Isa.20.1

In the year the field commander, sent by King Sargon of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought and took it,

Isa.20.1

In the year that the supreme commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it-

Isa.20.1

In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it,

Isa.20.1

In the year when King Sargon of Assyria captured the Philistine city of Ashdod,

Isa.20.2

GOD told Isaiah son of Amoz, "Go, take off your clothes and sandals," and Isaiah did it, going about naked and barefooted.

Isa.20.2

at that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz. He said to him, "Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet." And he did so, going around stripped and barefoot.

Isa.20.2

at the same time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet." And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

Isa.20.2

the LORD told Isaiah son of Amoz, "Take off all your clothes, including your sandals." Isaiah did as he was told and walked around naked and barefoot.

Isa.20.3

Then GOD said, "Just as my servant Isaiah has walked around town naked and barefooted for three years as a warning sign to Egypt and Ethiopia,

Isa.20.3

Then the LORD said, "Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush,

Isa.20.3

Then the LORD said, "Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia,

Isa.20.3

Then the LORD said, "My servant Isaiah has been walking around naked and barefoot for the last three years. This is a sign--a symbol of the terrible troubles I will bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia.

Isa.20.4

so the king of Assyria is going to come and take the Egyptians as captives and the Ethiopians as exiles. He'll take young and old alike and march them out of there naked and barefooted, exposed to mockery and jeers--the bared buttocks of Egypt on parade!

Isa.20.4

so the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared-to Egypt's shame.

Isa.20.4

so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

Isa.20.4

For the king of Assyria will take away the Egyptians and Ethiopians as prisoners. He will make them walk naked and barefoot, both young and old, their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

Isa.20.5

Everyone who has put hope in Ethiopia and expected help from Egypt will be thrown into confusion.

Isa.20.5

Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be afraid and put to shame.

Isa.20.5

Then they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation and Egypt their glory.

Isa.20.5

How dismayed will be the Philistines, who counted on the power of Ethiopia and boasted of their allies in Egypt!

Isa.20.6

Everyone who lives along this coast will say, "Look at them! Naked and barefooted, shuffling off to exile! And we thought they were our best hope, that they'd rescue us from the king of Assyria. Now what's going to happen to us? How are we going to get out of this?'"

Isa.20.6

In that day the people who live on this coast will say, 'See what has happened to those we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?'"

Isa.20.6

And the inhabitant of this territory will say in that day, "Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?"'

Isa.20.6

They will say, `If this can happen to Egypt, what chance do we have? For we counted on Egypt to protect us from the king of Assyria.'"

Isa.21.1

A Message concerning the desert at the sea: As tempests drive through the Negev Desert, coming out of the desert, that terror-filled place,

Isa.21.1

An oracle concerning the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.

Isa.21.1

The burden against the Wilderness of the Sea. As whirlwinds in the South pass through, So it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.

Isa.21.1

This message came to me concerning the land of Babylonia: Disaster is roaring down on you from the desert, like a whirlwind sweeping in from the Negev.

Isa.21.2

A hard vision is given me: The betrayer betrayed, the plunderer plundered. Attack, Elam! Lay siege, Media! Persians, attack! Attack, Babylon! I'll put an end to all the moaning and groaning.

Isa.21.2

A dire vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.

Isa.21.2

A distressing vision is declared to me; The treacherous dealer deals treacherously, And the plunderer plunders. Go up, O Elam! Besiege, O Media! All its sighing I have made to cease.

Isa.21.2

I see an awesome vision: I see you plundered and destroyed. Go ahead, you Elamites and Medes, take part in the siege. Babylon will fall, and the groaning of all the nations she enslaved will end.

Isa.21.3

Because of this news I'm doubled up in pain, writhing in pain like a woman having a baby, Baffled by what I hear, undone by what I see.

Isa.21.3

At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see.

Isa.21.3

Therefore my loins are filled with pain; Pangs have taken hold of me, like the pangs of a woman in labor. I was distressed when I heard it; I was dismayed when I saw it.

Isa.21.3

My stomach aches and burns with pain. Sharp pangs of horror are upon me, like the pangs of a woman giving birth. I grow faint when I hear what God is planning; I am blinded with dismay.

Isa.21.4

Absolutely stunned, horror-stricken, I had hoped for a relaxed evening, but it has turned into a nightmare.

Isa.21.4

My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.

