Isaiah Chapter 33

An Oracle About Assyria

                  33^:1Misfortune awaits you, destroyers

                                    who haven’t been destroyed yourselves;

                              misfortune awaits you, treacherous people

                                    that others haven’t treated treacherously.

                              As soon as you’re done destroying, you’ll be destroyed;

                                    as soon as you’ve finished your treachery,

                                          others will deal treacherously with you.

                        ² Yahveh, be gracious to us; we’ve waited for you;

                                    be our strength each morning,

                                    our deliverer when trouble comes.

                        ³ Let people run from the turmoil you bring;

                           let nations scatter when you threaten.

                  ⁴Gather spoil like caterpillars gather

                                    and locusts strip the countryside.

                        ⁵ Honor Yahveh because he lives on high;     

                                    he’s filled Zion with justice and goodness.

                        ⁶ Later he’ll provide you stability,

                                    a wealth of salvation, knowledge, and wisdom;

                                    respect for him will be your treasure.                        

Is 33:1-6

⁷ But for now, your brave men cry in public;

            your ambassadors for peace weep bitterly.

⁸ The roads are empty; travel is at a standstill

            because the enemy has broken the treaty,

                  despised towns,

                  and doesn’t care about their inhabitants.

⁹ The land mourns and pines away;

                  Lebanon shrivels up with shame.

      Sharon has become a desert;

            Bashan and Carmel are losing their leaves.

¹⁰ “So now I’ll stand up and be honored,” Yahveh says,

¹¹ “You’ve conceived chaff and given birth to stubble;

                  my breath will consume you like a flame.

¹² I’ll burn the nations to lime

            and destroy cut thorns with fire.                                

Is 33:7-12

¹³ You that are far off, pay attention to what I’ve done;

                  you that are near, acknowledge my power.”

         ¹⁴Sinners in Zion have panicked; the godless tremble,

      “Who among us can live in this consuming fire

            and continual burning?”

¹⁵ You that conduct yourselves justly and speak truthfully,

            who refuse to profit from fraud

                  and pull your hand back from bribes,

            who stop your ears from listening to murderous plots

                  and shut your eyes from watching evil—

         ¹⁶you’ll live on high;

                  your refuge will be an impregnable cliff;

            you’ll have food enough to eat

                  and water you can rely on.                                   

Is 33:13-16

¹⁷ You’ll see the King in his splendor

            and look at a land that stretches far and wide.

¹⁸ You’ll remember your fears from before, and ask,

                  “Where are the Assyrians that counted our defenses,

                  numbered our towers,

                  and added up the spoil?”

¹⁹ You won’t see those fierce people anymore

            whose language nobody could understand.               

Is 33:17-19

²⁰ Look at Zion that hosts your appointed festivals;

            you’ll see that Jerusalem offers a safe place to live,

                  a tent that won’t blow over,

                        whose stakes won’t pull up,

                        whose guy ropes don’t snap.

²¹ Yahveh, the Majestic One, will be there for you,

            a place with streams and canals,        

            where no galley will come

                  or big ship can sail;

                  ²²because Yahveh your judge, lawgiver, and king    

                  will protect you.

Is 33:20-22

²³ Your enemies’ tackle is hanging loose;

                  it can’t hold the mast in place

                  or keep the sail spread.

            As God’s people, you’ll divide the abundant spoil;

                  even the lame will gather plunder.

²⁴ You that live here won’t say, “We’re weak and sick,”

            because God will forgive your sin.

Is 33:23-24