borders of peoples;
I have plundered their treasures,
And exiled their vast populations.^fAnd exiled … populations According to vv. 6–7, Assyria was to plunder, but not to exile.

וַתִּמְצָ֨א כַקֵּ֤ן ׀ יָדִי֙ לְחֵ֣יל הָעַמִּ֔ים וְכֶֽאֱסֹף֙ בֵּיצִ֣ים עֲזֻב֔וֹת כׇּל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲנִ֣י אָסָ֑פְתִּי וְלֹ֤א הָיָה֙ נֹדֵ֣ד כָּנָ֔ף וּפֹצֶ֥ה פֶ֖ה וּמְצַפְצֵֽף׃ I was able to seize, like a nest,
The wealth of peoples;
As one gathers abandoned eggs,
So I gathered all the earth:
Nothing so much as flapped a wing
Or opened a mouth to peep.”

הֲיִתְפָּאֵר֙ הַגַּרְזֶ֔ן עַ֖ל הַחֹצֵ֣ב בּ֑וֹ אִם־יִתְגַּדֵּ֤ל הַמַּשּׂוֹר֙ עַל־מְנִיפ֔וֹ כְּהָנִ֥יף שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ וְאֶת־מְרִימָ֔יו כְּהָרִ֥ים מַטֶּ֖ה לֹא־עֵֽץ׃ {פ}
Does an ax boast over one who hews with it,
Or a saw magnify itself above one who wields it?
As though the rod raised one who lifts it,
As though the staff lifted the person!^gthe person Lit. “not-wood.”

לָ֠כֵן יְשַׁלַּ֨ח הָֽאָד֜וֹן יְהֹוָ֧ה צְבָא֛וֹת בְּמִשְׁמַנָּ֖יו רָז֑וֹן וְתַ֧חַת כְּבֹד֛וֹ יֵקַ֥ד יְקֹ֖ד כִּיק֥וֹד אֵֽשׁ׃ ^hVerses 16–19 would read well after 9.16 Assuredly,
The Sovereign GOD of Hosts will send
A wasting away in itsⁱits Presumably Israel’s. fatness;
And under its body^jbody Cf. note at v. 3. shall burn
A burning like that of fire,
Destroying frame and flesh.
It shall be like an invalid who pines away.^kDestroying frame and flesh. / It shall be like an invalid who pines away Moved up from v. 18 for clarity.

וְהָיָ֤ה אֽוֹר־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְאֵ֔שׁ וּקְדוֹשׁ֖וֹ לְלֶהָבָ֑ה וּבָעֲרָ֗ה וְאָכְלָ֛ה שִׁית֥וֹ וּשְׁמִיר֖וֹ בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃ The Light of Israel will be fire
And its Holy One flame.
It will burn and consume its thorns
And its thistles in a single day,

וּכְב֤וֹד יַעְרוֹ֙ וְכַרְמִלּ֔וֹ מִנֶּ֥פֶשׁ וְעַד־בָּשָׂ֖ר יְכַלֶּ֑ה וְהָיָ֖ה כִּמְסֹ֥ס נֹסֵֽס׃ And the mass of its scrub and its farmland.

וּשְׁאָ֥ר עֵ֛ץ יַעְר֖וֹ מִסְפָּ֣ר יִהְי֑וּ וְנַ֖עַר יִכְתְּבֵֽם׃ {ס}         What trees remain of its scrub
Shall be so few that a child may record them.

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא לֹא־יוֹסִ֨יף ע֜וֹד שְׁאָ֤ר יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וּפְלֵיטַ֣ת בֵּֽית־יַעֲקֹ֔ב לְהִשָּׁעֵ֖ן עַל־מַכֵּ֑הוּ וְנִשְׁעַ֗ן עַל־יְהֹוָ֛ה קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בֶּאֱמֶֽת׃ And in that day,
The remnant of Israel
And the escaped of the House of Jacob
Shall lean no more upon him that beats it,^lupon him that beats it I.e., upon Assyria (see v. 24). Ahaz’s reliance on Assyria was interpreted by Isaiah as lack of faith in GOD; see 7.13 with note.
But shall lean sincerely
On GOD, the Holy One of Israel.

שְׁאָ֥ר יָשׁ֖וּב שְׁאָ֣ר יַעֲקֹ֑ב אֶל־אֵ֖ל גִּבּֽוֹר׃ Only a remnant shall return,
Only a remnant of Jacob,
To Mighty God.

כִּ֣י אִם־יִהְיֶ֞ה עַמְּךָ֤ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כְּח֣וֹל הַיָּ֔ם שְׁאָ֖ר יָשׁ֣וּב בּ֑וֹ כִּלָּי֥וֹן חָר֖וּץ שׁוֹטֵ֥ף צְדָקָֽה׃ Even if your people, O Israel,
Should be as the sands of the sea,
Only a remnant of it shall return.
Destruction is decreed;
Retribution comes like a flood!

כִּ֥י כָלָ֖ה וְנֶחֱרָצָ֑ה אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ צְבָא֔וֹת עֹשֶׂ֖ה בְּקֶ֥רֶב כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ {פ}
For my Sovereign GOD of Hosts is carrying out
A decree of destruction upon all the land.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ צְבָא֔וֹת אַל־תִּירָ֥א עַמִּ֛י יֹשֵׁ֥ב צִיּ֖וֹן מֵאַשּׁ֑וּר בַּשֵּׁ֣בֶט יַכֶּ֔כָּה וּמַטֵּ֥הוּ יִשָּֽׂא־עָלֶ֖יךָ בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ Assuredly, thus said my Sovereign GOD of Hosts: “O My people that dwells in Zion, have no fear of Assyria, who beats you with a rod and wields his staff over you as did the Egyptians.

כִּי־ע֖וֹד מְעַ֣ט מִזְעָ֑ר וְכָ֣לָה זַ֔עַם וְאַפִּ֖י עַל־תַּבְלִיתָֽם׃ For very soon My wrath will have spent itself, and My anger that was bent on wasting them.”^mMy anger that was bent on wasting them Presumably Assyria; meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “My anger against the world shall cease.”

וְעוֹרֵ֨ר עָלָ֜יו יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ שׁ֔וֹט כְּמַכַּ֥ת מִדְיָ֖ן בְּצ֣וּר עוֹרֵ֑ב וּמַטֵּ֙הוּ֙ עַל־הַיָּ֔ם וּנְשָׂא֖וֹ בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ GOD of Hosts will brandish a scourge over AssyriaⁿAssyria Heb. “him.” as when Midian was beaten at the Rock of Oreb,^owhen Midian was beaten at the Rock of Oreb See Judg. 7.25. and will wield a staff [over him] as was done to the Egyptians by the sea.

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יָס֤וּר סֻבֳּלוֹ֙ מֵעַ֣ל שִׁכְמֶ֔ךָ וְעֻלּ֖וֹ מֵעַ֣ל צַוָּארֶ֑ךָ וְחֻבַּ֥ל עֹ֖ל מִפְּנֵי־שָֽׁמֶן׃ And in that day,
His burden shall drop from your back,
And his yoke from your neck;
The yoke shall be destroyed because of fatness.

בָּ֥א עַל־עַיַּ֖ת עָבַ֣ר בְּמִגְר֑וֹן לְמִכְמָ֖שׂ יַפְקִ֥יד כֵּלָֽיו׃ He advanced upon Aiath,^pAiath Elsewhere called Ai.
He proceeded to Migron,
At Michmas he deposited his baggage.

עָֽבְרוּ֙ מַעְבָּרָ֔ה גֶּ֖בַע מָל֣וֹן לָ֑נוּ חָֽרְדָה֙ הָרָמָ֔ה גִּבְעַ֥ת שָׁא֖וּל נָֽסָה׃ They made the crossing;
“Geba is to be our night quarters!”^qAnd his yoke … night quarters Emendation yields “And his yoke shall leave your neck. / He came up from Jeshimon / 28By the ascent of Aiath, / He proceeded to Migron; / At Michmas he commanded his forces: / 29‘Make the crossing; / Geba is to be our night quarters!’” Jeshimon is the southeast corner of the Jordan Valley, Num. 21.20; 23.28.
Ramah was alarmed;
Gibeah of Saul took to flight.

צַֽהֲלִ֥י קוֹלֵ֖ךְ בַּת־גַּלִּ֑ים הַקְשִׁ֥יבִי לַ֖יְשָׁה עֲנִיָּ֥ה עֲנָתֽוֹת׃ “Give a shrill cry, O Bath-gallim!
Hearken, Laishah!
Take up the cry, Anathoth!”

נָֽדְדָ֖ה מַדְמֵנָ֑ה יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הַגֵּבִ֖ים הֵעִֽיזוּ׃ Madmenah ran away;
The dwellers of Gebim sought refuge.

ע֥וֹד הַיּ֖וֹם בְּנֹ֣ב לַעֲמֹ֑ד יְנֹפֵ֤ף יָדוֹ֙ הַ֣ר (בית) [בַּת־]צִיּ֔וֹן גִּבְעַ֖ת יְרֽוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ {פ}
This same day at Nob
He shall stand and wave his hand.^rI.e., the Assyrian king, arriving at Nob (close to Jerusalem), shall beckon his army onward; cf. 13.2.
O mount of Fair Zion!
O hill of Jerusalem!

הִנֵּ֤ה הָאָדוֹן֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת מְסָעֵ֥ף פֻּארָ֖ה בְּמַעֲרָצָ֑ה וְרָמֵ֤י הַקּוֹמָה֙ גְּדוּעִ֔ים וְהַגְּבֹהִ֖ים יִשְׁפָּֽלוּ׃ Lo! The Sovereign GOD of Hosts
Will hew off the tree-crowns with an ax:
The tall ones shall be felled,
The lofty ones cut down:

וְנִקַּ֛ף סִֽבְכֵ֥י הַיַּ֖עַר בַּבַּרְזֶ֑ל וְהַלְּבָנ֖וֹן בְּאַדִּ֥יר יִפּֽוֹל׃ {ס}         The thickets of the forest shall be hacked away with iron,
And the Lebanon trees shall fall in their majesty.^sin their majesty Or “by the bronze,” connecting Heb. ʼaddir with Akkadian urudu, “bronze.”

וְיָצָ֥א חֹ֖טֶר מִגֵּ֣זַע יִשָׁ֑י וְנֵ֖צֶר מִשׇּׁרָשָׁ֥יו יִפְרֶֽה׃ But a shoot shall grow out of the stump of Jesse,
A twig shall sprout from his stock.

וְנָחָ֥ה עָלָ֖יו ר֣וּחַ יְהֹוָ֑ה ר֧וּחַ חׇכְמָ֣ה וּבִינָ֗ה ר֤וּחַ עֵצָה֙ וּגְבוּרָ֔ה ר֥וּחַ דַּ֖עַת וְיִרְאַ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה׃ The spirit of GOD shall alight upon him:
A spirit of wisdom and insight,
A spirit of counsel and valor,
A spirit of devotion and reverence for GOD.

