Isa.33.1

Doom to you, Destroyer, not yet destroyed; And doom to you, Betrayer, not yet betrayed. When you finish destroying, your turn will come--destroyed! When you quit betraying, your turn will come--betrayed!

Isa.33.1

Woe to you, O destroyer, you who have not been destroyed! Woe to you, O traitor, you who have not been betrayed! When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed.

Isa.33.1

Woe to you who plunder, though you have not been plundered; And you who deal treacherously, though they have not dealt treacherously with you! When you cease plundering, You will be plundered; When you make an end of dealing treacherously, They will deal treacherously with you.

Isa.33.1

Destruction is certain for you Assyrians, who have destroyed everything around you but have never felt destruction yourselves. You expect others to respect their promises to you, while you betray your promises to them. Now you, too, will be betrayed and destroyed!

Isa.33.2

GOD, treat us kindly. You're our only hope. First thing in the morning, be there for us! When things go bad, help us out!

Isa.33.2

O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

Isa.33.2

O LORD, be gracious to us; We have waited for You. Be their arm every morning, Our salvation also in the time of trouble.

Isa.33.2

But LORD, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you. Be our strength each day and our salvation in times of trouble.

Isa.33.3

You spoke in thunder and everyone ran. You showed up and nations scattered.

Isa.33.3

At the thunder of your voice, the peoples flee; when you rise up, the nations scatter.

Isa.33.3

At the noise of the tumult the people shall flee; When You lift Yourself up, the nations shall be scattered;

Isa.33.3

The enemy runs at the sound of your voice. When you stand up, the nations flee!

Isa.33.4

Your people, for a change, got in on the loot, picking the field clean of the enemy spoils.

Isa.33.4

Your plunder, O nations, is harvested as by young locusts; like a swarm of locusts men pounce on it.

Isa.33.4

And Your plunder shall be gathered Like the gathering of the caterpillar; As the running to and fro of locusts, He shall run upon them.

Isa.33.4

Just as locusts strip the fields and vines, so Jerusalem will strip the fallen army of Assyria!

Isa.33.5

GOD is supremely esteemed. His center holds. Zion brims over with all that is just and right.

Isa.33.5

The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.

Isa.33.5

The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

Isa.33.5

Though the LORD is very great and lives in heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness.

Isa.33.6

GOD keeps your days stable and secure--salvation, wisdom, and knowledge in surplus, and best of all, Zion's treasure, Fear-of-GOD.

Isa.33.6

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.

Isa.33.6

Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation; The fear of the LORD is His treasure.

Isa.33.6

In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.

Isa.33.7

But look! Listen! Tough men weep openly. Peacemaking diplomats are in bitter tears.

Isa.33.7

Look, their brave men cry aloud in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly.

Isa.33.7

Surely their valiant ones shall cry outside, The ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

Isa.33.7

But now your ambassadors weep in bitter disappointment, for Assyria has refused their petition for peace.

Isa.33.8

The roads are empty--not a soul out on the streets. The peace treaty is broken, its conditions violated, its signers reviled.

Isa.33.8

The highways are deserted, no travelers are on the roads. The treaty is broken, its witnesses are despised, no one is respected.

Isa.33.8

The highways lie waste, The traveling man ceases. He has broken the covenant, He has despised the cities, He regards no man.

Isa.33.8

Your roads are deserted; no one travels them anymore. The Assyrians have broken their peace pact and care nothing for the promises they made before witnesses. They have no respect for anyone.

Isa.33.9

The very ground under our feet mourns, the Lebanon mountains hang their heads, Flowering Sharon is a weed-choked gully, and the forests of Bashan and Carmel? Bare branches.

Isa.33.9

The land mourns and wastes away, Lebanon is ashamed and withers; Sharon is like the Arabah, and Bashan and Carmel drop their leaves.

Isa.33.9

The earth mourns and languishes, Lebanon is shamed and shriveled; Sharon is like a wilderness, And Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.

Isa.33.9

All the land of Israel is in trouble. Lebanon has been destroyed. The plain of Sharon is now a wilderness. Bashan and Carmel have been plundered.

Isa.33.10

"Now I'm stepping in," GOD says. "From now on, I'm taking over. The gloves come off. Now see how mighty I am.

Isa.33.10

"Now will I arise," says the LORD. "Now will I be exalted; now will I be lifted up.