Isa.21.4

My heart wavered, fearfulness frightened me; The night for which I longed He turned into fear for me.

Isa.21.4

My mind reels; my heart races. The sleep I once enjoyed at night is now a faint memory. I lie awake, trembling.

Isa.21.5

The banquet is spread, the guests reclining in luxurious ease, Eating and drinking, having a good time, and then, "To arms, princes! The fight is on!"

Isa.21.5

They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!

Isa.21.5

Prepare the table, Set a watchman in the tower, Eat and drink. Arise, you princes, Anoint the shield!

Isa.21.5

Look! They are preparing a great feast. They are spreading rugs for people to sit on. Everyone is eating and drinking. Quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle! You are being attacked!

Isa.21.6

The Master told me, "Go, post a lookout. Have him report whatever he spots.

Isa.21.6

This is what the Lord says to me: "Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.

Isa.21.6

For thus has the Lord said to me: "Go, set a watchman, Let him declare what he sees."

Isa.21.6

Meanwhile, the Lord said to me, "Put a watchman on the city wall to shout out what he sees.

Isa.21.7

When he sees horses and wagons in battle formation, lines of donkeys and columns of camels, Tell him to keep his ear to the ground, note every whisper, every rumor."

Isa.21.7

When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert."

Isa.21.7

And he saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen, A chariot of donkeys, and a chariot of camels, And he listened earnestly with great care.

Isa.21.7

Tell him to sound the alert when he sees chariots drawn by horses and warriors mounted on donkeys and camels."

Isa.21.8

Just then, the lookout shouted, "I'm at my post, Master, Sticking to my post day after day and all through the night!

Isa.21.8

And the lookout shouted, "Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.

Isa.21.8

Then he cried, "A lion, my Lord! I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime; I have sat at my post every night.

Isa.21.8

Then the watchman called out, "Day after day I have stood on the watchtower, my lord. Night after night I have remained at my post.

Isa.21.9

I watched them come, the horses and wagons in battle formation. I heard them call out the war news in headlines: "Babylon fallen! Fallen! And all its precious god-idols smashed to pieces on the ground.'"

Isa.21.9

Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: 'Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!'"

Isa.21.9

And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen!" Then he answered and said, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground."

Isa.21.9

Now at last--look! Here come the chariots and warriors!" Then the watchman said, "Babylon is fallen! All the idols of Babylon lie broken on the ground!"

Isa.21.10

Dear Israel, you've been through a lot, you've been put through the mill. The good news I get from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel, I now pass on to you. [JC]

Isa.21.10

O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD Almighty, from the God of Israel.

Isa.21.10

Oh, my threshing and the grain of my floor! That which I have heard from the LORD of hosts, The God of Israel, I have declared to you.

Isa.21.10

O my people, threshed and winnowed, I have told you everything the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, has said.

Isa.21.11

A Message concerning Edom: A voice calls to me from the Seir mountains in Edom, "Night watchman! How long till daybreak? How long will this night last?"

Isa.21.11

An oracle concerning Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?"

Isa.21.11

The burden against Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?"

Isa.21.11

This message came to me concerning Edom: Someone from Edom keeps calling to me, "Watchman, how much longer until morning? When will the night be over?"

Isa.21.12

The night watchman calls back, "Morning's coming, But for now it's still night. If you ask me again, I'll give the same answer." [JC]

Isa.21.12

The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again."

Isa.21.12

The watchman said, "The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; Return! Come back!"

Isa.21.12

The watchman replies, "Morning is coming, but night will soon follow. If you wish to ask again, then come back and ask."

Isa.21.13

A Message concerning Arabia: You'll have to camp out in the desert badlands, you caravans of Dedanites.

Isa.21.13

An oracle concerning Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,

Isa.21.13

The burden against Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, O you traveling companies of Dedanites.

Isa.21.13

This message came to me concerning Arabia: O caravans from Dedan, hide in the deserts of Arabia.

Isa.21.14

Haul water to the thirsty, greet fugitives with bread. Show your desert hospitality, you who live in Tema.

Isa.21.14

bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.

Isa.21.14

O inhabitants of the land of Tema, Bring water to him who is thirsty; With their bread they met him who fled.

Isa.21.14

O people of Tema, bring food and water to these weary refugees.

Isa.21.15

The desert's swarming with refugees escaping the horrors of war.

Isa.21.15

They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.

Isa.21.15

For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, From the bent bow, and from the distress of war.