וַהֲרִיח֖וֹ בְּיִרְאַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹֽא־לְמַרְאֵ֤ה עֵינָיו֙ יִשְׁפּ֔וֹט וְלֹא־לְמִשְׁמַ֥ע אׇזְנָ֖יו יוֹכִֽיחַ׃ He shall sense the truth^aHe shall sense the truth Lit. “His sensing [shall be]”; meaning of Heb. uncertain. by his reverence for GOD:
He shall not judge by what his eyes behold,
Nor decide by what his ears perceive.

וְשָׁפַ֤ט בְּצֶ֙דֶק֙ דַּלִּ֔ים וְהוֹכִ֥יחַ בְּמִישׁ֖וֹר לְעַנְוֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְהִֽכָּה־אֶ֙רֶץ֙ בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט פִּ֔יו וּבְר֥וּחַ שְׂפָתָ֖יו יָמִ֥ית רָשָֽׁע׃ Thus he shall judge the poor with equity
And decide with justice for the lowly of the land.
He shall strike down a land^ba land Emendation yields “the ruthless.” with the rod of his mouth
And slay the wicked with the breath of his lips.

וְהָ֥יָה צֶ֖דֶק אֵז֣וֹר מׇתְנָ֑יו וְהָאֱמוּנָ֖ה אֵז֥וֹר חֲלָצָֽיו׃ Justice shall be the girdle of his loins,
And faithfulness the girdle of his waist.

וְגָ֤ר זְאֵב֙ עִם־כֶּ֔בֶשׂ וְנָמֵ֖ר עִם־גְּדִ֣י יִרְבָּ֑ץ וְעֵ֨גֶל וּכְפִ֤יר וּמְרִיא֙ יַחְדָּ֔ו וְנַ֥עַר קָטֹ֖ן נֹהֵ֥ג בָּֽם׃ The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard lie down with the kid;
The calf, the beast of prey, and the fatling^cThe calf, the beast of prey, and the fatling 1QIsᵃ reads: “The calf and the beast of prey shall feed”; so too the Septuagint. together,
With a little boy to herd them.

וּפָרָ֤ה וָדֹב֙ תִּרְעֶ֔ינָה יַחְדָּ֖ו יִרְבְּצ֣וּ יַלְדֵיהֶ֑ן וְאַרְיֵ֖ה כַּבָּקָ֥ר יֹאכַל־תֶּֽבֶן׃ The cow and the bear shall graze,
Their young shall lie down together;
And the lion, like the ox, shall eat straw.

וְשִֽׁעֲשַׁ֥ע יוֹנֵ֖ק עַל־חֻ֣ר פָּ֑תֶן וְעַל֙ מְאוּרַ֣ת צִפְעוֹנִ֔י גָּמ֖וּל יָד֥וֹ הָדָֽה׃ A babe shall play
Over a viper’s hole,
And an infant pass^dpass Meaning of Heb. uncertain. its hand
Over an adder’s den.

לֹא־יָרֵ֥עוּ וְלֹֽא־יַשְׁחִ֖יתוּ בְּכׇל־הַ֣ר קׇדְשִׁ֑י כִּֽי־מָלְאָ֣ה הָאָ֗רֶץ דֵּעָה֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה כַּמַּ֖יִם לַיָּ֥ם מְכַסִּֽים׃ {ס}         In all of My sacred mount^eMy sacred mount I.e., the Holy Land; cf. Exod. 15.17; Ps. 78.54.
Nothing evil or vile shall be done;
For the land shall be filled with devotion to GOD
As water covers the sea.

וְהָיָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא שֹׁ֣רֶשׁ יִשַׁ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר עֹמֵד֙ לְנֵ֣ס עַמִּ֔ים אֵלָ֖יו גּוֹיִ֣ם יִדְרֹ֑שׁוּ וְהָיְתָ֥ה מְנֻחָת֖וֹ כָּבֽוֹד׃ {פ}
In that day,
The stock of Jesse that has remained standing
Shall become a standard to peoples—
Nations shall seek his counsel
And his abode shall be honored.

וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יוֹסִ֨יף אֲדֹנָ֤י ׀ שֵׁנִית֙ יָד֔וֹ לִקְנ֖וֹת אֶת־שְׁאָ֣ר עַמּ֑וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשָּׁאֵר֩ מֵֽאַשּׁ֨וּר וּמִמִּצְרַ֜יִם וּמִפַּתְר֣וֹס וּמִכּ֗וּשׁ וּמֵעֵילָ֤ם וּמִשִּׁנְעָר֙ וּמֵ֣חֲמָ֔ת וּמֵֽאִיֵּ֖י הַיָּֽם׃ In that day, my Sovereign will apply a divine hand again to redeeming the other part^fthe other part I.e., the part outside the Holy Land; lit. “the rest that will remain.” of this people from Assyria—as also from Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the coastlands.

וְנָשָׂ֥א נֵס֙ לַגּוֹיִ֔ם וְאָסַ֖ף נִדְחֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּנְפֻצ֤וֹת יְהוּדָה֙ יְקַבֵּ֔ץ מֵאַרְבַּ֖ע כַּנְפ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ [God] will hold up a signal to the nations
And assemble the banished of Israel,
And gather the dispersed of Judah
From the four corners of the earth.

וְסָ֙רָה֙ קִנְאַ֣ת אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְצֹרְרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה יִכָּרֵ֑תוּ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ לֹא־יְקַנֵּ֣א אֶת־יְהוּדָ֔ה וִיהוּדָ֖ה לֹא־יָצֹ֥ר אֶת־אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ Then Ephraim’s envy shall cease
And Judah’s harassment shall end;
Ephraim shall not envy Judah,
And Judah shall not harass Ephraim.

וְעָפ֨וּ בְכָתֵ֤ף פְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ יָ֔מָּה יַחְדָּ֖ו יָבֹ֣זּוּ אֶת־בְּנֵי־קֶ֑דֶם אֱד֤וֹם וּמוֹאָב֙ מִשְׁל֣וֹחַ יָדָ֔ם וּבְנֵ֥י עַמּ֖וֹן מִשְׁמַעְתָּֽם׃ They shall pounce on the back of Philistia to the west,
And together plunder the peoples of the east;
Edom and Moab shall be subject to them
And the children of Ammon shall obey them.

וְהֶחֱרִ֣ים יְהֹוָ֗ה אֵ֚ת לְשׁ֣וֹן יָם־מִצְרַ֔יִם וְהֵנִ֥יף יָד֛וֹ עַל־הַנָּהָ֖ר בַּעְיָ֣ם רוּח֑וֹ וְהִכָּ֙הוּ֙ לְשִׁבְעָ֣ה נְחָלִ֔ים וְהִדְרִ֖יךְ בַּנְּעָלִֽים׃ GOD will dry up the tongue of the Egyptian sea—and will raise a hand over the Euphrates with a mighty wind^ga mighty wind Lit. “the might of His wind.” Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and break it into seven wadis, so that it can be trodden dry-shod.

וְהָיְתָ֣ה מְסִלָּ֔ה לִשְׁאָ֣ר עַמּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשָּׁאֵ֖ר מֵאַשּׁ֑וּר כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר הָיְתָה֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּי֥וֹם עֲלֹת֖וֹ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ Thus there shall be a highway for the other part^hthe other part See note at v. 11. of this people out of Assyria, such as there was for Israel when it left the land of Egypt.

וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא אוֹדְךָ֣ יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אָנַ֖פְתָּ בִּ֑י יָשֹׁ֥ב אַפְּךָ֖ וּֽתְנַחֲמֵֽנִי׃ In that day, you shall say:
“I give thanks to You, O GOD !
Although You were wroth with me,
Your wrath has turned back and You comfort me.

הִנֵּ֨ה אֵ֧ל יְשׁוּעָתִ֛י אֶבְטַ֖ח וְלֹ֣א אֶפְחָ֑ד כִּֽי־עׇזִּ֤י וְזִמְרָת֙ יָ֣הּ יְהֹוָ֔ה וַֽיְהִי־לִ֖י לִֽישׁוּעָֽה׃ Behold the God who gives me triumph!
I am confident, unafraid;
For Yah^aYah A shortened form of this deity’s personal name, which is written as y-h-w-h. — GOD —is my strength and might,^bmight In contrast to others “song.”
And has been my deliverance.”

וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם־מַ֖יִם בְּשָׂשׂ֑וֹן מִמַּעַיְנֵ֖י הַיְשׁוּעָֽה׃ Joyfully shall you draw water
From the fountains of triumph,

וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֞ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא הוֹד֤וּ לַֽיהֹוָה֙ קִרְא֣וּ בִשְׁמ֔וֹ הוֹדִ֥יעוּ בָעַמִּ֖ים עֲלִילֹתָ֑יו הַזְכִּ֕ירוּ כִּ֥י נִשְׂגָּ֖ב שְׁמֽוֹ׃ And you shall say on that day:
“Praise GOD, proclaim the divine name.
Make God’s deeds known among the peoples;
Declare that the divine name is exalted.

זַמְּר֣וּ יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֥י גֵא֖וּת עָשָׂ֑ה (מידעת) [מוּדַ֥עַת] זֹ֖את בְּכׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ Hymn GOD,
Who has done gloriously;
Let this be made known
In all the world!

צַהֲלִ֥י וָרֹ֖נִּי יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת צִיּ֑וֹן כִּי־גָד֥וֹל בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְ קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {ס}         Oh, shout for joy,
You who dwell in Zion!
For great in your midst
Is the Holy One of Israel.”

מַשָּׂ֖א בָּבֶ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָזָ֔ה יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־אָמֽוֹץ׃ The “Babylon” Pronouncement, a prophecy of Isaiah son of Amoz.

עַ֤ל הַר־נִשְׁפֶּה֙ שְֽׂאוּ־נֵ֔ס הָרִ֥ימוּ ק֖וֹל לָהֶ֑ם הָנִ֣יפוּ יָ֔ד וְיָבֹ֖אוּ פִּתְחֵ֥י נְדִיבִֽים׃ “Raise a standard upon a bare hill,
Cry aloud to them;
Wave a hand, and let them enter
The gates of the nobles!

אֲנִ֥י צִוֵּ֖יתִי לִמְקֻדָּשָׁ֑י גַּ֣ם קָרָ֤אתִי גִבּוֹרַי֙ לְאַפִּ֔י עַלִּיזֵ֖י גַּֽאֲוָתִֽי׃ I have summoned My purified guests
To execute My wrath;
Behold, I have called My stalwarts,
My proudly exultant ones.”^aThe impending slaughter is spoken of as a sacrificial meal, for which the guests were notified to purify themselves ritually; cf. Zeph. 1.7.