Isa.33.10

"Now I will rise," says the LORD; "Now I will be exalted, Now I will lift Myself up.

Isa.33.10

But the LORD says: "I will stand up and show my power and might.

Isa.33.11

There's nothing to you. Pregnant with chaff, you produce straw babies; full of hot air, you self-destruct.

Isa.33.11

You conceive chaff, you give birth to straw; your breath is a fire that consumes you.

Isa.33.11

You shall conceive chaff, You shall bring forth stubble; Your breath, as fire, shall devour you.

Isa.33.11

You Assyrians will gain nothing by all your efforts. Your own breath will turn to fire and kill you.

Isa.33.12

You're good for nothing but fertilizer and fuel. Earth to earth--and the sooner the better.

Isa.33.12

The peoples will be burned as if to lime; like cut thornbushes they will be set ablaze."

Isa.33.12

And the people shall be like the burnings of lime; Like thorns cut up they shall be burned in the fire.

Isa.33.12

Your people will be burned up completely, like thorns cut down and tossed in a fire.

Isa.33.13

"If you're far away, get the reports on what I've done, And if you're in the neighborhood, pay attention to my record.

Isa.33.13

You who are far away, hear what I have done; you who are near, acknowledge my power!

Isa.33.13

Hear, you who are afar off, what I have done; And you who are near, acknowledge My might."

Isa.33.13

Listen to what I have done, you nations far away! And you that are near, acknowledge my might!"

Isa.33.14

The sinners in Zion are rightly terrified; the godless are at their wit's end: "Who among us can survive this firestorm? Who of us can get out of this purge with our lives?'"

Isa.33.14

The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: "Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?"

Isa.33.14

The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: "Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"

Isa.33.14

The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear. "Which one of us," they cry, "can live here in the presence of this all-consuming fire?"

Isa.33.15

The answer's simple: Live right, speak the truth, despise exploitation, refuse bribes, reject violence, avoid evil amusements.

Isa.33.15

He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil-

Isa.33.15

He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil:

Isa.33.15

The ones who can live here are those who are honest and fair, who reject making a profit by fraud, who stay far away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder, who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong.

Isa.33.16

This is how you raise your standard of living! A safe and stable way to live. A nourishing, satisfying way to live.

Isa.33.16

this is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him.

Isa.33.16

He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure.

Isa.33.16

These are the ones who will dwell on high. The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress of safety. Food will be supplied to them, and they will have water in abundance.

Isa.33.17

Oh, you'll see the king--a beautiful sight! And you'll take in the wide vistas of land.

Isa.33.17

Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.

Isa.33.17

Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will see the land that is very far off.

Isa.33.17

Your eyes will see the king in all his splendor, and you will see a land that stretches into the distance.

Isa.33.18

In your mind you'll go over the old terrors: "What happened to that Assyrian inspector who condemned and confiscated? And the one who gouged us of taxes? And that cheating moneychanger?"

Isa.33.18

In your thoughts you will ponder the former terror: "Where is that chief officer? Where is the one who took the revenue? Where is the officer in charge of the towers?"

Isa.33.18

Your heart will meditate on terror: "Where is the scribe? Where is he who weighs? Where is he who counts the towers?"

Isa.33.18

You will think back to this time of terror when the Assyrian officers outside your walls counted your towers and estimated how much plunder they would get from your fallen city.

Isa.33.19

Gone! Out of sight forever! Their insolence nothing now but a fading stain on the carpet! No more putting up with a language you can't understand, no more sounds of gibberish in your ears.

Isa.33.19

You will see those arrogant people no more, those people of an obscure speech, with their strange, incomprehensible tongue.

Isa.33.19

You will not see a fierce people, A people of obscure speech, beyond perception, Of a stammering tongue that you cannot understand.

Isa.33.19

But soon they will all be gone. These fierce, violent people with a strange, unknown language will disappear.

Isa.33.20

Just take a look at Zion, will you? Centering our worship in festival feasts! Feast your eyes on Jerusalem, a quiet and permanent place to live. No more pulling up stakes and moving on, no more patched-together lean-tos.

Isa.33.20

Look upon Zion, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved; its stakes will never be pulled up, nor any of its ropes broken.

Isa.33.20

Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts; Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet home, A tabernacle that will not be taken down; Not one of its stakes will ever be removed, Nor will any of its cords be broken.

