Category: Isaiah

A Branch from David’s Line

1 Out of the stump of David’s familywill grow a shoot—

yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.

2 And the Spirit of theLordwill rest on him—

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and might,

the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of theLord.

3 He will delight in obeying theLord.

He will not judge by appearance

nor make a decision based on hearsay.

4 He will give justice to the poor

and make fair decisions for the exploited.

The earth will shake at the force of his word,

and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.

5 He will wear righteousness like a belt

and truth like an undergarment.

6 In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;

the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.

The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,

and a little child will lead them all.

7 The cow will graze near the bear.

The cub and the calf will lie down together.

The lion will eat hay like a cow.

8 The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.

Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.

9 Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,

for as the waters fill the sea,

so the earth will be filled with people who know theLord.

10 In that day the heir to David’s throne

will be a banner of salvation to all the world.

The nations will rally to him,

and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.

11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time

to bring back the remnant of his people—

those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt;

in southern Egypt, Ethiopia,and Elam;

in Babylonia,Hamath, and all the distant coastlands.

12 He will raise a flag among the nations

and assemble the exiles of Israel.

He will gather the scattered people of Judah

from the ends of the earth.

13 Then at last the jealousy between Israeland Judah will end.

They will not be rivals anymore.

14 They will join forces to swoop down on Philistia to the west.

Together they will attack and plunder the nations to the east.

They will occupy the lands of Edom and Moab,

and Ammon will obey them.

15 TheLordwill make a dry path through the gulf of the Red Sea.

He will wave his hand over the Euphrates River,

sending a mighty wind to divide it into seven streams

so it can easily be crossed on foot.

16 He will make a highway for the remnant of his people,

the remnant coming from Assyria,

just as he did for Israel long ago

when they returned from Egypt.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/ISA/11-927fbe9d6df45e17d1111fe63d253c67.mp3?version_id=116—

Songs of Praise for Salvation

1 In that day you will sing:

“I will praise you, OLord!

You were angry with me, but not any more.

Now you comfort me.

2 See, God has come to save me.

I will trust in him and not be afraid.

TheLordGodis my strength and my song;

he has given me victory.”

3 With joy you will drink deeply

from the fountain of salvation!

4 In that wonderful day you will sing:

“Thank theLord! Praise his name!

Tell the nations what he has done.

Let them know how mighty he is!

5 Sing to theLord, for he has done wonderful things.

Make known his praise around the world.

6 Let all the people of Jerusalemshout his praise with joy!

For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/ISA/12-3500ea8bde4995ee79d94488219ebfa4.mp3?version_id=116—

A Message about Babylon

1 Isaiah son of Amoz received this message concerning the destruction of Babylon:

2 “Raise a signal flag on a bare hilltop.

Call up an army against Babylon.

Wave your hand to encourage them

as they march into the palaces of the high and mighty.

3 I, theLord, have dedicated these soldiers for this task.

Yes, I have called mighty warriors to express my anger,

and they will rejoice when I am exalted.”

4 Hear the noise on the mountains!

Listen, as the vast armies march!

It is the noise and shouting of many nations.

TheLordof Heaven’s Armies has called this army together.

5 They come from distant countries,

from beyond the farthest horizons.

They are theLord’s weapons to carry out his anger.

With them he will destroy the whole land.

6 Scream in terror, for the day of theLordhas arrived—

the time for the Almighty to destroy.

7 Every arm is paralyzed with fear.

Every heart melts,

8 and people are terrified.

Pangs of anguish grip them,

like those of a woman in labor.

They look helplessly at one another,

their faces aflame with fear.

9 For see, the day of theLordis coming—

the terrible day of his fury and fierce anger.

The land will be made desolate,

and all the sinners destroyed with it.

10 The heavens will be black above them;

the stars will give no light.

The sun will be dark when it rises,

and the moon will provide no light.

11 “I, theLord, will punish the world for its evil

and the wicked for their sin.

I will crush the arrogance of the proud

and humble the pride of the mighty.

12 I will make people scarcer than gold—

more rare than the fine gold of Ophir.

13 For I will shake the heavens.

The earth will move from its place

when theLordof Heaven’s Armies displays his wrath

in the day of his fierce anger.”

