Isaiah 33

Chapter 33

A Message about Assyria

1 What sorrow awaits you Assyrians, who have destroyed otherst
but have never been destroyed yourselves.
You betray others,
but you have never been betrayed.
When you are done destroying,
you will be destroyed.
When you are done betraying,
you will be betrayed.2 But LORD, be merciful to us,
for we have waited for you.
Be our strong arm each day
and our salvation in times of trouble.3 The enemy runs at the sound of your voice.
When you stand up, the nations flee!4 Just as caterpillars and locusts strip the fields and vines,
so the fallen army of Assyria will be stripped!5 Though the LORD is very great and lives in heaven,
he will make Jerusalemt his home of justice and righteousness.6 In that day he will be your sure foundation,
providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.
The fear of the LORD will be your treasure.7 But now your brave warriors weep in public.
Your ambassadors of peace cry in bitter disappointment.8 Your roads are deserted;
no one travels them anymore.
The Assyrians have broken their peace treaty
and care nothing for the promises they made before witnesses.t
They have no respect for anyone.9 The land of Israel wilts in mourning.
Lebanon withers with shame.
The plain of Sharon is now a wilderness.
Bashan and Carmel have been plundered.10 But the LORD says: “Now I will stand up.
Now I will show my power and might.11 You Assyrians produce nothing but dry grass and stubble.
Your own breath will turn to fire and consume you.12 Your people will be burned up completely,
like thornbushes cut down and tossed in a fire.13 Listen to what I have done, you nations far away!
And you that are near, acknowledge my might!”14 The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear.
Terror seizes the godless.
“Who can live with this devouring fire?” they cry.
“Who can survive this all-consuming fire?”15 Those who are honest and fair,
who refuse to 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—16 these are the ones who will dwell on high.
The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress.
Food will be supplied to them,
and they will have water in abundance.17 Your eyes will see the king in all his splendor,
and you will see a land that stretches into the distance.18 You will think back to this time of terror, asking,
“Where are the Assyrian officers
who counted our towers?
Where are the bookkeepers
who recorded the plunder taken from our fallen city?”19 You will no longer see these fierce, violent people
with their strange, unknown language.20 Instead, you will see Zion as a place of holy festivals.
You will see Jerusalem, a city quiet and secure.
It will be like a tent whose ropes are taut
and whose stakes are firmly fixed.21 The LORD will be our Mighty One.
He will be like a wide river of protection
that no enemy can cross,
that no enemy ship can sail upon.22 For the LORD is our judge,
our lawgiver, and our king.
He will care for us and save us.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 take their share!24 The people of Israel will no longer say,
“We are sick and helpless,”
for the LORD will forgive their sins.

ISAIAH 33

Jerusalem Will Be Safe

1 You defeated my people.
Now you're in for trouble!
You've never been destroyed,
but you will be destroyed;
you've never been betrayed,
but you will be betrayed.
When you have finished
destroying and betraying,
you will be destroyed
and betrayed in return.

2 Please, [Lord], be kind to us!
We depend on you.
Make us strong each morning,
and come to save us
when we are in trouble.

3 Nations scatter when you roar
and show your greatness.t

4 We attack our enemies
like swarms of locusts;t
we take everything
that belongs to them.t

5 You, [Lord], are above all others,
and you live in the heavens.
You have brought justice
and fairness to Jerusalem;

6 you are the foundation
on which we stand today.
You always save us and give
true wisdom and knowledge.
Nothing means more to ust
than obeying you.

The [Lord] Will Do Something

7 Listen! Our bravest soldiers
are running through the streets,
screaming for help.t
Our messengers hoped for peace,
but came home crying.

8 No one travels anymore;
every road is empty.
Treaties are broken,
and no respect is shown
to any who keep promises.t

9 Fields are dry and barren;
Mount Lebanon wilts
with shame.
Sharon Valley is a desert;
the forests of Bashan and Carmel
have lost their leaves.

10 But the [Lord] says,
“Now I will do something
and be greatly praised.

11 Your deeds are straw
that will be set on fire
by your very own breath.

12 You will be burned to ashes
like thorns in a fire.

13 Everyone, both far and near,
come look at what I have done.
See my mighty power!”

Punishment and Rewards

14 Those terrible sinners
on Mount Zion tremble
as they ask in fear,
“How can we possibly live
where a raging fire
never stops burning?”

15 But there will be rewards
for those who live right
and tell the truth,
for those who refuse
to take money by force
or accept bribes,
for all who hate murder
and violent crimes.

16 They will live in a fortress
high on a rocky cliff,
where they will have food
and plenty of water.

The [Lord] Is Our King

17 With your own eyes
you will see the glorious King;
you will see his kingdom
reaching far and wide.

18 Then you will ask yourself,
“Where are those officials
who terrified us and forced us
to pay such heavy taxes?”

19 You will never again have to see
the proud people who spoke
a strange and foreign language
you could not understand.

20 Look to Mount Zion
where we celebrate
our religious festivals.
You will see Jerusalem,
secure as a tent with pegs
that cannot be pulled up
and fastened with ropes
that can never be broken.

21 Our wonderful [Lord]
will be with us!
There will be deep rivers
and wide streams
safe from enemy ships.t

The [Lord] Is Our Judge

22 The [Lord] is our judge
and our ruler;
the [Lord] is our king
and will keep us safe.

23 But your nationt is a ship
with its rigging loose,
its mast shaky,
and its sail not spread.
Someday even you that are lame
will take everything you want
from your enemies.

24 The [Lord] will forgive your sins,
and none of you will say,
“I feel sick.”