Isa.33.20

Instead, you will see Zion as a place of worship and celebration. You will see Jerusalem, a city quiet and secure.

Isa.33.21

Instead, GOD! GOD majestic, God himself the place in a country of broad rivers and streams, But rivers blocked to invading ships, off--limits to predatory pirates.

Isa.33.21

There the LORD will be our Mighty One. It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams. No galley with oars will ride them, no mighty ship will sail them.

Isa.33.21

But there the majestic LORD will be for us A place of broad rivers and streams, In which no galley with oars will sail, Nor majestic ships pass by

Isa.33.21

The LORD will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross.

Isa.33.22

For GOD makes all the decisions here. GOD is our king. GOD runs this place and he'll keep us safe.

Isa.33.22

For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us.

Isa.33.22

(For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us);

Isa.33.22

For the LORD is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us.

Isa.33.23

Ha! Your sails are in shreds, your mast wobbling, your hold leaking. The plunder is free for the taking, free for all--for weak and strong, insiders and outsiders.

Isa.33.23

Your rigging hangs loose: The mast is not held secure, the sail is not spread. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided and even the lame will carry off plunder.

Isa.33.23

Your tackle is loosed, They could not strengthen their mast, They could not spread the sail. Then the prey of great plunder is divided; The lame take the prey.

Isa.33.23

The enemies' sails hang loose on broken masts with useless tackle. Their treasure will be divided by the people of God. Even the lame will win their share!

Isa.33.24

No one in Zion will say, "I'm sick." Best of all, they'll all live guilt-free.

Isa.33.24

No one living in Zion will say, "I am ill"; and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven.

Isa.33.24

And the inhabitant will not say, "I am sick"; The people who dwell in it will be forgiven their iniquity.

Isa.33.24

The people of Israel will no longer say, "We are sick and helpless," for the LORD will forgive their sins.

Isa.34.1

Draw in close now, nations. Listen carefully, you people. Pay attention! Earth, you too, and everything in you. World, and all that comes from you.

Isa.34.1

Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!

Isa.34.1

Come near, you nations, to hear; And heed, you people! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, The world and all things that come forth from it.

Isa.34.1

Come here and listen, O nations of the earth. Let the world and everything in it hear my words.

Isa.34.2

And here's why: GOD is angry, good and angry with all the nations, So blazingly angry at their arms and armies that he's going to rid earth of them, wipe them out.

Isa.34.2

The LORD is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter.

Isa.34.2

For the indignation of the LORD is against all nations, And His fury against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them, He has given them over to the slaughter.

Isa.34.2

For the LORD is enraged against the nations. His fury is against all their armies. He will completely destroy them, bringing about their slaughter.

Isa.34.3

The corpses, thrown in a heap, will stink like the town dump in midsummer, Their blood flowing off the mountains like creeks in spring runoff.

Isa.34.3

Their slain will be thrown out, their dead bodies will send up a stench; the mountains will be soaked with their blood.

Isa.34.3

Also their slain shall be thrown out; Their stench shall rise from their corpses, And the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

Isa.34.3

Their dead will be left unburied, and the stench of rotting bodies will fill the land. The mountains will flow with their blood.

Isa.34.4

Stars will fall out of the sky like overripe, rotting fruit in the orchard, And the sky itself will be folded up like a blanket and put away in a closet. All that army of stars, shriveled to nothing, like leaves and fruit in autumn, dropping and rotting!

Isa.34.4

All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.

Isa.34.4

All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; All their host shall fall down As the leaf falls from the vine, And as fruit falling from a fig tree.

Isa.34.4

The heavens above will melt away and disappear like a rolled-up scroll. The stars will fall from the sky, just as withered leaves and fruit fall from a tree.

Isa.34.5

"Once I've finished with earth and sky, I'll start in on Edom. I'll come down hard on Edom, a people I've slated for total termination."

Isa.34.5

My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally destroyed.

Isa.34.5

"For My sword shall be bathed in heaven; Indeed it shall come down on Edom, And on the people of My curse, for judgment.

Isa.34.5

And when my sword has finished its work in the heavens, then watch. It will fall upon Edom, the nation I have completely destroyed.

Isa.34.6

GOD has a sword, thirsty for blood and more blood, a sword hungry for well-fed flesh, Lamb and goat blood, the suet-rich kidneys of rams. Yes, GOD has scheduled a sacrifice in Bozrah, the capital, the whole country of Edom a slaughterhouse.