14 Everyone in Babylon will run about like a hunted gazelle,

like sheep without a shepherd.

They will try to find their own people

and flee to their own land.

15 Anyone who is captured will be cut down—

run through with a sword.

16 Their little children will be dashed to death before their eyes.

Their homes will be sacked, and their wives will be raped.

17 “Look, I will stir up the Medes against Babylon.

They cannot be tempted by silver

or bribed with gold.

18 The attacking armies will shoot down the young men with arrows.

They will have no mercy on helpless babies

and will show no compassion for children.”

19 Babylon, the most glorious of kingdoms,

the flower of Chaldean pride,

will be devastated like Sodom and Gomorrah

when God destroyed them.

20 Babylon will never be inhabited again.

It will remain empty for generation after generation.

Nomads will refuse to camp there,

and shepherds will not bed down their sheep.

21 Desert animals will move into the ruined city,

and the houses will be haunted by howling creatures.

Owls will live among the ruins,

and wild goats will go there to dance.

22 Hyenas will howl in its fortresses,

and jackals will make dens in its luxurious palaces.

Babylon’s days are numbered;

its time of destruction will soon arrive.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/ISA/13-828ffccc1c736efbdb717018343e1119.mp3?version_id=116—

A Taunt for Babylon’s King

1 But theLordwill have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. He will choose Israel as his special people once again. He will bring them back to settle once again in their own land. And people from many different nations will come and join them there and unite with the people of Israel.

2 The nations of the world will help the people of Israel to return, and those who come to live in theLord’s land will serve them. Those who captured Israel will themselves be captured, and Israel will rule over its enemies.

3 In that wonderful day when theLordgives his people rest from sorrow and fear, from slavery and chains,

4 you will taunt the king of Babylon. You will say,

“The mighty man has been destroyed.

Yes, your insolenceis ended.

5 For theLordhas crushed your wicked power

and broken your evil rule.

6 You struck the people with endless blows of rage

and held the nations in your angry grip

with unrelenting tyranny.

7 But finally the earth is at rest and quiet.

Now it can sing again!

8 Even the trees of the forest—

the cypress trees and the cedars of Lebanon—

sing out this joyous song:

‘Since you have been cut down,

no one will come now to cut us down!’

9 “In the place of the deadthere is excitement

over your arrival.

The spirits of world leaders and mighty kings long dead

stand up to see you.

10 With one voice they all cry out,

‘Now you are as weak as we are!

11 Your might and power were buried with you.

The sound of the harp in your palace has ceased.

Now maggots are your sheet,

and worms your blanket.’

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,

O shining star, son of the morning!

You have been thrown down to the earth,

you who destroyed the nations of the world.

13 For you said to yourself,

‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars.

I will preside on the mountain of the gods

far away in the north.

14 I will climb to the highest heavens

and be like the Most High.’

15 Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead,

down to its lowest depths.

16 Everyone there will stare at you and ask,

‘Can this be the one who shook the earth

and made the kingdoms of the world tremble?

17 Is this the one who destroyed the world

and made it into a wasteland?

Is this the king who demolished the world’s greatest cities

and had no mercy on his prisoners?’

18 “The kings of the nations lie in stately glory,

each in his own tomb,

19 but you will be thrown out of your grave

like a worthless branch.

Like a corpse trampled underfoot,

you will be dumped into a mass grave

with those killed in battle.

You will descend to the pit.

20 You will not be given a proper burial,

for you have destroyed your nation

and slaughtered your people.

The descendants of such an evil person

will never again receive honor.

21 Kill this man’s children!

Let them die because of their father’s sins!

They must not rise and conquer the earth,

filling the world with their cities.”

22 This is what theLordof Heaven’s Armies says:

“I, myself, have risen against Babylon!

I will destroy its children and its children’s children,”

says theLord.

23 “I will make Babylon a desolate place of owls,

filled with swamps and marshes.

I will sweep the land with the broom of destruction.

I, theLordof Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

A Message about Assyria

24 TheLordof Heaven’s Armies has sworn this oath:

“It will all happen as I have planned.

