Isaiah Chapter 63

Vengeance Against Israel’s Enemies

                  63^:1Who is this that’s coming from Edom

                                    in crimson clothes from Bozrah,

                                          one majestic in attire

                                          and marching with such power?

                              “The One that’s announcing vindication,

                                          that has the strength to save.”

                              ² Why are your clothes stained red

                                    like those who tread out grapes?

                              ³ “Ineed, I’ve been treading in a winepress—alone;

                                          nobody from the nations could help me;

                                    so I tramped down my foes in my fury;

                                          their life blood spattered my garments

                                                and stained my clothes.

                              ⁴ I’ve had a day for payback on my mind;

                                    a year for redemption to come.

                              ⁵ But I looked, amazed

                                    that there was no one to intervene for the oppressed;

                                    so my own arm did the saving;

                                          anger sustained me.

                              ⁶ I tramped down nations in my fury

                                          and made them drunk in my wrath;

                                    I poured out their blood on the ground.”

Is 63:1-6

Praise for Deliverance

                              ⁷ I’ll recount the praises and tell about Yahveh’s enduring love

                                          in proportion to everything he has granted us;

                                    I’ll declare the great goodness he has shown

                                          in proportion to his mercy and kindness toward Israel.

                              ⁸ He said, “They’re my people,

                                    offspring that surely won’t betray me again;

                                    so he saved them.

                              ⁹ In all their adversity he felt their suffering;

                                          so he sent the angel from his presence to save them.

                                    In his love and mercy, he redeemed them;

                                          he picked them up and carried them

                                          like he’d done in the past.

                              ¹⁰ But they did rebel and grieve his Holy Spirit;

                                    so he became their enemy and opposed them.          

Is 63:7-10

                              ¹¹ Then his people remembered the past at Moses’ time.

                                    “Where’s the One that brought them up from the sea

                                          with the shepherds of his flock?

                                    Where is the One that put his Holy Spirit among them,

                                          ¹² that showed his power when Moses raised his right hand,

                                          that divided the water for them to make an eternal name for himself,

                                          ¹³ that led them through the deep sea?

                                    Like a horse in open country, they didn’t stumble;

                                    ¹⁴ like livestock that goes down to a sheltered valley,

                                          the Spirit of Yahveh gave them rest;

                                    that’s the way he led his people

                                          to make a glorious name for himself.”

Is 63:11-14

Prayer for Pardon

                              ¹⁵ Look down from heaven,

                                          from your holy house;

                                          where are your zeal and powerful deeds?

                                    I don’t sense the mercy

                                          you used to have toward us.

                              ¹⁶ Even if Abraham would disown us

                                          and Israel wouldn’t recognize us,

                                    you’d still be our Father and Redeemer.

                              ¹⁷ Yahveh, why let us stray from your ways

                                          and harden our hearts against you?

                                    For our sake, bring us back as your special possession.

                              ¹⁸ Your holy people had your sanctuary for a while,

                                          but our adversaries have tramped it down.

                              ¹⁹ We’ve become like a nation you never ruled,

                                          like people that never wore your name.

Is 63:15-19