Isa.21.15

They have fled from drawn swords and sharp arrows and the terrors of war.

Isa.21.16

The Master told me, "Hang on. Within one year--I'll sign a contract on it!-the arrogant brutality of Kedar, those hooligans of the desert, will be over,

Isa.21.16

This is what the Lord says to me: "Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the pomp of Kedar will come to an end.

Isa.21.16

For thus the LORD has said to me: "Within a year, according to the year of a hired man, all the glory of Kedar will fail;

Isa.21.16

"But within a year," says the Lord, "all the glory of Kedar will come to an end.

Isa.21.17

nothing much left of the Kedar toughs." The GOD of Israel says so.

Isa.21.17

The survivors of the bowmen, the warriors of Kedar, will be few." The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.

Isa.21.17

and the remainder of the number of archers, the mighty men of the people of Kedar, will be diminished; for the LORD God of Israel has spoken it."

Isa.21.17

Only a few of its courageous archers will survive. I, the LORD, the God of Israel, have spoken!"

Isa.22.1

A Message concerning the Valley of Vision: What's going on here anyway? All this partying and noisemaking,

Isa.22.1

An oracle concerning the Valley of Vision: What troubles you now, that you have all gone up on the roofs,

Isa.22.1

The burden against the Valley of Vision. What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops,

Isa.22.1

This message came to me concerning Jerusalem: What is happening? Why is everyone running to the rooftops?

Isa.22.2

Shouting and cheering in the streets, the city noisy with celebrations!

Isa.22.2

O town full of commotion, O city of tumult and revelry? Your slain were not killed by the sword, nor did they die in battle.

Isa.22.2

You who are full of noise, A tumultuous city, a joyous city? Your slain men are not slain with the sword, Nor dead in battle.

Isa.22.2

The whole city is in a terrible uproar. What do I see in this reveling city? Bodies are lying everywhere, killed by famine and disease.

Isa.22.3

You have no brave soldiers to honor, no combat heroes to be proud of. Your leaders were all cowards, captured without even lifting a sword, A country of cowards captured escaping the battle.

Isa.22.3

All your leaders have fled together; they have been captured without using the bow. All you who were caught were taken prisoner together, having fled while the enemy was still far away.

Isa.22.3

All your rulers have fled together; They are captured by the archers. All who are found in you are bound together; They have fled from afar.

Isa.22.3

All your leaders flee. They surrender without resistance. The people try to slip away, but they are captured, too.

Isa.22.4

In the midst of the shouting, I said, "Let me alone. Let me grieve by myself. Don't tell me it's going to be all right. These people are doomed. It's not all right."

Isa.22.4

Therefore I said, "Turn away from me; let me weep bitterly. Do not try to console me over the destruction of my people."

Isa.22.4

Therefore I said, "Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; Do not labor to comfort me Because of the plundering of the daughter of my people."

Isa.22.4

Leave me alone to weep; do not try to comfort me. Let me cry for my people as I watch them being destroyed.

Isa.22.5

For the Master, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, is bringing a day noisy with mobs of people, Jostling and stampeding in the Valley of Vision, knocking down walls and hollering to the mountains, "Attack! Attack!"

Isa.22.5

The Lord, the LORD Almighty, has a day of tumult and trampling and terror in the Valley of Vision, a day of battering down walls and of crying out to the mountains.

Isa.22.5

For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity By the Lord GOD of hosts In the Valley of Vision-- Breaking down the walls And of crying to the mountain.

Isa.22.5

Oh, what a day of crushing trouble! What a day of confusion and terror the Lord, the LORD Almighty, has brought upon the Valley of Vision! The walls of Jerusalem have been broken, and cries of death echo from the mountainsides.

Isa.22.6

Old enemies Elam and Kir arrive armed to the teeth--weapons and chariots and cavalry.

Isa.22.6

Elam takes up the quiver, with her charioteers and horses; Kir uncovers the shield.

Isa.22.6

Elam bore the quiver With chariots of men and horsemen, And Kir uncovered the shield.

Isa.22.6

Elamites are the archers; Arameans drive the chariots. The men of Kir hold up the shields.

Isa.22.7

Your fine valleys are noisy with war, chariots and cavalry charging this way and that.

Isa.22.7

Your choicest valleys are full of chariots, and horsemen are posted at the city gates;

Isa.22.7

It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys Shall be full of chariots, And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.