It will be as I have decided.

25 I will break the Assyrians when they are in Israel;

I will trample them on my mountains.

My people will no longer be their slaves

nor bow down under their heavy loads.

26 I have a plan for the whole earth,

a hand of judgment upon all the nations.

27 TheLordof Heaven’s Armies has spoken—

who can change his plans?

When his hand is raised,

who can stop him?”

A Message about Philistia

28 This message came to me the year King Ahaz died:

29 Do not rejoice, you Philistines,

that the rod that struck you is broken—

that the king who attacked you is dead.

For from that snake a more poisonous snake will be born,

a fiery serpent to destroy you!

30 I will feed the poor in my pasture;

the needy will lie down in peace.

But as for you, I will wipe you out with famine

and destroy the few who remain.

31 Wail at the gates! Weep in the cities!

Melt with fear, you Philistines!

A powerful army comes like smoke from the north.

Each soldier rushes forward eager to fight.

32 What should we tell the Philistine messengers? Tell them,

“TheLordhas built Jerusalem;

its walls will give refuge to his oppressed people.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/ISA/14-0384d48ae66d7ec06ee9847e160d511c.mp3?version_id=116—

A Message about Moab

1 This message came to me concerning Moab:

In one night the town of Ar will be leveled,

and the city of Kir will be destroyed.

2 Your people will go to their temple in Dibon to mourn.

They will go to their sacred shrines to weep.

They will wail for the fate of Nebo and Medeba,

shaving their heads in sorrow and cutting off their beards.

3 They will wear burlap as they wander the streets.

From every home and public square will come the sound of wailing.

4 The people of Heshbon and Elealeh will cry out;

their voices will be heard as far away as Jahaz!

The bravest warriors of Moab will cry out in utter terror.

They will be helpless with fear.

5 My heart weeps for Moab.

Its people flee to Zoar and Eglath-shelishiyah.

Weeping, they climb the road to Luhith.

Their cries of distress can be heard all along the road to Horonaim.

6 Even the waters of Nimrim are dried up!

The grassy banks are scorched.

The tender plants are gone;

nothing green remains.

7 The people grab their possessions

and carry them across the Ravine of Willows.

8 A cry of distress echoes through the land of Moab

from one end to the other—

from Eglaim to Beer-elim.

9 The stream near Dibonruns red with blood,

but I am still not finished with Dibon!

Lions will hunt down the survivors—

both those who try to escape

and those who remain behind.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/ISA/15-da9d9ce775f126ae90cb1c88863158d5.mp3?version_id=116—

1 Send lambs from Sela as tribute

to the ruler of the land.

Send them through the desert

to the mountain of beautiful Zion.

2 The women of Moab are left like homeless birds

at the shallow crossings of the Arnon River.

3 “Help us,” they cry.

“Defend us against our enemies.

Protect us from their relentless attack.

Do not betray us now that we have escaped.

4 Let our refugees stay among you.

Hide them from our enemies until the terror is past.”

When oppression and destruction have ended

and enemy raiders have disappeared,

5 then God will establish one of David’s descendants as king.

He will rule with mercy and truth.

He will always do what is just

and be eager to do what is right.

6 We have heard about proud Moab—

about its pride and arrogance and rage.

But all that boasting has disappeared.

7 The entire land of Moab weeps.

Yes, everyone in Moab mourns

for the cakes of raisins from Kir-hareseth.

They are all gone now.

8 The farms of Heshbon are abandoned;

the vineyards at Sibmah are deserted.

The rulers of the nations have broken down Moab—

that beautiful grapevine.

Its tendrils spread north as far as the town of Jazer

and trailed eastward into the wilderness.

Its shoots reached so far west

that they crossed over the Dead Sea.

9 So now I weep for Jazer and the vineyards of Sibmah;

my tears will flow for Heshbon and Elealeh.

There are no more shouts of joy

over your summer fruits and harvest.

10 Gone now is the gladness,

gone the joy of harvest.

There will be no singing in the vineyards,

no more happy shouts,

no treading of grapes in the winepresses.

I have ended all their harvest joys.

11 My heart’s cry for Moab is like a lament on a harp.

I am filled with anguish for Kir-hareseth.