ק֥וֹל הָמ֛וֹן בֶּהָרִ֖ים דְּמ֣וּת עַם־רָ֑ב ק֠וֹל שְׁא֞וֹן מַמְלְכ֤וֹת גּוֹיִם֙ נֶֽאֱסָפִ֔ים יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת מְפַקֵּ֖ד צְבָ֥א מִלְחָמָֽה׃ Hark! a tumult on the mountains—
As of^bAs of Meaning of Heb. uncertain. a mighty force;
Hark! an uproar of kingdoms,
Nations assembling!
GOD of Hosts is mustering
A host for war.

בָּאִ֛ים מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מֶרְחָ֖ק מִקְצֵ֣ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם יְהֹוָה֙ וּכְלֵ֣י זַעְמ֔וֹ לְחַבֵּ֖ל כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ {ס}         They come from a distant land,
From the end of the sky—
GOD with the weapons of divine wrath—
To ravage all the earth!

הֵילִ֕ילוּ כִּ֥י קָר֖וֹב י֣וֹם יְהֹוָ֑ה כְּשֹׁ֖ד מִשַּׁדַּ֥י יָבֽוֹא׃ Howl!
For the day of GOD is near;
It shall come like havoc from Shaddai.^cShaddai Traditionally rendered “the Almighty.”

עַל־כֵּ֖ן כׇּל־יָדַ֣יִם תִּרְפֶּ֑ינָה וְכׇל־לְבַ֥ב אֱנ֖וֹשׁ יִמָּֽס׃ Therefore all hands shall grow limp,
And every human heart shall sink;

וְֽנִבְהָ֓לוּ ׀ צִירִ֤ים וַֽחֲבָלִים֙ יֹֽאחֵז֔וּן כַּיּוֹלֵדָ֖ה יְחִיל֑וּן אִ֤ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ יִתְמָ֔הוּ פְּנֵ֥י לְהָבִ֖ים פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃ And, overcome by terror,
They shall be seized by pangs and throes,
Writhe like a woman in travail.
All shall gaze at each other in horror,
Their faces livid with fright.^dlivid with fright Taking the root lhb as a variant of bhl; in contrast to others “shall be faces of flame.”

הִנֵּ֤ה יוֹם־יְהֹוָה֙ בָּ֔א אַכְזָרִ֥י וְעֶבְרָ֖ה וַחֲר֣וֹן אָ֑ף לָשׂ֤וּם הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה וְחַטָּאֶ֖יהָ יַשְׁמִ֥יד מִמֶּֽנָּה׃ Lo! The day of GOD is coming
With pitiless fury and wrath,
To make the earth a desolation,
To wipe out the sinners upon it.

כִּֽי־כוֹכְבֵ֤י הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וּכְסִ֣ילֵיהֶ֔ם לֹ֥א יָהֵ֖לּוּ אוֹרָ֑ם חָשַׁ֤ךְ הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ בְּצֵאת֔וֹ וְיָרֵ֖חַ לֹֽא־יַגִּ֥יהַּ אוֹרֽוֹ׃ The stars and constellations of heaven
Shall not give off their light;
The sun shall be dark when it rises,
And the moon shall diffuse no glow.

וּפָקַדְתִּ֤י עַל־תֵּבֵל֙ רָעָ֔ה וְעַל־רְשָׁעִ֖ים עֲוֺנָ֑ם וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי֙ גְּא֣וֹן זֵדִ֔ים וְגַאֲוַ֥ת עָרִיצִ֖ים אַשְׁפִּֽיל׃ “And I will requite to the world its evil,
And to the wicked their iniquity;
I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant
And humble the haughtiness of tyrants.

אוֹקִ֥יר אֱנ֖וֹשׁ מִפָּ֑ז וְאָדָ֖ם מִכֶּ֥תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃ I will make people scarcer than fine gold,
And mortals [more scarce] than gold of Ophir.”

עַל־כֵּן֙ שָׁמַ֣יִם אַרְגִּ֔יז וְתִרְעַ֥שׁ הָאָ֖רֶץ מִמְּקוֹמָ֑הּ בְּעֶבְרַת֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת וּבְי֖וֹם חֲר֥וֹן אַפּֽוֹ׃ Therefore shall heaven be shaken,^eshall heaven be shaken Lit. “I will shake heaven.”
And earth leap out of its place,
At the fury of GOD of Hosts
On the day of God’s burning wrath.

וְהָיָה֙ כִּצְבִ֣י מֻדָּ֔ח וּכְצֹ֖אן וְאֵ֣ין מְקַבֵּ֑ץ אִ֤ישׁ אֶל־עַמּוֹ֙ יִפְנ֔וּ וְאִ֥ישׁ אֶל־אַרְצ֖וֹ יָנֽוּסוּ׃ Then like gazelles that are chased,
And like sheep that no one gathers,
Each man shall turn back to his people,
They shall flee every one to his land.

כׇּל־הַנִּמְצָ֖א יִדָּקֵ֑ר וְכׇל־הַנִּסְפֶּ֖ה יִפּ֥וֹל בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ All who remain shall be pierced through,
All who are caught^fare caught Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “flee.”
Shall fall by the sword.

וְעֹלְלֵיהֶ֥ם יְרֻטְּשׁ֖וּ לְעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם יִשַּׁ֙סּוּ֙ בָּתֵּיהֶ֔ם וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם (תשגלנה) [תִּשָּׁכַֽבְנָה]׃ And their babes shall be dashed to pieces in their sight,
Their homes shall be plundered,
And their wives shall be raped.

הִנְנִ֛י מֵעִ֥יר עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם אֶת־מָדָ֑י אֲשֶׁר־כֶּ֙סֶף֙ לֹ֣א יַחְשֹׁ֔בוּ וְזָהָ֖ב לֹ֥א יַחְפְּצוּ־בֽוֹ׃ “Behold,
I stir up the Medes against them,
Who do not value silver
Or delight in gold.

וּקְשָׁת֖וֹת נְעָרִ֣ים תְּרַטַּ֑שְׁנָה וּפְרִי־בֶ֙טֶן֙ לֹ֣א יְרַחֵ֔מוּ עַל־בָּנִ֖ים לֹא־תָח֥וּס עֵינָֽם׃ Their bows shall shatter the young;
They shall show no pity to infants,
They shall not spare the children.”

וְהָיְתָ֤ה בָבֶל֙ צְבִ֣י מַמְלָכ֔וֹת תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת גְּא֣וֹן כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים כְּמַהְפֵּכַ֣ת אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת־סְדֹ֖ם וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָֽה׃ And Babylon, glory of kingdoms,
Proud splendor of the Chaldeans,
Shall become like Sodom and Gomorrah
Overturned by God.

לֹא־תֵשֵׁ֣ב לָנֶ֔צַח וְלֹ֥א תִשְׁכֹּ֖ן עַד־דּ֣וֹר וָד֑וֹר וְלֹא־יַהֵ֥ל שָׁם֙ עֲרָבִ֔י וְרֹעִ֖ים לֹא־יַרְבִּ֥צוּ שָֽׁם׃ Nevermore shall it be settled
Nor dwelt in through all the ages.
No Arab shall pitch his tent there,
No shepherds make flocks lie down there.

וְרָבְצוּ־שָׁ֣ם צִיִּ֔ים וּמָלְא֥וּ בָתֵּיהֶ֖ם אֹחִ֑ים וְשָׁ֤כְנוּ שָׁם֙ בְּנ֣וֹת יַעֲנָ֔ה וּשְׂעִירִ֖ים יְרַקְּדוּ־שָֽׁם׃ But beasts^gbeasts Meaning of Heb. uncertain. shall lie down there,
And the houses be filled with owls;^howls Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
There shall ostriches make their home,
And there shall satyrs dance.

וְעָנָ֤ה אִיִּים֙ בְּאַלְמְנוֹתָ֔יו וְתַנִּ֖ים בְּהֵ֣יכְלֵי עֹ֑נֶג וְקָר֤וֹב לָבוֹא֙ עִתָּ֔הּ וְיָמֶ֖יהָ לֹ֥א יִמָּשֵֽׁכוּ׃ And jackalsⁱjackals Meaning of Heb. uncertain. shall abide in its castles
And dragons^jdragons Meaning of Heb. uncertain. in the palaces of pleasure.
Her hour is close at hand;
Her days will not be long.

כִּי֩ יְרַחֵ֨ם יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֗ב וּבָחַ֥ר עוֹד֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהִנִּיחָ֖ם עַל־אַדְמָתָ֑ם וְנִלְוָ֤ה הַגֵּר֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְנִסְפְּח֖וּ עַל־בֵּ֥ית יַעֲקֹֽב׃ But GOD will pardon Jacob, and will again choose Israel, and will settle them on their own soil. And strangers shall join them and shall cleave to the House of Jacob.

וּלְקָח֣וּם עַמִּים֮ וֶהֱבִיא֣וּם אֶל־מְקוֹמָם֒ וְהִֽתְנַחֲל֣וּם בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל עַ֚ל אַדְמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה לַעֲבָדִ֖ים וְלִשְׁפָח֑וֹת וְהָיוּ֙ שֹׁבִ֣ים לְשֹׁבֵיהֶ֔ם וְרָד֖וּ בְּנֹגְשֵׂיהֶֽם׃ {ס}         For peoples shall take them^athem I.e., the House of Jacob. and bring them to their homeland; and the House of Israel shall possess them^bthem I.e., the peoples. as slaves and handmaids on GOD’s soil. They shall be captors of their captors and masters to their taskmasters.

וְהָיָ֗ה בְּי֨וֹם הָנִ֤יחַ יְהֹוָה֙ לְךָ֔ מֵֽעׇצְבְּךָ֖ וּמִֽרׇגְזֶ֑ךָ וּמִן־הָעֲבֹדָ֥ה הַקָּשָׁ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֻבַּד־בָּֽךְ׃ And when GOD has given you rest from your sorrow and trouble, and from the hard service that you were made to serve,

וְנָשָׂ֜אתָ הַמָּשָׁ֥ל הַזֶּ֛ה עַל־מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל וְאָמָ֑רְתָּ אֵ֚יךְ שָׁבַ֣ת נֹגֵ֔שׂ שָׁבְתָ֖ה מַדְהֵבָֽה׃ you shall recite this song of scorn over the king of Babylon:
How is the taskmaster vanished,
How is oppression^coppression Reading marhebah with 1QIsᵃ (cf. Septuagint). The traditional reading madhebah is of unknown meaning. ended!

שָׁבַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה מַטֵּ֣ה רְשָׁעִ֑ים שֵׁ֖בֶט מֹֽשְׁלִֽים׃ GOD has broken the staff of the wicked,
The rod of tyrants,

מַכֶּ֤ה עַמִּים֙ בְּעֶבְרָ֔ה מַכַּ֖ת בִּלְתִּ֣י סָרָ֑ה רֹדֶ֤ה בָאַף֙ גּוֹיִ֔ם מֻרְדָּ֖ף בְּלִ֥י חָשָֽׂךְ׃ That smote peoples in wrath
With stroke unceasing,
That belabored nations in fury
In relentless pursuit.