Isa.22.7

They fill your beautiful valleys and crowd against your gates.

Isa.22.8

God has left Judah exposed and defenseless. You assessed your defenses that Day, inspected your arsenal of weapons in the Forest Armory.

Isa.22.8

the defenses of Judah are stripped away. And you looked in that day to the weapons in the Palace of the Forest;

Isa.22.8

He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest;

Isa.22.8

Judah's defenses have been stripped away. You run to the armory for your weapons.

Isa.22.9

You found the weak places in the city walls that needed repair. You secured the water supply at the Lower Pool.

Isa.22.9

you saw that the City of David had many breaches in its defenses; you stored up water in the Lower Pool.

Isa.22.9

You also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great; And you gathered together the waters of the lower pool.

Isa.22.9

You inspect the walls of Jerusalem to see what needs to be repaired. You store up water in the lower pool.

Isa.22.10

You took an inventory of the houses in Jerusalem and tore down some to get bricks to fortify the city wall.

Isa.22.10

You counted the buildings in Jerusalem and tore down houses to strengthen the wall.

Isa.22.10

You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, And the houses you broke down To fortify the wall.

Isa.22.10

You check the houses and tear some down to get stone to fix the walls.

Isa.22.11

You built a large cistern to ensure plenty of water. You looked and looked and looked, but you never looked to him who gave you this city, never once consulted the One who has long had plans for this city.

Isa.22.11

You built a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the Old Pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago.

Isa.22.11

You also made a reservoir between the two walls For the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, Nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago.

Isa.22.11

Between the city walls, you build a reservoir for water from the old pool. But all your feverish plans are to no avail because you never ask God for help. He is the one who planned this long ago.

Isa.22.12

The Master, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, called out on that Day, Called for a day of repentant tears, called you to dress in somber clothes of mourning.

Isa.22.12

The Lord, the LORD Almighty, called you on that day to weep and to wail, to tear out your hair and put on sackcloth.

Isa.22.12

And in that day the Lord GOD of hosts Called for weeping and for mourning, For baldness and for girding with sackcloth.

Isa.22.12

The Lord, the LORD Almighty, called you to weep and mourn. He told you to shave your heads in sorrow for your sins and to wear clothes of sackcloth to show your remorse.

Isa.22.13

But what do you do? You throw a party! Eating and drinking and dancing in the streets! You barbecue bulls and sheep, and throw a huge feast--slabs of meat, kegs of beer. "Seize the day! Eat and drink! Tomorrow we die!"

Isa.22.13

But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine! "Let us eat and drink," you say, "for tomorrow we die!"

Isa.22.13

But instead, joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"

Isa.22.13

But instead, you dance and play; you slaughter sacrificial animals, feast on meat, and drink wine. "Let's eat, drink, and be merry," you say. "What's the difference, for tomorrow we die."

Isa.22.14

GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies whispered to me his verdict on this frivolity: "You'll pay for this outrage until the day you die." The Master, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, says so.

Isa.22.14

The LORD Almighty has revealed this in my hearing: "Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for," says the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

Isa.22.14

Then it was revealed in my hearing by the LORD of hosts, "Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, Even to your death," says the Lord GOD of hosts.

Isa.22.14

The LORD Almighty has revealed to me that this sin will never be forgiven you until the day you die. That is the judgment of the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

Isa.22.15

The Master, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, spoke: "Come. Go to this steward, Shebna, who is in charge of all the king's affairs, and tell him:

Isa.22.15

This is what the Lord, the LORD Almighty, says: "Go, say to this steward, to Shebna, who is in charge of the palace:

Isa.22.15

Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: "Go, proceed to this steward, To Shebna, who is over the house, and say:

Isa.22.15

Furthermore, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, told me to confront Shebna, the palace administrator, and to give him this message:

Isa.22.16

What's going on here? You're an outsider here and yet you act like you own the place, make a big, fancy tomb for yourself where everyone can see it, making sure everyone will think you're important.

Isa.22.16

What are you doing here and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here, hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your resting place in the rock?

Isa.22.16

"What have you here, and whom have you here, That you have hewn a sepulcher here, As he who hews himself a sepulcher on high, Who carves a tomb for himself in a rock?

Isa.22.16

"Who do you think you are, building a beautiful tomb for yourself in the rock?