Isa.34.6

The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood, it is covered with fat- the blood of lambs and goats, fat from the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah and a great slaughter in Edom.

Isa.34.6

The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, It is made overflowing with fatness, With the blood of lambs and goats, With the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, And a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

Isa.34.6

The sword of the LORD is drenched with blood. It is covered with fat as though it had been used for killing lambs and goats and rams for a sacrifice. Yes, the LORD will offer a great sacrifice in the rich city of Bozrah. He will make a mighty slaughter in Edom.

Isa.34.7

A wholesale slaughter, wild animals and farm animals alike slaughtered. The whole country soaked with blood, all the ground greasy with fat.

Isa.34.7

And the wild oxen will fall with them, the bull calves and the great bulls. Their land will be drenched with blood, and the dust will be soaked with fat.

Isa.34.7

The wild oxen shall come down with them, And the young bulls with the mighty bulls; Their land shall be soaked with blood, And their dust saturated with fatness."

Isa.34.7

The strongest will die--veterans and young men, too. The land will be soaked with blood and the soil enriched with fat.

Isa.34.8

It's GOD's scheduled time for vengeance, the year all Zion's accounts are settled.

Isa.34.8

For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion's cause.

Isa.34.8

For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, The year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

Isa.34.8

For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, the year when Edom will be paid back for all it did to Israel.

Isa.34.9

Edom's streams will flow sluggish, thick with pollution, the soil sterile, poisoned with waste, The whole country a smoking, stinking garbage dump--

Isa.34.9

Edom's streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch!

Isa.34.9

Its streams shall be turned into pitch, And its dust into brimstone; Its land shall become burning pitch.

Isa.34.9

The streams of Edom will be filled with burning pitch, and the ground will be covered with fire.

Isa.34.10

The fires burning day and night, the skies black with endless smoke. Generation after generation of wasteland--no more travelers through this country!

Isa.34.10

It will not be quenched night and day; its smoke will rise forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever pass through it again.

Isa.34.10

It shall not be quenched night or day; Its smoke shall ascend forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; No one shall pass through it forever and ever.

Isa.34.10

This judgment on Edom will never end; the smoke of its burning will rise forever. The land will lie deserted from generation to generation. No one will live there anymore.

Isa.34.11

Vultures and skunks will police the streets; owls and crows will feel at home there. God will reverse creation. Chaos! He will cancel fertility. Emptiness!

Isa.34.11

The desert owl and screech owl will possess it; the great owl and the raven will nest there. God will stretch out over Edom the measuring line of chaos and the plumb line of desolation.

Isa.34.11

But the pelican and the porcupine shall possess it, Also the owl and the raven shall dwell in it. And He shall stretch out over it The line of confusion and the stones of emptiness.

Isa.34.11

It will be haunted by the horned owl, the hawk, the screech owl, and the raven. For God will bring chaos and destruction to that land.

Isa.34.12

Leaders will have no one to lead. They'll name it No Kingdom There, A country where all kings and princes are unemployed.

Isa.34.12

Her nobles will have nothing there to be called a kingdom, all her princes will vanish away.

Isa.34.12

They shall call its nobles to the kingdom, But none shall be there, and all its princes shall be nothing.

Isa.34.12

It will be called the Land of Nothing, and its princes soon will all be gone.

Isa.34.13

Thistles will take over, covering the castles, fortresses conquered by weeds and thornbushes. Wild dogs will prowl the ruins, ostriches have the run of the place.

Isa.34.13

Thorns will overrun her citadels, nettles and brambles her strongholds. She will become a haunt for jackals, a home for owls.

Isa.34.13

And thorns shall come up in its palaces, Nettles and brambles in its fortresses; It shall be a habitation of jackals, A courtyard for ostriches.

Isa.34.13

Thorns will overrun its palaces; nettles will grow in its forts. The ruins will become a haunt for jackals and a home for ostriches.

Isa.34.14

Wildcats and hyenas will hunt together, demons and devils dance through the night. The night-demon Lilith, evil and rapacious, will establish permanent quarters.

Isa.34.14

Desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and wild goats will bleat to each other; there the night creatures will also repose and find for themselves places of rest.