נָ֥חָה שָׁקְטָ֖ה כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ פָּצְח֖וּ רִנָּֽה׃ All the earth is calm, untroubled;
Loudly it cheers.

גַּם־בְּרוֹשִׁ֛ים שָׂמְח֥וּ לְךָ֖ אַרְזֵ֣י לְבָנ֑וֹן מֵאָ֣ז שָׁכַ֔בְתָּ לֹא־יַעֲלֶ֥ה הַכֹּרֵ֖ת עָלֵֽינוּ׃ Even pines rejoice at your fate,
And cedars of Lebanon:
“Now that you have lain down,
None shall come up to fell us.”

שְׁא֗וֹל מִתַּ֛חַת רָגְזָ֥ה לְךָ֖ לִקְרַ֣את בּוֹאֶ֑ךָ עוֹרֵ֨ר לְךָ֤ רְפָאִים֙ כׇּל־עַתּ֣וּדֵי אָ֔רֶץ הֵקִים֙ מִכִּסְאוֹתָ֔ם כֹּ֖ל מַלְכֵ֥י גוֹיִֽם׃ Sheol below was astir
To greet your coming—
Rousing for you the shades
Of all earth’s chieftains,
Raising from their thrones
All the kings of nations.

כֻּלָּ֣ם יַעֲנ֔וּ וְיֹאמְר֖וּ אֵלֶ֑יךָ גַּם־אַתָּ֛ה חֻלֵּ֥יתָ כָמ֖וֹנוּ אֵלֵ֥ינוּ נִמְשָֽׁלְתָּ׃ All speak up and say to you,
“So you have been stricken as we were,
You have become like us!

הוּרַ֥ד שְׁא֛וֹל גְּאוֹנֶ֖ךָ הֶמְיַ֣ת נְבָלֶ֑יךָ תַּחְתֶּ֙יךָ֙ יֻצַּ֣ע רִמָּ֔ה וּמְכַסֶּ֖יךָ תּוֹלֵעָֽה׃ Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,
And the strains of your lutes!
Worms are to be your bed,
Maggots your blanket!”

אֵ֛יךְ נָפַ֥לְתָּ מִשָּׁמַ֖יִם הֵילֵ֣ל בֶּן־שָׁ֑חַר נִגְדַּ֣עְתָּ לָאָ֔רֶץ חוֹלֵ֖שׁ עַל־גּוֹיִֽם׃ How are you fallen from heaven,
O Shining One, son of Dawn!^dShining One, son of Dawn A character in some lost myth.
How are you felled to earth,
O vanquisher of nations!

וְאַתָּ֞ה אָמַ֤רְתָּ בִֽלְבָבְךָ֙ הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם אֶעֱלֶ֔ה מִמַּ֥עַל לְכוֹכְבֵי־אֵ֖ל אָרִ֣ים כִּסְאִ֑י וְאֵשֵׁ֥ב בְּהַר־מוֹעֵ֖ד בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥י צָפֽוֹן׃ Once you thought in your heart,
“I will climb to the sky;
Higher than the stars of God
I will set my throne.
I will sit in the mount of assembly,^eassembly I.e., the assembly of the gods in council.
On the summit of Zaphon:^fthe summit of Zaphon The abode of the gods; cf. Ps. 48.3.

אֶֽעֱלֶ֖ה עַל־בָּ֣מֳתֵי עָ֑ב אֶדַּמֶּ֖ה לְעֶלְיֽוֹן׃ I will mount the back of a cloud—
I will match the Most High.”

אַ֧ךְ אֶל־שְׁא֛וֹל תּוּרָ֖ד אֶל־יַרְכְּתֵי־בֽוֹר׃ Instead, you are brought down to Sheol,
To the bottom of the Pit.^gthe bottom of the Pit A region of the netherworld reserved for those who have not received decent burial; cf. Ezek. 32.21ff.

רֹאֶ֙יךָ֙ אֵלֶ֣יךָ יַשְׁגִּ֔יחוּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ יִתְבּוֹנָ֑נוּ הֲזֶ֤ה הָאִישׁ֙ מַרְגִּ֣יז הָאָ֔רֶץ מַרְעִ֖ישׁ מַמְלָכֽוֹת׃ They who behold you stare;
They peer at you closely:
“Is this the man
Who shook the earth,
Who made realms tremble,

שָׂ֥ם תֵּבֵ֛ל כַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְעָרָ֣יו הָרָ֑ס אֲסִירָ֖יו לֹא־פָ֥תַח בָּֽיְתָה׃ Who made the world like a waste
And wrecked its towns,
Who never released his prisoners to their homes?”

כׇּל־מַלְכֵ֥י גוֹיִ֖ם כֻּלָּ֑ם שָׁכְב֥וּ בְכָב֖וֹד אִ֥ישׁ בְּבֵיתֽוֹ׃ All the kings of nations
Were laid, every one, in honor^hWho never released … in honor Emendation yields “Who chained to his palace gate / All the kings of nations? / Yet they were all laid in honor…” The practice of chaining captive chieftains to gates is attested in Mesopotamia.
Each in his tomb;

וְאַתָּ֞ה הׇשְׁלַ֤כְתָּ מִֽקִּבְרְךָ֙ כְּנֵ֣צֶר נִתְעָ֔ב לְבֻ֥שׁ הֲרֻגִ֖ים מְטֹ֣עֲנֵי חָ֑רֶב יוֹרְדֵ֥י אֶל־אַבְנֵי־ב֖וֹר כְּפֶ֥גֶר מוּבָֽס׃ While you were left lying unburied,
Like loathsome carrion,ⁱcarrion So several ancient versions; cf. postbiblical neṣel, “putrefying flesh or blood.”
Like a trampled corpse
[In] the clothing of slain gashed by the sword
Who sink to the very stones of the Pit.

לֹֽא־תֵחַ֤ד אִתָּם֙ בִּקְבוּרָ֔ה כִּי־אַרְצְךָ֥ שִׁחַ֖תָּ עַמְּךָ֣ הָרָ֑גְתָּ לֹא־יִקָּרֵ֥א לְעוֹלָ֖ם זֶ֥רַע מְרֵעִֽים׃ You shall not have a burial like them;
Because you destroyed your country,
Murdered your people.^jyour country, / Murdered your people Emendation yields “…countries, / Murdered peoples.”
Let the breed of evildoers
Nevermore be named!

הָכִ֧ינוּ לְבָנָ֛יו מַטְבֵּ֖חַ בַּעֲוֺ֣ן אֲבוֹתָ֑ם בַּל־יָקֻ֙מוּ֙ וְיָ֣רְשׁוּ אָ֔רֶץ וּמָלְא֥וּ פְנֵי־תֵבֵ֖ל עָרִֽים׃ Prepare a slaughtering block for his sons^khis sons As potential heirs to the throne; cf. Kimhi.
Because of the guilt of their father.^lfather Heb. “fathers.”
Let them not arise to possess the earth!
Then the world’s face shall be covered with towns.

וְקַמְתִּ֣י עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת וְהִכְרַתִּ֨י לְבָבֶ֜ל שֵׁ֥ם וּשְׁאָ֛ר וְנִ֥ין וָנֶ֖כֶד נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ I will rise up against them—declares GOD of Hosts—and will wipe out from Babylon name and remnant, kith and kin—declares GOD —

וְשַׂמְתִּ֛יהָ לְמוֹרַ֥שׁ קִפֹּ֖ד וְאַגְמֵי־מָ֑יִם וְטֵאטֵאתִ֙יהָ֙ בְּמַטְאֲטֵ֣א הַשְׁמֵ֔ד נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ {ס}         and I will make it a home of bitterns,^mbitterns Meaning of Heb. uncertain. pools of water. I will sweep it with a broom of extermination—declares GOD of Hosts.

נִשְׁבַּ֛ע יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־לֹ֞א כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר דִּמִּ֙יתִי֙ כֵּ֣ן הָיָ֔תָה וְכַאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָעַ֖צְתִּי הִ֥יא תָקֽוּם׃ GOD of Hosts has sworn this oath:
“As I have designed, so shall it happen;
What I have planned, that shall come to pass:

לִשְׁבֹּ֤ר אַשּׁוּר֙ בְּאַרְצִ֔י וְעַל־הָרַ֖י אֲבוּסֶ֑נּוּ וְסָ֤ר מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶם֙ עֻלּ֔וֹ וְסֻ֨בֳּל֔וֹ מֵעַ֥ל שִׁכְמ֖וֹ יָסֽוּר׃ To break Assyria in My land,
To crush him on My mountain.”ⁿMy mountain Heb. “My mountains”; for the designation of the entire land of Israel as GOD’s mountain, cf. 11.9.
And his yoke shall drop off them,
And his burden shall drop from their^otheir Heb. “his.” backs.^pAnd his yoke … backs These lines would read well after v. 26.

זֹ֛את הָעֵצָ֥ה הַיְּעוּצָ֖ה עַל־כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְזֹ֛את הַיָּ֥ד הַנְּטוּיָ֖ה עַל־כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִֽם׃ That is the plan that is planned
For all the earth;
That is why an arm is poised
Over all the nations.

כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֧ה צְבָא֛וֹת יָעָ֖ץ וּמִ֣י יָפֵ֑ר וְיָד֥וֹ הַנְּטוּיָ֖ה וּמִ֥י יְשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃ {פ}
For GOD of Hosts has planned,
Who then can foil it?
It is the divine arm that is poised,
And who can stay it?

בִּשְׁנַת־מ֖וֹת הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אָחָ֑ז הָיָ֖ה הַמַּשָּׂ֥א הַזֶּֽה׃ This pronouncement was made in the year that King Ahaz died:

אַֽל־תִּשְׂמְחִ֤י פְלֶ֙שֶׁת֙ כֻּלֵּ֔ךְ כִּ֥י נִשְׁבַּ֖ר שֵׁ֣בֶט מַכֵּ֑ךְ כִּֽי־מִשֹּׁ֤רֶשׁ נָחָשׁ֙ יֵ֣צֵא צֶ֔פַע וּפִרְי֖וֹ שָׂרָ֥ף מְעוֹפֵֽף׃ Rejoice not, all Philistia,
Because the staff of him that beat you is broken.
For from the stock of a snake there sprouts an asp,
A flying seraph ^qseraph In contrast to others “fiery serpent”; cf. Num. 21.6, 8. branches out from it.

וְרָעוּ֙ בְּכוֹרֵ֣י דַלִּ֔ים וְאֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים לָבֶ֣טַח יִרְבָּ֑צוּ וְהֵמַתִּ֤י בָרָעָב֙ שׇׁרְשֵׁ֔ךְ וּשְׁאֵרִיתֵ֖ךְ יַהֲרֹֽג׃ The first-born of the poor shall graze^rThe first-born of the poor shall graze Emendation yields “The poor shall graze in his pasture.”
And the destitute lie down secure.^sThe first-born … lie down secure These lines would read well after v. 32.
I will kill your stock by famine,^tI will kill your stock by famine Emendation yields “It shall kill your offspring with its venom (zarʻekh beroʼsho).”
And it shall slay the very last of you.