12 The people of Moab will worship at their pagan shrines,

but it will do them no good.

They will cry to the gods in their temples,

but no one will be able to save them.

13 TheLordhas already said these things about Moab in the past.

14 But now theLordsays, “Within three years, counting each day,the glory of Moab will be ended. From its great population, only a feeble few will be left alive.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/ISA/16-3af6cfc98b6adfe565cb8e68ff94968f.mp3?version_id=116—

A Message about Damascus and Israel

1 This message came to me concerning Damascus:

“Look, the city of Damascus will disappear!

It will become a heap of ruins.

2 The towns of Aroer will be deserted.

Flocks will graze in the streets and lie down undisturbed,

with no one to chase them away.

3 The fortified towns of Israelwill also be destroyed,

and the royal power of Damascus will end.

All that remains of Syria

will share the fate of Israel’s departed glory,”

declares theLordof Heaven’s Armies.

4 “In that day Israel’sglory will grow dim;

its robust body will waste away.

5 The whole land will look like a grainfield

after the harvesters have gathered the grain.

It will be desolate,

like the fields in the valley of Rephaim after the harvest.

6 Only a few of its people will be left,

like stray olives left on a tree after the harvest.

Only two or three remain in the highest branches,

four or five scattered here and there on the limbs,”

declares theLord, the God of Israel.

7 Then at last the people will look to their Creator

and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.

8 They will no longer look to their idols for help

or worship what their own hands have made.

They will never again bow down to their Asherah poles

or worship at the pagan shrines they have built.

9 Their largest cities will be like a deserted forest,

like the land the Hivites and Amorites abandoned

when the Israelites came here so long ago.

It will be utterly desolate.

10 Why? Because you have turned from the God who can save you.

You have forgotten the Rock who can hide you.

So you may plant the finest grapevines

and import the most expensive seedlings.

11 They may sprout on the day you set them out;

yes, they may blossom on the very morning you plant them,

but you will never pick any grapes from them.

Your only harvest will be a load of grief and unrelieved pain.

12 Listen! The armies of many nations

roar like the roaring of the sea.

Hear the thunder of the mighty forces

as they rush forward like thundering waves.

13 But though they thunder like breakers on a beach,

God will silence them, and they will run away.

They will flee like chaff scattered by the wind,

like a tumbleweed whirling before a storm.

14 In the evening Israel waits in terror,

but by dawn its enemies are dead.

This is the just reward of those who plunder us,

a fitting end for those who destroy us.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/ISA/17-c53f470b5a33de41672f2cc2daf75673.mp3?version_id=116—

A Message about Ethiopia

1 Listen, Ethiopia—land of fluttering sails

that lies at the headwaters of the Nile,

2 that sends ambassadors

in swift boats down the river.

Go, swift messengers!

Take a message to a tall, smooth-skinned people,

who are feared far and wide

for their conquests and destruction,

and whose land is divided by rivers.

3 All you people of the world,

everyone who lives on the earth—

when I raise my battle flag on the mountain, look!

When I blow the ram’s horn, listen!

4 For theLordhas told me this:

“I will watch quietly from my dwelling place—

as quietly as the heat rises on a summer day,

or as the morning dew forms during the harvest.”

5 Even before you begin your attack,

while your plans are ripening like grapes,

theLordwill cut off your new growth with pruning shears.

He will snip off and discard your spreading branches.

6 Your mighty army will be left dead in the fields

for the mountain vultures and wild animals.

The vultures will tear at the corpses all summer.

The wild animals will gnaw at the bones all winter.

7 At that time theLordof Heaven’s Armies will receive gifts

from this land divided by rivers,

from this tall, smooth-skinned people,

who are feared far and wide for their conquests and destruction.

They will bring the gifts to Jerusalem,

where theLordof Heaven’s Armies dwells.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/ISA/18-6345615886f12794020acc216ceb3881.mp3?version_id=116—

A Message about Egypt

1 This message came to me concerning Egypt:

Look! TheLordis advancing against Egypt,

riding on a swift cloud.

The idols of Egypt tremble.

The hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear.