Isa.34.14

The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the jackals, And the wild goat shall bleat to its companion; Also the night creature shall rest there, And find for herself a place of rest.

Isa.34.14

Wild animals of the desert will mingle there with hyenas, their howls filling the night. Wild goats will bleat at one another among the ruins, and night creatures will come there to rest.

Isa.34.15

Scavenging carrion birds will breed and brood, infestations of ominous evil.

Isa.34.15

The owl will nest there and lay eggs, she will hatch them, and care for her young under the shadow of her wings; there also the falcons will gather, each with its mate.

Isa.34.15

There the arrow snake shall make her nest and lay eggs And hatch, and gather them under her shadow; There also shall the hawks be gathered, Every one with her mate.

Isa.34.15

There the owl will make her nest and lay her eggs. She will hatch her young and cover them with her wings. And the vultures will come, each one with its mate.

Isa.34.16

Get and read GOD's book: None of this is going away, this breeding, brooding evil. GOD has personally commanded it all. His Spirit set it in motion.

Isa.34.16

Look in the scroll of the LORD and read: None of these will be missing, not one will lack her mate. For it is his mouth that has given the order, and his Spirit will gather them together.

Isa.34.16

"Search from the book of the LORD, and read: Not one of these shall fail; Not one shall lack her mate. For My mouth has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them.

Isa.34.16

Search the book of the LORD, and see what he will do. He will not miss a single detail. Not one of these birds and animals will be missing, and none will lack a mate, for the LORD has promised this. His Spirit will make it all come true.

Isa.34.17

GOD has assigned them their place, decreed their fate in detail. This is permanent--generation after generation, the same old thing.

Isa.34.17

He allots their portions; his hand distributes them by measure. They will possess it forever and dwell there from generation to generation.

Isa.34.17

He has cast the lot for them, And His hand has divided it among them with a measuring line. They shall possess it forever; From generation to generation they shall dwell in it."

Isa.34.17

He has surveyed and divided the land and deeded it over to those creatures. They will possess it forever, from generation to generation.

Isa.35.1

Wilderness and desert will sing joyously, the badlands will celebrate and flower--Like the crocus in spring,

Isa.35.1

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus,

Isa.35.1

The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;

Isa.35.1

Even the wilderness will rejoice in those days. The desert will blossom with flowers.

Isa.35.2

bursting into blossom, a symphony of song and color. Mountain glories of Lebanon--a gift. Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon--gifts. GOD's resplendent glory, fully on display. GOD awesome, GOD majestic.

Isa.35.2

it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Isa.35.2

It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God.

Isa.35.2

Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel's pastures and the plain of Sharon. There the LORD will display his glory, the splendor of our God.

Isa.35.3

Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees.

Isa.35.3

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;

Isa.35.3

Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees.

Isa.35.3

With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees.

Isa.35.4

Tell fearful souls, "Courage! Take heart! GOD is here, right here, on his way to put things right And redress all wrongs. He's on his way! He'll save you!"

Isa.35.4

say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."

Isa.35.4

Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you."

Isa.35.4

Say to those who are afraid, "Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you."

Isa.35.5

Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped,

Isa.35.5

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Isa.35.5

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isa.35.5

And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf.

Isa.35.6

Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song. Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert.

Isa.35.6

Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

Isa.35.6

Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.

Isa.35.6

The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will shout and sing! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the desert.

Isa.35.7

Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain. Even lowly jackals will have water to drink, and barren grasslands flourish richly.

Isa.35.7

The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

Isa.35.7

The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

Isa.35.7

The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived.

Isa.35.8

There will be a highway called the Holy Road. No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road. It's for GOD's people exclusively--impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it.

Isa.35.8

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.

Isa.35.8

A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray.

Isa.35.8

And a main road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-hearted people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God's ways; fools will never walk there.

Isa.35.9

No lions on this road, no dangerous wild animals--Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening. Only the redeemed will walk on it.

Isa.35.9

No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there,

Isa.35.9

No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there,

Isa.35.9

Lions will not lurk along its course, and there will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will follow it.

Isa.35.10

The people GOD has ransomed will come back on this road. They'll sing as they make their way home to Zion, unfading halos of joy encircling their heads, Welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.

Isa.35.10

and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isa.35.10

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isa.35.10

Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return to Jerusalem, singing songs of everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be overcome with joy and gladness.