הֵילִ֤ילִֽי שַׁ֙עַר֙ זַֽעֲקִי־עִ֔יר נָמ֖וֹג פְּלֶ֣שֶׁת כֻּלֵּ֑ךְ כִּ֤י מִצָּפוֹן֙ עָשָׁ֣ן בָּ֔א וְאֵ֥ין בּוֹדֵ֖ד בְּמוֹעָדָֽיו׃ Howl, O gate; cry out, O city;
Quake, all Philistia!
For a stout one is coming from the north
And there is no straggler in his ranks.^uFor a stout one … in his ranks Meaning of Heb. uncertain; the rendering “stout one” is suggested by the Syriac ʻashshīn.

וּמַֽה־יַּעֲנֶ֖ה מַלְאֲכֵי־ג֑וֹי כִּ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ יִסַּ֣ד צִיּ֔וֹן וּבָ֥הּ יֶחֱס֖וּ עֲנִיֵּ֥י עַמּֽוֹ׃ {פ}
And what will he answer the messengers of any nation?
That Zion has been established by GOD:
In it, the needy of this covenanted people shall find shelter.

מַשָּׂ֖א מוֹאָ֑ב כִּ֠י בְּלֵ֞יל שֻׁדַּ֨ד עָ֤ר מוֹאָב֙ נִדְמָ֔ה כִּ֗י בְּלֵ֛יל שֻׁדַּ֥ד קִיר־מוֹאָ֖ב נִדְמָֽה׃ The “Moab” Pronouncement.
Ah, in the night Ar was sacked,
Moab was ruined;
Ah, in the night Kir was sacked,
Moab was ruined.

עָלָ֨ה הַבַּ֧יִת וְדִיבֹ֛ן הַבָּמ֖וֹת לְבֶ֑כִי עַל־נְב֞וֹ וְעַ֤ל מֵֽידְבָא֙ מוֹאָ֣ב יְיֵלִ֔יל בְּכׇל־רֹאשָׁ֣יו קׇרְחָ֔ה כׇּל־זָקָ֖ן גְּרוּעָֽה׃ He went up to the temple to weep,
Dibon^aDibon Regarded as the principal city of Moab. [went] to the outdoor shrines.
Over Nebo and Medeba
Moab is wailing;
On every head is baldness,
Every beard is shorn.

בְּחוּצֹתָ֖יו חָ֣גְרוּ שָׂ֑ק עַ֣ל גַּגּוֹתֶ֧יהָ וּבִרְחֹבֹתֶ֛יהָ כֻּלֹּ֥ה יְיֵלִ֖יל יֹרֵ֥ד בַּבֶּֽכִי׃ In its streets, they are girt with sackcloth;
On its roofs, in its squares,
Everyone is wailing,
Streaming with tears.

וַתִּזְעַ֤ק חֶשְׁבּוֹן֙ וְאֶלְעָלֵ֔ה עַד־יַ֖הַץ נִשְׁמַ֣ע קוֹלָ֑ם עַל־כֵּ֗ן חֲלֻצֵ֤י מוֹאָב֙ יָרִ֔יעוּ נַפְשׁ֖וֹ יָ֥רְעָה לּֽוֹ׃ Heshbon and Elealeh cry out,
Their voice carries to Jahaz.
Therefore,
The shock troops of Moab shout,^bThe shock troops of Moab shout Change of vocalization yields “The loins of Moab are trembling.”
His body is convulsed.

לִבִּי֙ לְמוֹאָ֣ב יִזְעָ֔ק בְּרִיחֶ֕הָ עַד־צֹ֖עַר עֶגְלַ֣ת שְׁלִשִׁיָּ֑ה כִּ֣י ׀ מַעֲלֵ֣ה הַלּוּחִ֗ית בִּבְכִי֙ יַֽעֲלֶה־בּ֔וֹ כִּ֚י דֶּ֣רֶךְ חוֹרֹנַ֔יִם זַעֲקַת־שֶׁ֖בֶר יְעֹעֵֽרוּ׃ My heart cries out for Moab—
His fugitives flee down to Zoar,
To Eglath-shelishiyah.
For the ascent of Luhith
They ascend with weeping;
On the road to Horonaim
They raise a cry of anguish.

כִּי־מֵ֥י נִמְרִ֖ים מְשַׁמּ֣וֹת יִֽהְי֑וּ כִּֽי־יָבֵ֤שׁ חָצִיר֙ כָּ֣לָה דֶ֔שֶׁא יֶ֖רֶק לֹ֥א הָיָֽה׃ Ah, the Waters of Nimrim
Are become a desolation;
The grass is sear,
The herbage is gone,
Vegetation is vanished.

עַל־כֵּ֖ן יִתְרָ֣ה עָשָׂ֑ה וּ֨פְקֻדָּתָ֔ם עַ֛ל נַ֥חַל הָעֲרָבִ֖ים יִשָּׂאֽוּם׃ Therefore,
The gains they have made, and their stores,
They carry to the Wadi of Willows.

כִּי־הִקִּ֥יפָה הַזְּעָקָ֖ה אֶת־גְּב֣וּל מוֹאָ֑ב עַד־אֶגְלַ֙יִם֙ יִלְלָתָ֔הּ וּבְאֵ֥ר אֵילִ֖ים יִלְלָתָֽהּ׃ Ah, the cry has compassed
The country of Moab:
All the way to Eglaim her wailing,
Even at Beer-elim her wailing!

כִּ֣י מֵ֤י דִימוֹן֙ מָ֣לְאוּ דָ֔ם כִּֽי־אָשִׁ֥ית עַל־דִּימ֖וֹן נוֹסָפ֑וֹת לִפְלֵיטַ֤ת מוֹאָב֙ אַרְיֵ֔ה וְלִשְׁאֵרִ֖ית אֲדָמָֽה׃ Ah, the waters of Dimon are full of blood^cblood Emendation yields “tears.”
For I pour added [water] on Dimon;
I drench^ddrench Cf. 16.9. it—for Moab’s refugees—
With soil^esoil Emendation yields “tears”; cf. Ugaritic ʼdmʻt. for its remnant.

שִׁלְחוּ־כַ֥ר מֹשֵֽׁל־אֶ֖רֶץ מִסֶּ֣לַע מִדְבָּ֑רָה אֶל־הַ֖ר בַּת־צִיּֽוֹן׃ ^aMeaning of this verse and the next uncertain. Dispatch as messenger
The ruler of the land,
From Sela in the wilderness
To the mount of Fair Zion:

וְהָיָ֥ה כְעוֹף־נוֹדֵ֖ד קֵ֣ן מְשֻׁלָּ֑ח תִּֽהְיֶ֙ינָה֙ בְּנ֣וֹת מוֹאָ֔ב מַעְבָּרֹ֖ת לְאַרְנֽוֹן׃ “Like fugitive birds,
Like nestlings driven away,
Moab’s villagers linger
By the fords of the Arnon.

(הביאו) [הָבִ֤יאִי] עֵצָה֙ עֲשׂ֣וּ פְלִילָ֔ה שִׁ֧יתִי כַלַּ֛יִל צִלֵּ֖ךְ בְּת֣וֹךְ צׇהֳרָ֑יִם סַתְּרִי֙ נִדָּחִ֔ים נֹדֵ֖ד אַל־תְּגַלִּֽי׃ Give advice,
Offer counsel.^bOffer counsel Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
At high noon make
Your shadow like night:
Conceal the outcasts,
Betray not the fugitives.

יָג֤וּרוּ בָךְ֙ נִדָּחַ֔י מוֹאָ֛ב הֱוִי־סֵ֥תֶר לָ֖מוֹ מִפְּנֵ֣י שׁוֹדֵ֑ד כִּֽי־אָפֵ֤ס הַמֵּץ֙ כָּ֣לָה שֹׁ֔ד תַּ֥מּוּ רֹמֵ֖ס מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ {ס}         Let Moab’s outcasts^cMoab’s outcasts Heb. “my outcasts, Moab.”
Find asylum in you;
Be a shelter for them
Against the despoiler.”
For violence has vanished,
Rapine is ended,
And marauders have perished from this land.

וְהוּכַ֤ן בַּחֶ֙סֶד֙ כִּסֵּ֔א וְיָשַׁ֥ב עָלָ֛יו בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת בְּאֹ֣הֶל דָּוִ֑ד שֹׁפֵ֛ט וְדֹרֵ֥שׁ מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּמְהִ֥ר צֶֽדֶק׃ And a throne shall be established in goodness
In the tent of David,
And on it shall sit in faithfulness
A ruler devoted to justice
And zealous for equity.^dHere 14.32 would read well.

שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ גְאוֹן־מוֹאָ֖ב גֵּ֣א מְאֹ֑ד גַּאֲוָת֧וֹ וּגְאוֹנ֛וֹ וְעֶבְרָת֖וֹ לֹא־כֵ֥ן בַּדָּֽיו׃ “We have heard of Moab’s pride—
Most haughty is he—
Of his pride and haughtiness and arrogance,
And of the iniquity in him.”^ein him Heb. baddaw is a suffixed form of the preposition bede: Nah. 2.13; Hab. 2.13; Job 39.25; with suffixes, Job 11.3; 41.4.

לָכֵ֗ן יְיֵלִ֥יל מוֹאָ֛ב לְמוֹאָ֖ב כֻּלֹּ֣ה יְיֵלִ֑יל לַאֲשִׁישֵׁ֧י קִיר־חֲרֶ֛שֶׂת תֶּהְגּ֖וּ אַךְ־נְכָאִֽים׃ Ah, let Moab howl;
Let all in Moab howl!
For the raisin-cakes^fraisin-cakes Cf. Jer. 48.36 “men.” of Kir-hareseth
You shall moan most pitifully.

כִּ֣י שַׁדְמוֹת֩ חֶשְׁבּ֨וֹן אֻמְלָ֜ל גֶּ֣פֶן שִׂבְמָ֗ה בַּעֲלֵ֤י גוֹיִם֙ הָלְמ֣וּ שְׂרוּקֶּ֔יהָ עַד־יַעְזֵ֥ר נָגָ֖עוּ תָּ֣עוּ מִדְבָּ֑ר שְׁלֻ֣חוֹתֶ֔יהָ נִטְּשׁ֖וּ עָ֥בְרוּ יָֽם׃ The vineyards of Heshbon are withered,
And the vines of Sibmah;
Their tendrils spread
To Baale-goiim,^gTheir tendrils spread / To Baale-goiim Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
And reached to Jazer,
And strayed to the desert;
Their shoots spread out
And crossed the sea.