Isa.22.17

GOD is about to sack you, to throw you to the dogs. He'll grab you by the hair,

Isa.22.17

"Beware, the LORD is about to take firm hold of you and hurl you away, O you mighty man.

Isa.22.17

Indeed, the LORD will throw you away violently, O mighty man, And will surely seize you.

Isa.22.17

For the LORD is about to seize you and hurl you away. He is going to send you into captivity, you strong man!

Isa.22.18

swing you round and round dizzyingly, and then let you go, sailing through the air like a ball, until you're out of sight. Where you'll land, nobody knows. And there you'll die, and all the stuff you've collected heaped on your grave. You've disgraced your master's house!

Isa.22.18

He will roll you up tightly like a ball and throw you into a large country. There you will die and there your splendid chariots will remain- you disgrace to your master's house!

Isa.22.18

He will surely turn violently and toss you like a ball Into a large country; There you shall die, and there your glorious chariots Shall be the shame of your master's house.

Isa.22.18

He will crumple you up into a ball and toss you away into a distant, barren land. There you will die, and there your glorious chariots will remain, broken and useless. You are a disgrace to your master.

Isa.22.19

You're fired--and good riddance!

Isa.22.19

I will depose you from your office, and you will be ousted from your position.

Isa.22.19

So I will drive you out of your office, And from your position he will pull you down.

Isa.22.19

"Yes, I will drive you out of office," says the LORD. "I will pull you down from your high position.

Isa.22.20

"On that Day I'll replace Shebna. I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah.

Isa.22.20

"In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah.

Isa.22.20

"Then it shall be in that day, That I will call My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah;

Isa.22.20

And then I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah to replace you.

Isa.22.21

I'll dress him in your robe. I'll put your belt on him. I'll give him your authority. He'll be a father-leader to Jerusalem and the government of Judah.

Isa.22.21

I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.

Isa.22.21

I will clothe him with your robe And strengthen him with your belt; I will commit your responsibility into his hand. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem And to the house of Judah.

Isa.22.21

He will have your royal robes, your title, and your authority. And he will be a father to the people of Jerusalem and Judah.

Isa.22.22

I'll give him the key of the Davidic heritage. He'll have the run of the place--open any door and keep it open, lock any door and keep it locked.

Isa.22.22

I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

Isa.22.22

The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

Isa.22.22

I will give him the key to the house of David--the highest position in the royal court. He will open doors, and no one will be able to shut them; he will close doors, and no one will be able to open them.

Isa.22.23

I'll pound him like a nail into a solid wall. He'll secure the Davidic tradition.

Isa.22.23

I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will be a seat of honor for the house of his father.

Isa.22.23

I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place, And he will become a glorious throne to his father's house.

Isa.22.23

He will bring honor to his family name, for I will drive him firmly in place like a tent stake.

Isa.22.24

Everything will hang on him--not only the fate of Davidic descendants but also the detailed daily operations of the house, including cups and cutlery.

Isa.22.24

All the glory of his family will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots-all its lesser vessels, from the bowls to all the jars.

Isa.22.24

"They will hang on him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the posterity, all vessels of small quantity, from the cups to all the pitchers.

Isa.22.24

He will be loaded down with responsibility, and he will bring honor to even the lowliest members of his family."

Isa.22.25

"And then the Day will come," says GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, "when that nail will come loose and fall out, break loose from that solid wall--and everything hanging on it will go with it." That's what will happen. GOD says so.

Isa.22.25

"In that day," declares the LORD Almighty, "the peg driven into the firm place will give way; it will be sheared off and will fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut down." The LORD has spoken.

Isa.22.25

In that day,' says the LORD of hosts, "the peg that is fastened in the secure place will be removed and be cut down and fall, and the burden that was on it will be cut off; for the LORD has spoken."'

Isa.22.25

The LORD Almighty says: "When that time comes, I will pull out the stake that seemed so firm. It will come out and fall to the ground. Everything it supports will fall with it. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Isa.23.1

Wail, ships of Tarshish, your strong seaports all in ruins! When the ships returned from Cyprus, they saw the destruction.

Isa.23.1

An oracle concerning Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish! For Tyre is destroyed and left without house or harbor. From the land of Cyprus word has come to them.

Isa.23.1

The burden against Tyre. Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste, So that there is no house, no harbor; From the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them.