2 “I will make Egyptian fight against Egyptian—

brother against brother,

neighbor against neighbor,

city against city,

province against province.

3 The Egyptians will lose heart,

and I will confuse their plans.

They will plead with their idols for wisdom

and call on spirits, mediums, and those who consult the spirits of the dead.

4 I will hand Egypt over

to a hard, cruel master.

A fierce king will rule them,”

says the Lord, theLordof Heaven’s Armies.

5 The waters of the Nile will fail to rise and flood the fields.

The riverbed will be parched and dry.

6 The canals of the Nile will dry up,

and the streams of Egypt will stink

with rotting reeds and rushes.

7 All the greenery along the riverbank

and all the crops along the river

will dry up and blow away.

8 The fishermen will lament for lack of work.

Those who cast hooks into the Nile will groan,

and those who use nets will lose heart.

9 There will be no flax for the harvesters,

no thread for the weavers.

10 They will be in despair,

and all the workers will be sick at heart.

11 What fools are the officials of Zoan!

Their best counsel to the king of Egypt is stupid and wrong.

Will they still boast to Pharaoh of their wisdom?

Will they dare brag about all their wise ancestors?

12 Where are your wise counselors, Pharaoh?

Let them tell you what God plans,

what theLordof Heaven’s Armies is going to do to Egypt.

13 The officials of Zoan are fools,

and the officials of Memphisare deluded.

The leaders of the people

have led Egypt astray.

14 TheLordhas sent a spirit of foolishness on them,

so all their suggestions are wrong.

They cause Egypt to stagger

like a drunk in his vomit.

15 There is nothing Egypt can do.

All are helpless—

the head and the tail,

the noble palm branch and the lowly reed.

16 In that day the Egyptians will be as weak as women. They will cower in fear beneath the upraised fist of theLordof Heaven’s Armies.

17 Just to speak the name of Israel will terrorize them, for theLordof Heaven’s Armies has laid out his plans against them.

18 In that day five of Egypt’s cities will follow theLordof Heaven’s Armies. They will even begin to speak Hebrew, the language of Canaan. One of these cities will be Heliopolis, the City of the Sun.

19 In that day there will be an altar to theLordin the heart of Egypt, and there will be a monument to theLordat its border.

20 It will be a sign and a witness that theLordof Heaven’s Armies is worshiped in the land of Egypt. When the people cry to theLordfor help against those who oppress them, he will send them a savior who will rescue them.

21 TheLordwill make himself known to the Egyptians. Yes, they will know theLordand will give their sacrifices and offerings to him. They will make a vow to theLordand will keep it.

22 TheLordwill strike Egypt, and then he will bring healing. For the Egyptians will turn to theLord, and he will listen to their pleas and heal them.

23 In that day Egypt and Assyria will be connected by a highway. The Egyptians and Assyrians will move freely between their lands, and they will both worship God.

24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth.

25 For theLordof Heaven’s Armies will say, “Blessed be Egypt, my people. Blessed be Assyria, the land I have made. Blessed be Israel, my special possession!”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/ISA/19-b0bd2a7fec805f35c7546f5c506870b3.mp3?version_id=116—

A Message about Egypt and Ethiopia

1 In the year when King Sargon of Assyria sent his commander in chief to capture the Philistine city of Ashdod,

2 theLordtold Isaiah son of Amoz, “Take off the burlap you have been wearing, and remove your sandals.” Isaiah did as he was told and walked around naked and barefoot.

3 Then theLordsaid, “My servant Isaiah has been walking around naked and barefoot for the last three years. This is a sign—a symbol of the terrible troubles I will bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia.

4 For the king of Assyria will take away the Egyptians and Ethiopiansas prisoners. He will make them walk naked and barefoot, both young and old, their buttocks bared, to the shame of Egypt.

5 Then the Philistines will be thrown into panic, for they counted on the power of Ethiopia and boasted of their allies in Egypt!

6 They will say, ‘If this can happen to Egypt, what chance do we have? We were counting on Egypt to protect us from the king of Assyria.’”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/ISA/20-ef9ebfd57f6032a42c099f9686a0baeb.mp3?version_id=116—