עַל־כֵּ֡ן אֶבְכֶּ֞ה בִּבְכִ֤י יַעְזֵר֙ גֶּ֣פֶן שִׂבְמָ֔ה אֲרַיָּ֙וֶךְ֙ דִּמְעָתִ֔י חֶשְׁבּ֖וֹן וְאֶלְעָלֵ֑ה כִּ֧י עַל־קֵיצֵ֛ךְ וְעַל־קְצִירֵ֖ךְ הֵידָ֥ד נָפָֽל׃ Therefore,
As I weep for Jazer,
So I weep for Sibmah’s vines;
O Heshbon and Elealeh,
I drench you with my tears.
Ended are the shouts
Over your fig and grain harvests.^hEnded are the shouts / Over your fig and grain harvests Cf. Jer. 48.32 “A ravager has come down / Upon your fig and grape harvests.”

וְנֶאֱסַ֨ף שִׂמְחָ֤ה וָגִיל֙ מִן־הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל וּבַכְּרָמִ֥ים לֹֽא־יְרֻנָּ֖ן לֹ֣א יְרֹעָ֑ע יַ֗יִן בַּיְקָבִ֛ים לֹא־יִדְרֹ֥ךְ הַדֹּרֵ֖ךְ הֵידָ֥ד הִשְׁבַּֽתִּי׃ Rejoicing and gladness
Are gone from the farmland;
In the vineyards no shouting
Or cheering is heard.
No more does the treader
Tread wine in the presses—
The shouts have been silenced.ⁱhave been silenced Lit. “I have silenced.”

עַל־כֵּן֙ מֵעַ֣י לְמוֹאָ֔ב כַּכִּנּ֖וֹר יֶהֱמ֑וּ וְקִרְבִּ֖י לְקִ֥יר חָֽרֶשׂ׃ Therefore,
Like a lyre my heart moans for Moab,
And my very soul for Kir-heres.

וְהָיָ֧ה כִֽי־נִרְאָ֛ה כִּֽי־נִלְאָ֥ה מוֹאָ֖ב עַל־הַבָּמָ֑ה וּבָ֧א אֶל־מִקְדָּשׁ֛וֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל וְלֹ֥א יוּכָֽל׃ {ס}         And when it has become apparent that Moab has gained nothing in the outdoor shrine, he shall come to pray in his temple—but to no avail.

זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־מוֹאָ֖ב מֵאָֽז׃ That is the word that GOD spoke concerning Moab long ago.

וְעַתָּ֗ה דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהֹוָה֮ לֵאמֹר֒ בְּשָׁלֹ֤שׁ שָׁנִים֙ כִּשְׁנֵ֣י שָׂכִ֔יר וְנִקְלָה֙ כְּב֣וֹד מוֹאָ֔ב בְּכֹ֖ל הֶהָמ֣וֹן הָרָ֑ב וּשְׁאָ֥ר מְעַ֛ט מִזְעָ֖ר ל֥וֹא כַבִּֽיר׃ {פ}
And now GOD has spoken: In three years, fixed like the years of a hired laborer, Moab’s population, with all its huge multitude, shall shrink. Only a remnant shall be left, of no consequence.

מַשָּׂ֖א דַּמָּ֑שֶׂק הִנֵּ֤ה דַמֶּ֙שֶׂק֙ מוּסָ֣ר מֵעִ֔יר וְהָיְתָ֖ה מְעִ֥י מַפָּלָֽה׃ The “Damascus” Pronouncement.
Behold,
Damascus shall cease to be a city;
It shall become a heap of ruins.

עֲזֻב֖וֹת עָרֵ֣י עֲרֹעֵ֑ר לַעֲדָרִ֣ים תִּֽהְיֶ֔ינָה וְרָבְצ֖וּ וְאֵ֥ין מַֽחֲרִֽיד׃ The towns of Aroer shall be deserted;^aThe towns of Aroer shall be deserted Emendation yields (cf. Septuagint) “Its towns shall be deserted forevermore.”
They shall be a place for flocks
To lie down, with none disturbing.

וְנִשְׁבַּ֤ת מִבְצָר֙ מֵאֶפְרַ֔יִם וּמַמְלָכָ֥ה מִדַּמֶּ֖שֶׂק וּשְׁאָ֣ר אֲרָ֑ם כִּכְב֤וֹד בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יִֽהְי֔וּ נְאֻ֖ם יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ {פ}
Fortresses shall cease from Ephraim,^bEphraim Emendation yields “Aram.”
And sovereignty from Damascus;
The remnant of Aram shall become
Like the mass of Israelites
—declares GOD of Hosts.

וְהָיָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא יִדַּ֖ל כְּב֣וֹד יַעֲקֹ֑ב וּמִשְׁמַ֥ן בְּשָׂר֖וֹ יֵרָזֶֽה׃ In that day,
The mass of Jacob shall dwindle,
And the fatness of his body become lean:

וְהָיָ֗ה כֶּֽאֱסֹף֙ קָצִ֣יר קָמָ֔ה וּזְרֹע֖וֹ שִׁבֳּלִ֣ים יִקְצ֑וֹר וְהָיָ֛ה כִּמְלַקֵּ֥ט שִׁבֳּלִ֖ים בְּעֵ֥מֶק רְפָאִֽים׃ After being like the standing grain
Harvested by the reaper—
Who reaps ears by the armful—
He shall be like the ears that are gleaned
In the Valley of Rephaim.

וְנִשְׁאַר־בּ֤וֹ עֽוֹלֵלֹת֙ כְּנֹ֣קֶף זַ֔יִת שְׁנַ֧יִם שְׁלֹשָׁ֛ה גַּרְגְּרִ֖ים בְּרֹ֣אשׁ אָמִ֑יר אַרְבָּעָ֣ה חֲמִשָּׁ֗ה בִּסְעִפֶ֙יהָ֙ פֹּֽרִיָּ֔ה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ Only gleanings shall be left of him,
As when one beats an olive tree:
Two berries or three on the topmost branch,
Four or five on the boughs of the crown^con the boughs of the crown Lit. “on her boughs, the many-branched one.”
—declares the ETERNAL, the God of Israel.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא יִשְׁעֶ֥ה הָאָדָ֖ם עַל־עֹשֵׂ֑הוּ וְעֵינָ֕יו אֶל־קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל תִּרְאֶֽינָה׃ In that day, people shall turn to their Maker, their eyes look to the Holy One of Israel;

וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁעֶ֔ה אֶל־הַֽמִּזְבְּח֖וֹת מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדָ֑יו וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשׂ֤וּ אֶצְבְּעֹתָיו֙ לֹ֣א יִרְאֶ֔ה וְהָאֲשֵׁרִ֖ים וְהָֽחַמָּנִֽים׃ {ס}         they shall not turn to the altars that their own hands made, or look to the sacred posts^dsacred posts Used in worship of the goddess Asherah. and incense stands that their own fingers wrought.

בַּיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא יִֽהְי֣וּ ׀ עָרֵ֣י מָעוּזּ֗וֹ כַּעֲזוּבַ֤ת הַחֹ֙רֶשׁ֙ וְהָ֣אָמִ֔יר אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָֽזְב֔וּ מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהָיְתָ֖ה שְׁמָמָֽה׃ In that day, their fortress cities shall be like the deserted sites that the Horesh and the Amir^ethe Horesh and the Amir Septuagint reads “the Amorites and the Hivites.” abandoned because of the Israelites; and there shall be desolation.

כִּ֤י שָׁכַ֙חַתְּ֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׁעֵ֔ךְ וְצ֥וּר מָעֻזֵּ֖ךְ לֹ֣א זָכָ֑רְתְּ עַל־כֵּ֗ן תִּטְּעִי֙ נִטְעֵ֣י נַעֲמָנִ֔ים וּזְמֹ֥רַת זָ֖ר תִּזְרָעֶֽנּוּ׃ Truly, you have forgotten the God who saves you
And have not remembered the Rock who shelters you;
That is why, though you plant a delightful^fdelightful Emendation yields “true.” So Vulgate (cf. Septuagint); cf. Jer. 2.21. sapling,
What you sow proves a disappointing slip.

בְּי֤וֹם נִטְעֵךְ֙ תְּשַׂגְשֵׂ֔גִי וּבַבֹּ֖קֶר זַרְעֵ֣ךְ תַּפְרִ֑יחִי נֵ֥ד קָצִ֛יר בְּי֥וֹם נַחֲלָ֖ה וּכְאֵ֥ב אָנֽוּשׁ׃ {ס}         On the day that you plant, you see it grow;
On the morning you sow, you see it bud—
But the branches wither away
On a day of sickness and mortal agony.

ה֗וֹי הֲמוֹן֙ עַמִּ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים כַּהֲמ֥וֹת יַמִּ֖ים יֶהֱמָי֑וּן וּשְׁא֣וֹן לְאֻמִּ֔ים כִּשְׁא֛וֹן מַ֥יִם כַּבִּירִ֖ים יִשָּׁאֽוּן׃ Ah, the roar of many peoples
That roar as roars the sea,
The rage of nations that rage
As rage the mighty waters—

לְאֻמִּ֗ים כִּשְׁא֞וֹן מַ֤יִם רַבִּים֙ יִשָּׁא֔וּן וְגָ֥עַר בּ֖וֹ וְנָ֣ס מִמֶּרְחָ֑ק וְרֻדַּ֗ף כְּמֹ֤ץ הָרִים֙ לִפְנֵי־ר֔וּחַ וּכְגַלְגַּ֖ל לִפְנֵ֥י סוּפָֽה׃ Nations raging like massive waters!
But [God] shouts at them, and they flee far away,
Driven like chaff before winds in the hills,
And like tumbleweed before a gale.

לְעֵ֥ת עֶ֙רֶב֙ וְהִנֵּ֣ה בַלָּהָ֔ה בְּטֶ֥רֶם בֹּ֖קֶר אֵינֶ֑נּוּ זֶ֚ה חֵ֣לֶק שׁוֹסֵ֔ינוּ וְגוֹרָ֖ל לְבֹזְזֵֽינוּ׃ {פ}
At eventide, lo, terror!
By morning, it is no more.
Such is the lot of our despoilers,
The portion of them that plunder us.

ה֥וֹי אֶ֖רֶץ צִלְצַ֣ל כְּנָפָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר מֵעֵ֖בֶר לְנַהֲרֵי־כֽוּשׁ׃ Ah,
land in the deep shadow of wings,^aland in the deep shadow of wings Or “Most sheltered land”; cf., e.g., 30.2, 3; Ps. 36.8; 57.2; 61.5.
Beyond the rivers of Cush!

