Isaiah 63

Chapter 63

Judgment against the LORD’s Enemies

1 Who is this who comes from Edom,
from the city of Bozrah,
with his clothing stained red?
Who is this in royal robes,
marching in his great strength?
“It is I, the LORD, announcing your salvation!
It is I, the LORD, who has the power to save!”2 Why are your clothes so red,
as if you have been treading out grapes?3 “I have been treading the winepress alone;
no one was there to help me.
In my anger I have trampled my enemies
as if they were grapes.
In my fury I have trampled my foes.
Their blood has stained my clothes.4 For the time has come for me to avenge my people,
to ransom them from their oppressors.5 I was amazed to see that no one intervened
to help the oppressed.
So I myself stepped in to save them with my strong arm,
and my wrath sustained me.6 I crushed the nations in my anger
and made them stagger and fall to the ground,
spilling their blood upon the earth.”

Praise for Deliverance

7 I will tell of the LORD’s unfailing love.
I will praise the LORD for all he has done.
I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel,
which he has granted according to his mercy and love.8 He said, “They are my very own people.
Surely they will not betray me again.”
And he became their Savior.9 In all their suffering he also suffered,
and he personallyt rescued them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them.
He lifted them up and carried them
through all the years.10 But they rebelled against him
and grieved his Holy Spirit.
So he became their enemy
and fought against them.11 Then they remembered those days of old
when Moses led his people out of Egypt.
They cried out, “Where is the one who brought Israel through the sea,
with Moses as their shepherd?
Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit
to be among his people?12 Where is the one whose power was displayed
when Moses lifted up his hand—
the one who divided the sea before them,
making himself famous forever?13 Where is the one who led them through the bottom of the sea?
They were like fine stallions
racing through the desert, never stumbling.14 As with cattle going down into a peaceful valley,
the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest.
You led your people, LORD,
and gained a magnificent reputation.”

Prayer for Mercy and Pardon

15 LORD, look down from heaven;
look from your holy, glorious home, and see us.
Where is the passion and the might
you used to show on our behalf?
Where are your mercy and compassion now?16 Surely you are still our Father!
Even if Abraham and Jacobt would disown us,
LORD, you would still be our Father.
You are our Redeemer from ages past.17 LORD, why have you allowed us to turn from your path?
Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you?
Return and help us, for we are your servants,
the tribes that are your special possession.18 How briefly your holy people possessed your holy place,
and now our enemies have destroyed it.19 Sometimes it seems as though we never belonged to you,
as though we had never been known as your people.

ISAIAH 63

The [Lord]'s Victory //over the Nations

1  t Who is this coming
from Bozraht in Edom
with clothes stained red?
Who is this hero marching
in his glorious uniform?
“It's me, the [Lord]!
I have won the battle,
and I can save you!”

2 What are those red spots?
Your clothes look stained
from trampling on grapes.t

3  t “I alone trampled the grapes!
None of the nations helped.
I trampled nations in my anger
and stained my clothes
with their blood.

4 I did this because I wanted
to take revenge—
the time had come
to rescue my people.

5  t No one was there to help me
or to give support;
my mighty arm won the battle,
strengthened by my anger.

6 In my fury I trampled on nations
and made them drunk;
their blood poured out
everywhere on earth.”

The [Lord]'s Goodness //to His People

7 I will tell about the kind deeds
the [Lord] has done.
They deserve praise!
The [Lord] has shown mercy
to the people of Israel;
he has been kind and good.

8 The [Lord] rescued his people,
and said, “They are mine.
They won't betray me.”

9 It troubled the [Lord]
to see them in trouble,
and his angel saved them.t
The [Lord] was truly merciful,
so he rescued his people.
He took them in his arms
and carried them all those years.

10 Then the [Lord]'s people
turned against him and made
his Holy Spirit sad.
So he became their enemy
and attacked them.

11 But his people remembered
what had happened
during the time of Moses.t
Didn't the [Lord]t bring them
and their leaders
safely through the sea?
Didn't het give them
his Holy Spirit?

12  t The glorious power of the [Lord]
marched beside Moses.
The [Lord] will be praised forever
for dividing the sea.

13 He led his people across
like horses running wild
without stumbling.

14 His Spirit gave them rest,
just as cattle find rest
when led into a valley.t
The name of the [Lord] was praised
for doing these things.

A Prayer for Mercy //and Help

15 Please, [Lord], look down
from your holy and glorious
home in the heavens
and see what's going on.
Have you lost interest?
Where is your power?
Show that you care about ust
and have mercy!

16  t Our ancestors Abraham and Jacob
have both rejected us.
But you are still our Father;
you have been our protector
since ancient times.

17 Why did you make us turn away
from you, our [Lord]?
Why did you make us want
to disobey you?
Please change your mind!
We are your servants,
your very own people.

18 For a little while,
your temple belonged to us;t
and now our enemies
have torn it down.

19 We act as though you
had never ruled us
or called us your people.