Gal.1.1

I, Paul, and my companions in faith here, send greetings to the Galatian churches. My authority for writing to you does not come from any popular vote of the people, nor does it come through the appointment of some human higher-up. It comes directly from Jesus the Messiah and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. I'm God-commissioned.

Gal.1.1

Paul, an apostle--sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead--

Gal.1.1

Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),

Gal.1.1

This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group or by human authority. My call is from Jesus Christ himself and from God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.

Gal.1.2

So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace!

Gal.1.2

and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia:

Gal.1.2

and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

Gal.1.2

All the brothers and sisters here join me in sending greetings to the churches of Galatia.

Gal.1.3

We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we're in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God's plan is that we all experience that rescue.

Gal.1.3

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

Gal.1.3

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

Gal.1.3

May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gal.1.4

Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!

Gal.1.4

who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Gal.1.4

who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Gal.1.4

He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.

Gal.1.5

I can't believe your fickleness--how easily you have turned traitor to him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing a variant message!

Gal.1.5

to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gal.1.5

to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gal.1.5

That is why all glory belongs to God through all the ages of eternity. Amen.

Gal.1.6

It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God. Those who are provoking this agitation among you are turning the Message of Christ on its head.

Gal.1.6

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--

Gal.1.6

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,

Gal.1.6

I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who in his love and mercy called you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ. You are already following a different way

Gal.1.7

Let me be blunt: If one of us--even if an angel from heaven!-were to preach something other than what we preached originally, let him be cursed.

Gal.1.7

which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Gal.1.7

which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Gal.1.7

that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ.

Gal.1.8

I said it once; I'll say it again: If anyone, regardless of reputation or credentials, preaches something other than what you received originally, let him be cursed.

Gal.1.8

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

Gal.1.8

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

Gal.1.8

Let God's curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about. Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed.

Gal.1.9

Do you think I speak this strongly in order to manipulate crowds? Or curry favor with God? Or get popular applause? If my goal was popularity, I wouldn't bother being Christ's slave.

Gal.1.9

As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

Gal.1.9

As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Gal.1.9

I will say it again: If anyone preaches any other gospel than the one you welcomed, let God's curse fall upon that person.

Gal.1.10

Know this--I am most emphatic here, friends--this great Message I delivered to you is not mere human optimism.

Gal.1.10

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Gal.1.10

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Gal.1.10

Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant.

Gal.1.11

I didn't receive it through the traditions, and I wasn't taught it in some school. I got it straight from God, received the Message directly from Jesus Christ.

Gal.1.11

I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.

Gal.1.11

But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.

Gal.1.11

Dear brothers and sisters, I solemnly assure you that the Good News of salvation which I preach is not based on mere human reasoning or logic.

Gal.1.12

I'm sure that you've heard the story of my earlier life when I lived in the Jewish way. In those days I went all out in persecuting God's church. I was systematically destroying it.

Gal.1.12

I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Gal.1.12

For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Gal.1.12

For my message came by a direct revelation from Jesus Christ himself. No one else taught me.

Gal.1.13

I was so enthusiastic about the traditions of my ancestors that I advanced head and shoulders above my peers in my career.

Gal.1.13

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.

Gal.1.13

For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.

Gal.1.13

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion--how I violently persecuted the Christians. I did my best to get rid of them.

Gal.1.14

Even then God had designs on me. Why, when I was still in my mother's womb he chose and called me out of sheer generosity!

Gal.1.14

I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Gal.1.14

And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Gal.1.14

I was one of the most religious Jews of my own age, and I tried as hard as possible to follow all the old traditions of my religion.

Gal.1.15

Now he has intervened and revealed his Son to me so that I might joyfully tell non-Jews about him. Immediately after my calling--without consulting anyone around me

Gal.1.15

But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased

Gal.1.15

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace,

Gal.1.15

But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me, even before I was born! What undeserved mercy!

Gal.1.16

and without going up to Jerusalem to confer with those who were apostles long before I was--I got away to Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus,

Gal.1.16

to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,

Gal.1.16

to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

Gal.1.16

Then he revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When all this happened to me, I did not rush out to consult with anyone else;

Gal.1.17

but it was three years before I went up to Jerusalem to compare stories with Peter. I was there only fifteen days--but what days they were!

Gal.1.17

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

Gal.1.17

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Gal.1.17

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. No, I went away into Arabia and later returned to the city of Damascus.