הַשֹּׁלֵ֨חַ בַּיָּ֜ם צִירִ֗ים וּבִכְלֵי־גֹ֘מֶא֮ עַל־פְּנֵי־מַ֒יִם֒ לְכ֣וּ ׀ מַלְאָכִ֣ים קַלִּ֗ים אֶל־גּוֹי֙ מְמֻשָּׁ֣ךְ וּמוֹרָ֔ט אֶל־עַ֥ם נוֹרָ֖א מִן־ה֣וּא וָהָ֑לְאָה גּ֚וֹי קַו־קָ֣ו וּמְבוּסָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־בָּזְא֥וּ נְהָרִ֖ים אַרְצֽוֹ׃ Go, swift messengers,
To a nation far and remote,
To a people thrust forth and away^bfar and remote, / To a people thrust forth and away Meaning of Heb. uncertain. —
A nation of gibber and chatter^cchatter Meaning of Heb. uncertain; cf. 28.10. Biblical writers often characterize distant nations by their unintelligible speech; cf. 33.19; Deut. 28.49; Jer. 5.15. —
Whose land is cut off by streams;
Which sends out envoys by sea,
In papyrus vessels upon the water!^dWhich sends out envoys by sea, / In papyrus vessels upon the water Moved down from beginning of verse for clarity. The Heb. verb for “sends” agrees in gender with “nation,” not with “land.”

כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י תֵבֵ֖ל וְשֹׁ֣כְנֵי אָ֑רֶץ כִּנְשֹׂא־נֵ֤ס הָרִים֙ תִּרְא֔וּ וְכִתְקֹ֥עַ שׁוֹפָ֖ר תִּשְׁמָֽעוּ׃ {ס}         [Say this:]
“All you who live in the world
And inhabit the earth,
When a flag is raised in the hills, take note!
When a ram’s horn is blown, give heed!”

כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י (אשקוטה) [אֶשְׁקֳטָ֖ה] וְאַבִּ֣יטָה בִמְכוֹנִ֑י כְּחֹ֥ם צַח֙ עֲלֵי־א֔וֹר כְּעָ֥ב טַ֖ל בְּחֹ֥ם קָצִֽיר׃ For thus GOD said to me:
“I rest calm and confident^econfident Cf. hibbiṭ “to rely” (Job 6.19). The related noun mabbaṭ occurs with similar meaning in Isa. 20.5, 6. in My habitation—
Like a scorching heat upon sprouts,
Like a rain-cloud in the heat of reaping time.”^fLike a rain-cloud in the heat of reaping time I.e., like a threat of disaster; cf. Eccl. 11.4.

כִּֽי־לִפְנֵ֤י קָצִיר֙ כְּתׇם־פֶּ֔רַח וּבֹ֥סֶר גֹּמֵ֖ל יִֽהְיֶ֣ה נִצָּ֑הֿ וְכָרַ֤ת הַזַּלְזַלִּים֙ בַּמַּזְמֵר֔וֹת וְאֶת־הַנְּטִישׁ֖וֹת הֵסִ֥יר הֵתַֽז׃ For before the harvest,^gharvest Emendation yields “vintage.” yet after the budding,
When the blossom has hardened into berries,
[God] will trim away the twigs with pruning hooks,
And lop off the trailing branches.^htrailing branches A figure of speech for the defeated enemy.

יֵעָזְב֤וּ יַחְדָּו֙ לְעֵ֣יט הָרִ֔ים וּֽלְבֶהֱמַ֖ת הָאָ֑רֶץ וְקָ֤ץ עָלָיו֙ הָעַ֔יִט וְכׇל־בֶּהֱמַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ עָלָ֥יו תֶּחֱרָֽף׃ {ס}         They shall all be left
To the kites of the hills
And to the beasts of the earth;
The kites shall summer on them
And all the beasts of the earth shall winter on them.

בָּעֵת֩ הַהִ֨יא יוּבַל־שַׁ֜י לַֽיהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת עַ֚ם מְמֻשָּׁ֣ךְ וּמוֹרָ֔ט וּמֵעַ֥ם נוֹרָ֖א מִן־ה֣וּא וָהָ֑לְאָה גּ֣וֹי ׀ קַו־קָ֣ו וּמְבוּסָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּזְא֤וּ נְהָרִים֙ אַרְצ֔וֹ אֶל־מְק֛וֹם שֵׁם־יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת הַר־צִיּֽוֹן׃ {פ}
In that time,
Tribute shall be brought to GOD of Hosts
[From] a people far and remote,
From a people thrust forth and away—
A nation of gibber and chatter,
Whose land is cut off by streams—
At the place where the name of GOD of Hosts abides,
At Mount Zion.

מַשָּׂ֖א מִצְרָ֑יִם הִנֵּ֨ה יְהֹוָ֜ה רֹכֵ֨ב עַל־עָ֥ב קַל֙ וּבָ֣א מִצְרַ֔יִם וְנָע֞וּ אֱלִילֵ֤י מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ מִפָּנָ֔יו וּלְבַ֥ב מִצְרַ֖יִם יִמַּ֥ס בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃ The “Egypt” Pronouncement.
Mounted on a swift cloud,
GOD will come to Egypt;
Egypt’s idols shall tremble in response,
And the heart of the Egyptians shall sink within them.

וְסִכְסַכְתִּ֤י מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וְנִלְחֲמ֥וּ אִישׁ־בְּאָחִ֖יו וְאִ֣ישׁ בְּרֵעֵ֑הוּ עִ֣יר בְּעִ֔יר מַמְלָכָ֖ה בְּמַמְלָכָֽה׃ “I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian:
They shall war with each other,
Neighbor with neighbor,
City with city
And kingdom with kingdom.^akingdom…kingdom I.e., the various districts of Egypt, which in Isaiah’s time were governed by hereditary princes.

וְנָבְקָ֤ה רוּחַ־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ וַעֲצָת֖וֹ אֲבַלֵּ֑עַ וְדָרְשׁ֤וּ אֶל־הָֽאֱלִילִים֙ וְאֶל־הָ֣אִטִּ֔ים וְאֶל־הָאֹב֖וֹת וְאֶל־הַיִּדְּעֹנִֽים׃ Egypt shall be drained of spirit,
And I will confound its plans;
So they will consult the idols and the shades
And the ghosts and the familiar spirits.

וְסִכַּרְתִּי֙ אֶת־מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּיַ֖ד אֲדֹנִ֣ים קָשֶׁ֑ה וּמֶ֤לֶךְ עַז֙ יִמְשׇׁל־בָּ֔ם נְאֻ֥ם הָאָד֖וֹן יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ And I will place the Egyptians
At the mercy of a harsh master,
And a ruthless king shall rule them”
—declares the Sovereign, GOD of Hosts.

וְנִשְּׁתוּ־מַ֖יִם מֵֽהַיָּ֑ם וְנָהָ֖ר יֶחֱרַ֥ב וְיָבֵֽשׁ׃ Water shall fail from the seas,
Rivers dry up and be parched,

וְהֶאֶזְנִ֣יחוּ נְהָר֔וֹת דָּלְל֥וּ וְחָרְב֖וּ יְאֹרֵ֣י מָצ֑וֹר קָנֶ֥ה וָס֖וּף קָמֵֽלוּ׃ Channels turn foul as they ebb,
And Egypt’s canals run dry.
Reed and rush shall decay,

עָר֥וֹת עַל־יְא֖וֹר עַל־פִּ֣י יְא֑וֹר וְכֹל֙ מִזְרַ֣ע יְא֔וֹר יִיבַ֥שׁ נִדַּ֖ף וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ And the Nile papyrus by the Nile-side^bAnd the Nile papyrus by the Nile-side Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
And everything sown by the Nile
Shall wither, blow away, and vanish.

וְאָנוּ֙ הַדַּיָּגִ֔ים וְאָ֣בְל֔וּ כׇּל־מַשְׁלִיכֵ֥י בַיְא֖וֹר חַכָּ֑ה וּפֹרְשֵׂ֥י מִכְמֹ֛רֶת עַל־פְּנֵי־מַ֖יִם אֻמְלָֽלוּ׃ The fishermen shall lament;
All who cast lines in the Nile shall mourn,
And those who spread nets on the water shall languish.

וּבֹ֛שׁוּ עֹבְדֵ֥י פִשְׁתִּ֖ים שְׂרִיק֑וֹת וְאֹרְגִ֖ים חוֹרָֽי׃ The flax workers, too, shall be dismayed,
Both carders and weavers chagrined.^cchagrined Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וְהָי֥וּ שָׁתֹתֶ֖יהָ מְדֻכָּאִ֑ים כׇּל־עֹ֥שֵׂי שֶׂ֖כֶר אַגְמֵי־נָֽפֶשׁ׃ ^dMeaning of verse uncertain; emendation yields “Her drinkers shall be dejected, / And all her brewers despondent.” Her foundations shall be crushed,
And all who make dams shall be despondent.

אַךְ־אֱוִלִים֙ שָׂ֣רֵי צֹ֔עַן חַכְמֵי֙ יֹעֲצֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה עֵצָ֖ה נִבְעָרָ֑ה אֵ֚יךְ תֹּאמְר֣וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה בֶּן־חֲכָמִ֥ים אֲנִ֖י בֶּן־מַלְכֵי־קֶֽדֶם׃ Utter fools are the nobles of Tanis;
The sagest of Pharaoh’s advisers
[Have made] absurd predictions.
How can you say to Pharaoh,
“I am a scion of sages,
A scion of Kedemite kings”?^ekings Or “advisers.” The wisdom of the Kedemites was proverbial; cf. 1 Kings 5.10.

אַיָּם֙ אֵפ֣וֹא חֲכָמֶ֔יךָ וְיַגִּ֥ידוּ נָ֖א לָ֑ךְ וְיֵ֣דְע֔וּ מַה־יָּעַ֛ץ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת עַל־מִצְרָֽיִם׃ Where, indeed, are your sages?
Let them tell you, let them discover
What GOD of Hosts has planned against Egypt.

נֽוֹאֲלוּ֙ שָׂ֣רֵי צֹ֔עַן נִשְּׁא֖וּ שָׂ֣רֵי נֹ֑ף הִתְע֥וּ אֶת־מִצְרַ֖יִם פִּנַּ֥ת שְׁבָטֶֽיהָ׃ The nobles of Tanis have been fools,
The nobles of Memphis deluded;
Egypt has been led astray
By the chiefs of her tribes.

יְהֹוָ֛ה מָסַ֥ךְ בְּקִרְבָּ֖הּ ר֣וּחַ עִוְעִ֑ים וְהִתְע֤וּ אֶת־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ בְּכׇֽל־מַעֲשֵׂ֔הוּ כְּהִתָּע֥וֹת שִׁכּ֖וֹר בְּקִיאֽוֹ׃ GOD has mixed within her
A spirit of distortion,
Which shall lead Egypt astray in all her undertakings
As a vomiting drunkard goes astray;

וְלֹא־יִהְיֶ֥ה לְמִצְרַ֖יִם מַעֲשֶׂ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר יַעֲשֶׂ֛ה רֹ֥אשׁ וְזָנָ֖ב כִּפָּ֥ה וְאַגְמֽוֹן׃ Nothing shall be achieved in Egypt
By either head or tail,
Palm branch or reed.^fPalm branch or reed I.e., a man of either high or low station; cf. 9.13, 14.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא יִהְיֶ֥ה מִצְרַ֖יִם כַּנָּשִׁ֑ים וְחָרַ֣ד ׀ וּפָחַ֗ד מִפְּנֵי֙ תְּנוּפַת֙ יַד־יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־ה֖וּא מֵנִ֥יף עָלָֽיו׃ In that day, the Egyptians^gthe Egyptians I.e., the army of Egypt. shall be like women, trembling and terrified because GOD of Hosts will raise a divine hand against them.