Isa.23.1

This message came to me concerning Tyre: Weep, O ships of Tarshish, returning home from distant lands! Weep for your harbor at Tyre because it is gone! The rumors you heard in Cyprus are all true.

Isa.23.2

Hold your tongue, you who live on the seacoast, merchants of Sidon. Your people sailed the deep seas, buying and selling,

Isa.23.2

Be silent, you people of the island and you merchants of Sidon, whom the seafarers have enriched.

Isa.23.2

Be still, you inhabitants of the coastland, You merchants of Sidon, Whom those who cross the sea have filled.

Isa.23.2

Mourn in silence, you people of the coast and you merchants of Sidon. Your traders crossed the sea,

Isa.23.3

Making money on wheat from Shihor, grown along the Nile--multinational broker in grains!

Isa.23.3

On the great waters came the grain of the Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre, and she became the marketplace of the nations.

Isa.23.3

And on great waters the grain of Shihor, The harvest of the River, is her revenue; And she is a marketplace for the nations.

Isa.23.3

sailing over deep waters. They brought you grain from Egypt and harvests from along the Nile. You were the merchandise mart of the world.

Isa.23.4

Hang your head in shame, Sidon. The Sea speaks up, the powerhouse of the ocean says, "I've never had labor pains, never had a baby, never reared children to adulthood, Never gave life, never worked with life. It was all numbers, dead numbers, profit and loss."

Isa.23.4

Be ashamed, O Sidon, and you, O fortress of the sea, for the sea has spoken: "I have neither been in labor nor given birth; I have neither reared sons nor brought up daughters."

Isa.23.4

Be ashamed, O Sidon; For the sea has spoken, The strength of the sea, saying, "I do not labor, nor bring forth children; Neither do I rear young men, Nor bring up virgins."

Isa.23.4

But now you are put to shame, city of Sidon, fortress on the sea. For the sea says, "Now I am childless; I have no sons or daughters."

Isa.23.5

When Egypt gets the report on Tyre, what wailing! what wringing of hands!

Isa.23.5

When word comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report from Tyre.

Isa.23.5

When the report reaches Egypt, They also will be in agony at the report of Tyre.

Isa.23.5

When Egypt hears the news about Tyre, there will be great sorrow.

Isa.23.6

Visit Tarshish, you who live on the seacoast. Take a good, long look and wail--yes, cry buckets of tears!

Isa.23.6

Cross over to Tarshish; wail, you people of the island.

Isa.23.6

Cross over to Tarshish; Wail, you inhabitants of the coastland!

Isa.23.6

Flee now to Tarshish! Wail, you people who live by the sea!

Isa.23.7

Is this the city you remember as energetic and alive, bustling with activity, this historic old city, Expanding throughout the globe, buying and selling all over the world?

Isa.23.7

Is this your city of revelry, the old, old city, whose feet have taken her to settle in far-off lands?

Isa.23.7

Is this your joyous city, Whose antiquity is from ancient days, Whose feet carried her far off to dwell?

Isa.23.7

How can this silent ruin be all that is left of your once joyous city? What a history was yours! Think of all the colonists you sent to distant lands.

Isa.23.8

And who is behind the collapse of Tyre, the Tyre that controlled the world markets? Tyre's merchants were the business tycoons. Tyre's traders called all the shots.

Isa.23.8

Who planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are renowned in the earth?

Isa.23.8

Who has taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, Whose merchants are princes, Whose traders are the honorable of the earth?

Isa.23.8

Who has brought this disaster on Tyre, empire builder and chief trader of the world?

Isa.23.9

GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies ordered the crash to show the sordid backside of pride and puncture the inflated reputations.

Isa.23.9

The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.

Isa.23.9

The LORD of hosts has purposed it, To bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, To bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.

Isa.23.9

The LORD Almighty has done it to destroy your pride and show his contempt for all human greatness.

Isa.23.10

Sail for home, O ships of Tarshish. There are no docks left in this harbor.

Isa.23.10

Till your land as along the Nile, O Daughter of Tarshish, for you no longer have a harbor.

Isa.23.10

Overflow through your land like the River, O daughter of Tarshish; There is no more strength.

Isa.23.10

Come, Tarshish, sweep over your mother Tyre like the flooding Nile, for the city is defenseless.

Isa.23.11

GOD reached out to the sea and sea traders, threw the sea kingdoms into turmoil. GOD ordered the destruction of the seacoast cities, the centers of commerce.