Gal.1.18

Except for our Master's brother James, I saw no other apostles.

Gal.1.18

Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days.

Gal.1.18

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.

Gal.1.18

It was not until three years later that I finally went to Jerusalem for a visit with Peter and stayed there with him for fifteen days.

Gal.1.19

(I'm telling you the absolute truth in this.)

Gal.1.19

I saw none of the other apostles--only James, the Lord's brother.

Gal.1.19

But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.

Gal.1.19

And the only other apostle I met at that time was James, our Lord's brother.

Gal.1.20

Then I began my ministry in the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

Gal.1.20

I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.

Gal.1.20

(Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

Gal.1.20

You must believe what I am saying, for I declare before God that I am not lying.

Gal.1.21

After all that time and activity I was still unknown by face among the Christian churches in Judea.

Gal.1.21

Later I went to Syria and Cilicia.

Gal.1.21

Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

Gal.1.21

Then after this visit, I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia.

Gal.1.22

There was only this report: "That man who once persecuted us is now preaching the very message he used to try to destroy."

Gal.1.22

I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.

Gal.1.22

And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.

Gal.1.22

And still the Christians in the churches in Judea didn't know me personally.

Gal.1.23

Their response was to recognize and worship God because of me!

Gal.1.23

They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."

Gal.1.23

But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy."

Gal.1.23

All they knew was that people were saying, "The one who used to persecute us now preaches the very faith he tried to destroy!"

Gal.1.24

And they praised God because of me.

Gal.1.24

And they praised God because of me.

Gal.1.24

And they glorified God in me.

Gal.1.24

And they gave glory to God because of me.

Ps.107.10

Some of you were locked in a dark cell, cruelly confined behind bars,

Ps.107.10

Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains,

Ps.107.10

Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Bound in affliction and irons--

Ps.107.10

Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, miserable prisoners in chains.

Ps.107.11

Punished for defying God's Word, for turning your back on the High God's counsel--

Ps.107.11

for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.

Ps.107.11

Because they rebelled against the words of God, And despised the counsel of the Most High,

Ps.107.11

They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High.

Ps.107.12

A hard sentence, and your hearts so heavy, and not a soul in sight to help.

Ps.107.12

So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

Ps.107.12

Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.

Ps.107.12

That is why he broke them with hard labor; they fell, and no one helped them rise again.

Ps.107.13

Then you called out to GOD in your desperate condition; he got you out in the nick of time.

Ps.107.13

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

Ps.107.13

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses.

Ps.107.13

"LORD, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

Ps.107.14

He led you out of your dark, dark cell, broke open the jail and led you out.

Ps.107.14

He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.

Ps.107.14

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces.

Ps.107.14

He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains.

Ps.107.15

So thank GOD for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves;

Ps.107.15

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men,

Ps.107.15

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Ps.107.15

Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them.

Ps.107.16

He shattered the heavy jailhouse doors, he snapped the prison bars like matchsticks!

Ps.107.16

for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

Ps.107.16

For He has broken the gates of bronze, And cut the bars of iron in two.

Ps.107.16

For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron.

Ps.107.17

Some of you were sick because you'd lived a bad life, your bodies feeling the effects of your sin;

Ps.107.17

Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.

Ps.107.17

Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.

Ps.107.17

Some were fools in their rebellion; they suffered for their sins.

Ps.107.18

You couldn't stand the sight of food, so miserable you thought you'd be better off dead.

Ps.107.18

They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death.

Ps.107.18

Their soul abhorred all manner of food, And they drew near to the gates of death.

Ps.107.18

Their appetites were gone, and death was near.

Ps.107.19

Then you called out to GOD in your desperate condition; he got you out in the nick of time.

Ps.107.19

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

Ps.107.19

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses.

Ps.107.19

"LORD, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

Ps.107.20

He spoke the word that healed you, that pulled you back from the brink of death.

Ps.107.20

He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

Ps.107.20

He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

Ps.107.20

He spoke, and they were healed--snatched from the door of death.

Ps.107.21

So thank GOD for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves;

Ps.107.21

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.

Ps.107.21

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Ps.107.21

Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them.

Ps.107.22

Offer thanksgiving sacrifices, tell the world what he's done--sing it out!

Ps.107.22

Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

Ps.107.22

Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.

Ps.107.22

Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.