וְ֠הָיְתָ֠ה אַדְמַ֨ת יְהוּדָ֤ה לְמִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לְחׇגָּ֔א כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַזְכִּ֥יר אֹתָ֛הּ אֵלָ֖יו יִפְחָ֑ד מִפְּנֵ֗י עֲצַת֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־ה֖וּא יוֹעֵ֥ץ עָלָֽיו׃ {ס}         And the land of Judah shall also be the dread of the Egyptians; they shall quake whenever anybody mentions it to them, because of what GOD of Hosts is planning against them.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֡וּא יִהְיוּ֩ חָמֵ֨שׁ עָרִ֜ים בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֗יִם מְדַבְּרוֹת֙ שְׂפַ֣ת כְּנַ֔עַן וְנִשְׁבָּע֖וֹת לַיהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת עִ֣יר הַהֶ֔רֶס יֵאָמֵ֖ר לְאֶחָֽת׃ {ס}         In that day, there shall be several^hseveral Lit. “five.” towns in the land of Egypt speaking the language of Canaan and swearing loyalty to GOD of Hosts; oneⁱone Or “each one.” shall be called Town of Heres.^jHeres Meaning uncertain. Many Heb. mss. read ḥeres, “sun,” which may refer to Heliopolis, i.e., Sun City, in Egypt. Targum’s “Beth Shemesh” (cf. Jer. 43.13) has the same meaning.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִֽהְיֶ֤ה מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה בְּת֖וֹךְ אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וּמַצֵּבָ֥ה אֵצֶל־גְּבוּלָ֖הּ לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃ In that day, there shall be an altar to GOD inside the land of Egypt and a pillar to GOD at its border.^kborder As a symbol of GOD’s sovereignty over Egypt.

וְהָיָ֨ה לְא֥וֹת וּלְעֵ֛ד לַיהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם כִּֽי־יִצְעֲק֤וּ אֶל־יְהֹוָה֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י לֹחֲצִ֔ים וְיִשְׁלַ֥ח לָהֶ֛ם מוֹשִׁ֥יעַ וָרָ֖ב וְהִצִּילָֽם׃ They shall serve as a symbol and reminder of GOD of Hosts in the land of Egypt, so that when [the Egyptians] cry out to GOD against oppressors, a savior and champion will be sent to deliver them.

וְנוֹדַ֤ע יְהֹוָה֙ לְמִצְרַ֔יִם וְיָדְע֥וּ מִצְרַ֛יִם אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וְעָֽבְדוּ֙ זֶ֣בַח וּמִנְחָ֔ה וְנָדְרוּ־נֵ֥דֶר לַיהֹוָ֖ה וְשִׁלֵּֽמוּ׃ For the Egyptians will be made to know GOD, and the Egyptians shall acknowledge GOD in that day, and they shall serve with sacrifice and oblation and shall make vows to GOD and fulfill them.

וְנָגַ֧ף יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־מִצְרַ֖יִם נָגֹ֣ף וְרָפ֑וֹא וְשָׁ֙בוּ֙ עַד־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְנֶעְתַּ֥ר לָהֶ֖ם וּרְפָאָֽם׃ {ס}         GOD will first afflict and then heal the Egyptians: when they turn back, GOD will respond to their entreaties and heal them.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא תִּהְיֶ֨ה מְסִלָּ֤ה מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ אַשּׁ֔וּרָה וּבָא־אַשּׁ֥וּר בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם וּמִצְרַ֣יִם בְּאַשּׁ֑וּר וְעָבְד֥וּ מִצְרַ֖יִם אֶת־אַשּֽׁוּר׃ {ס}         In that day, there shall be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians shall join with the Egyptians and Egyptians with the Assyrians, and then the Egyptians together with the Assyrians shall serve [ GOD ].

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִהְיֶ֤ה יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ שְׁלִ֣ישִׁיָּ֔ה לְמִצְרַ֖יִם וּלְאַשּׁ֑וּר בְּרָכָ֖ה בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃ In that day, Israel shall be a third partner with Egypt and Assyria as a blessing^las a blessing I.e., a standard by which blessing is invoked; cf. Gen. 12.2 with note. on earth;

אֲשֶׁ֧ר בֵּרְכ֛וֹ יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת לֵאמֹ֑ר בָּר֨וּךְ עַמִּ֜י מִצְרַ֗יִם וּמַעֲשֵׂ֤ה יָדַי֙ אַשּׁ֔וּר וְנַחֲלָתִ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {ס}         for GOD of Hosts will bless them, saying, “Blessed be My people Egypt, My handiwork Assyria, and My very own Israel.”

בִּשְׁנַ֨ת בֹּ֤א תַרְתָּן֙ אַשְׁדּ֔וֹדָה בִּשְׁלֹ֣חַ אֹת֔וֹ סַֽרְג֖וֹן מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיִּלָּ֥חֶם בְּאַשְׁדּ֖וֹד וַֽיִּלְכְּדָֽהּ׃ It was the year that the Tartan^aTartan An Assyrian title meaning “General”; cf. 2 Kings 18.17 and note. came to Ashdod—being sent by King Sargon of Assyria—and attacked Ashdod and took it.

בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהֹוָה֮ בְּיַ֣ד יְשַֽׁעְיָ֣הוּ בֶן־אָמוֹץ֮ לֵאמֹר֒ לֵ֗ךְ וּפִתַּחְתָּ֤ הַשַּׂק֙ מֵעַ֣ל מׇתְנֶ֔יךָ וְנַעַלְךָ֥ תַחֲלֹ֖ץ מֵעַ֣ל רַגְלֶ֑ךָ וַיַּ֣עַשׂ כֵּ֔ן הָלֹ֖ךְ עָר֥וֹם וְיָחֵֽף׃ {ס}         Previously,^bPreviously Lit. “At that time.” GOD had spoken to Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, untie the sackcloth from your loins and take your sandals off your feet,” which he had done, going naked and barefoot.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָלַ֛ךְ עַבְדִּ֥י יְשַֽׁעְיָ֖הוּ עָר֣וֹם וְיָחֵ֑ף שָׁלֹ֤שׁ שָׁנִים֙ א֣וֹת וּמוֹפֵ֔ת עַל־מִצְרַ֖יִם וְעַל־כּֽוּשׁ׃ And now GOD said, “It is a sign and a portent for Egypt and Cush. Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years,

כֵּ֣ן יִנְהַ֣ג מֶֽלֶךְ־אַ֠שּׁ֠וּר אֶת־שְׁבִ֨י מִצְרַ֜יִם וְאֶת־גָּל֥וּת כּ֛וּשׁ נְעָרִ֥ים וּזְקֵנִ֖ים עָר֣וֹם וְיָחֵ֑ף וַחֲשׂוּפַ֥י שֵׁ֖ת עֶרְוַ֥ת מִצְרָֽיִם׃ so shall the king of Assyria drive off the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot and with bared buttocks—to the shame of Egypt!

וְחַתּ֖וּ וָבֹ֑שׁוּ מִכּוּשׁ֙ מַבָּטָ֔ם וּמִן־מִצְרַ֖יִם תִּפְאַרְתָּֽם׃ And they shall be dismayed and chagrined because of Cush their hope and Egypt their boast.

וְ֠אָמַ֠ר יֹשֵׁ֨ב הָאִ֣י הַזֶּה֮ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַהוּא֒ הִנֵּה־כֹ֣ה מַבָּטֵ֗נוּ אֲשֶׁר־נַ֤סְנוּ שָׁם֙ לְעֶזְרָ֔ה לְהִ֨נָּצֵ֔ל מִפְּנֵ֖י מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשּׁ֑וּר וְאֵ֖יךְ נִמָּלֵ֥ט אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃ {פ}
In that day, the dwellers of this coastland shall say, ‘If this could happen to those we looked to, to whom we fled for help and rescue from the king of Assyria, how can we ourselves escape?’”

מַשָּׂ֖א מִדְבַּר־יָ֑ם כְּסוּפ֤וֹת בַּנֶּ֙גֶב֙ לַחֲלֹ֔ף מִמִּדְבָּ֣ר בָּ֔א מֵאֶ֖רֶץ נוֹרָאָֽה׃ The “Desert of the Sea” Pronouncement.^aThe “Desert of the Sea” Pronouncement Emendation yields “The ‘From the Desert’ Pronouncement,” agreeing with the phrase farther on in the verse.
Like the gales
That race through the Negeb,
It comes from the desert,
The terrible land.

חָז֥וּת קָשָׁ֖ה הֻגַּד־לִ֑י הַבּוֹגֵ֤ד ׀ בּוֹגֵד֙ וְהַשּׁוֹדֵ֣ד ׀ שׁוֹדֵ֔ד עֲלִ֤י עֵילָם֙ צוּרִ֣י מָדַ֔י כׇּל־אַנְחָתָ֖הֿ הִשְׁבַּֽתִּי׃ A harsh prophecy
Has been announced to me:
“The betrayer is betraying,
The ravager ravaging.^bbetraying, / The ravager ravaging Emendation yields “betrayed … ravaged”; cf. 33.1.
Advance, Elam!
Lay siege, Media!
I have put an end
To all her sighing.”^cI have put an end / To all her sighing Emendation yields “Put an end to all her merrymaking!”

עַל־כֵּ֗ן מָלְא֤וּ מׇתְנַי֙ חַלְחָלָ֔ה צִירִ֣ים אֲחָז֔וּנִי כְּצִירֵ֖י יוֹלֵדָ֑ה נַעֲוֵ֣יתִי מִשְּׁמֹ֔עַ נִבְהַ֖לְתִּי מֵרְאֽוֹת׃ Therefore my loins
Are seized with trembling;
I am gripped by pangs
Like a woman in travail,
Too anguished to hear,
Too frightened to see.

תָּעָ֣ה לְבָבִ֔י פַּלָּצ֖וּת בִּֽעֲתָ֑תְנִי אֵ֚ת נֶ֣שֶׁף חִשְׁקִ֔י שָׂ֥ם לִ֖י לַחֲרָדָֽה׃ My mind is confused,
I shudder in panic.
My night of pleasure
He has turned to terror:

עָרֹ֧ךְ הַשֻּׁלְחָ֛ן צָפֹ֥ה הַצָּפִ֖ית אָכ֣וֹל שָׁתֹ֑ה ק֥וּמוּ הַשָּׂרִ֖ים מִשְׁח֥וּ מָגֵֽן׃ {ס}         “Set the table!”
To “Let the watchman watch!”
“Eat and drink!”
To “Up, officers! Grease^dGrease Emendation yields “Grasp.” the shields!”