Isa.23.11

The LORD has stretched out his hand over the sea and made its kingdoms tremble. He has given an order concerning Phoenicia that her fortresses be destroyed.

Isa.23.11

He stretched out His hand over the sea, He shook the kingdoms; The LORD has given a commandment against Canaan To destroy its strongholds.

Isa.23.11

The LORD holds out his hand over the seas. He shakes the kingdoms of the earth. He has spoken out against Phoenicia and depleted its strength.

Isa.23.12

GOD said, "There's nothing left here to be proud of, bankrupt and bereft Sidon. Do you want to make a new start in Cyprus? Don't count on it. Nothing there will work out for you either."

Isa.23.12

He said, "No more of your reveling, O Virgin Daughter of Sidon, now crushed! "Up, cross over to Cyprus; even there you will find no rest."

Isa.23.12

And He said, "You will rejoice no more, O you oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, cross over to Cyprus; There also you will have no rest."

Isa.23.12

He says, "Never again will you rejoice, O daughter of Sidon. Once you were a lovely city, but you will never again be strong. Even if you flee to Cyprus, you will find no rest."

Isa.23.13

Look at what happened to Babylon: There's nothing left of it. Assyria turned it into a desert, into a refuge for wild dogs and stray cats. They brought in their big siege engines, tore down the buildings, and left nothing behind but rubble.

Isa.23.13

Look at the land of the Babylonians, this people that is now of no account! The Assyrians have made it a place for desert creatures; they raised up their siege towers, they stripped its fortresses bare and turned it into a ruin.

Isa.23.13

Behold, the land of the Chaldeans, This people which was not; Assyria founded it for wild beasts of the desert. They set up its towers, They raised up its palaces, And brought it to ruin.

Isa.23.13

Look at the land of Babylonia--the people of that land are gone! The Assyrians have handed Babylon over to the wild beasts. They have built siege ramps against its walls, torn down its palaces, and turned it into a heap of rubble.

Isa.23.14

Wail, ships of Tarshish, your strong seaports all in ruins! [JC]

Isa.23.14

Wail, you ships of Tarshish; your fortress is destroyed!

Isa.23.14

Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For your strength is laid waste.

Isa.23.14

Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your home port is destroyed!

Isa.23.15

For the next seventy years, a king's lifetime, Tyre will be forgotten. At the end of the seventy years, Tyre will stage a comeback, but it will be the comeback of a worn-out whore, as in the song:

Isa.23.15

At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the span of a king's life. But at the end of these seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the prostitute:

Isa.23.15

Now it shall come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:

Isa.23.15

For seventy years, the length of a king's life, Tyre will be forgotten. But then the city will come back to life and sing sweet songs like a prostitute.

Isa.23.16

"Take a harp, circle the city, unremembered whore. Sing your old songs, your many old songs. Maybe someone will remember."

Isa.23.16

"Take up a harp, walk through the city, O prostitute forgotten; play the harp well, sing many a song, so that you will be remembered."

Isa.23.16

"Take a harp, go about the city, You forgotten harlot; Make sweet melody, sing many songs, That you may be remembered."

Isa.23.16

Long absent from her lovers, she will take a harp, walk the streets, and sing her songs, so that she will again be remembered.

Isa.23.17

At the end of the seventy years, GOD will look in on Tyre. She'll go back to her old whoring trade, selling herself to the highest bidder, doing anything with anyone--promiscuous with all the kingdoms of earth--for a fee.

Isa.23.17

At the end of seventy years, the LORD will deal with Tyre. She will return to her hire as a prostitute and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.

Isa.23.17

And it shall be, at the end of seventy years, that the LORD will deal with Tyre. She will return to her hire, and commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth.

Isa.23.17

Yes, after seventy years the LORD will revive Tyre. But she will be no different than she was before. She will return again to all her evil ways around the world.

Isa.23.18

But everything she gets, all the money she takes in, will be turned over to GOD. It will not be put in banks. Her profits will be put to the use of GOD-Aware, GOD-Serving-People, providing plenty of food and the best of clothing.

Isa.23.18

Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the LORD; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothes.

Isa.23.18

Her gain and her pay will be set apart for the LORD; it will not be treasured nor laid up, for her gain will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for fine clothing.

Isa.23.18

But in the end her businesses will give their profits to the LORD. Her wealth will not be hoarded but will be used to provide good food and fine clothing for the LORD's priests.