Isaiah 31-33
New International Reader's Version
The Lord Will Judge Those Who Depend on Egypt
31 How terrible it will be for those who go down to Egypt for help!
How terrible for those who depend on horses!
They trust in how many chariots they have.
They trust in how strong their horsemen are.
But they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel.
They don’t ask the Lord for his help.
2 He too is wise. He can bring horrible trouble.
He does what he says he’ll do.
He’ll rise up against that evil nation.
He’ll fight against those who help them.
3 The men of Egypt are only human beings.
They aren’t God.
Their horses are only flesh and blood.
They aren’t spirits.
The Lord will reach out his powerful hand
to punish everyone.
The Egyptians provide help.
But they will be tripped up.
The people of Judah receive the help.
But they will fall down.
All of them will be destroyed.
4 The Lord says to me,
“A powerful lion stands over its food and growls.
A lot of shepherds can be brought together to drive it away.
But the lion is not frightened by their shouts.
It is not upset by the noise they make.
In the same way, I will come down from heaven.
I will fight on Mount Zion and on its hills.
Nothing will drive me away.
I am the Lord who rules over all.
5 Like a bird hovering over its nest, I will guard Jerusalem.
I will keep it safe.
I will ‘pass over’ it and save it.
I am the Lord who rules over all.”
6 People of Israel, return to the Lord. He’s the God you have so strongly opposed. 7 You sinned when you made your gods out of silver and gold. The time will come when all of you will turn away from them.
8 The Lord says, “The Assyrians will be killed by swords.
But the swords that kill them will not be used by human beings.
The Assyrians will run away from those swords.
But their young men will be caught
and forced to work hard.
9 Their hiding places will be destroyed
when terror strikes them.
Their commanders will see their enemy’s battle flags.
Then they will be filled with panic,”
announces the Lord.
His fire blazes out from Mount Zion.
His furnace burns in Jerusalem.
The King Who Will Do What Is Right
32 A king will come who will do what is right.
His officials will govern fairly.
2 Each official will be like a place to get out of the wind.
He will be like a place to hide from storms.
He’ll be like streams of water flowing in the desert.
He’ll be like the shadow of a huge rock in a dry and thirsty land.
3 Then the eyes of those who see won’t be closed anymore.
The ears of those who hear will listen to the truth.
4 People who are afraid will know and understand.
Tongues that stutter will speak clearly.
5 Foolish people won’t be considered noble anymore.
Those who are worthless won’t be highly respected.
6 Foolish people say foolish things.
Their minds are set on doing evil things.
They don’t do what is right.
They tell lies about the Lord.
They don’t give hungry people any food.
They don’t let thirsty people have any water.
7 Those who are worthless use sinful methods.
They make evil plans against poor people.
They destroy them with their lies.
They do it even when those people are right.
8 But those who are noble make noble plans.
And by doing noble things they succeed.
The Sinful Women in Jerusalem
9 You women who are so contented,
pay attention to me.
You who feel so secure,
listen to what I have to say.
10 You feel secure now.
But in a little over a year you will tremble with fear.
The grape harvest will fail.
There won’t be any fruit.
11 So tremble, you contented women.
Tremble with fear, you who feel so secure.
Take off your fine clothes.
Wrap yourselves in rags.
12 Beat your chests to show how sad you are.
The pleasant fields have been destroyed.
The fruitful vines have dried up.
13 My people’s land is overgrown with thorns and bushes.
Mourn for all the houses that were once filled with joy.
Cry over this city that used to be full of wild parties.
14 The royal palace will be left empty.
The noisy city will be deserted.
The fort and lookout tower will become
a dry and empty desert forever.
Donkeys will enjoy being there.
Flocks will eat there.
15 That will continue until the Holy Spirit
is poured out on us from heaven.
Then the desert will be turned into rich farm lands.
The rich farm lands will seem like a forest.
16 In the desert, the Lord will make sure people do what is right.
In the rich farm lands he will make sure they treat one another fairly.
17 Doing what is right will bring peace and rest.
When my people do that, they will stay calm
and trust in the Lord forever.
18 They will live in a peaceful land.
Their homes will be secure.
They will enjoy peace and quiet.
19 Hail might strip the forests bare.
Cities might be completely destroyed.
20 But how blessed you people will be!
You will plant your seeds by every stream.
You will let your cattle and donkeys
wander anywhere they want to.
Trouble for Assyria and Help for God’s People
33 How terrible it will be for you, you who destroy others!
Assyria, you haven’t been destroyed yet.
How terrible for you, you who turn against others!
Others haven’t turned against you yet.
When you stop destroying,
you will be destroyed.
When you stop turning against others,
others will turn against you.
2 Lord, have mercy on us.
We long for you to help us.
Make us strong every morning.
Save us when we’re in trouble.
3 At the roar of your army, the nations run away.
When you rise up against them, they scatter.
4 Nations, what you have taken in battle is destroyed.
It’s as if young locusts had eaten it up.
Like large numbers of locusts,
people rush to get it.
5 The Lord is honored. He lives in heaven.
He will make sure Zion’s people only do what is fair and right.
6 He will be the firm foundation for their entire lives.
He will give them all the wisdom, knowledge and saving power they will ever need.
Respect for the Lord is the key to that treasure.
7 Look! Judah’s brave men cry out loud in the streets.
The messengers who were sent to bring peace weep bitter tears.
8 The wide roads are deserted.
No one travels on them.
Our peace treaty with Assyria is broken.
Those who witnessed it are looked down on.
No one is respected.
9 The land dries up and wastes away.
Lebanon is full of shame and dries up.
The rich land of Sharon is like the Arabah Desert.
The trees of Bashan and Carmel drop their leaves.
10 “Now I will take action,” says the Lord.
“Now I will be honored.
Now I will be respected.
11 Assyria, your plans and actions are like straw.
Your anger is a fire that will destroy you.
12 The nations will be burned to ashes.
They will be like bushes that are cut down and set on fire.
13 “You nations far away, listen to what I have done!
My people who are near, recognize how powerful I am!
14 The sinners in Zion are terrified.
They tremble with fear.
They say, ‘Who of us can live through the Lord’s destroying fire?
Who of us can live through the fire that burns forever?’
15 People must do what is right.
They must be honest and tell the truth.
They must not get rich by cheating others.
Their hands must not receive money from those who want special favors.
They must not let their ears listen to plans to commit murder.
They must close their eyes to even thinking about doing what is evil.
16 People like that will be kept safe.
It will be as if they were living on high mountains.
It will be as if they were living in a mountain fort.
They will have all the food they need.
And they will never run out of water.”
17 People of Judah, you will see the king in all his glory and majesty.
You will view his kingdom spreading far and wide.
18 You will think about what used to terrify you.
You will say to yourself,
“Where is that chief officer of Assyria?
Where is the one who forced us to send gifts to his king?
Where is the officer in charge of the towers
that were used when we were attacked?”
19 You won’t see those proud people anymore.
They spoke a strange language.
None of us could understand it.
20 Just look at Zion! It’s the city
where we celebrate our regular feasts.
Turn your eyes toward Jerusalem.
It will be a peaceful place to live in.
It will be like a tent that will never be moved.
Its stakes will never be pulled up.
None of its ropes will be broken.
21 There the Lord will be our Mighty One.
It will be like a place of wide rivers and streams.
No boat with oars will travel on them.
No mighty ship will sail on them.
22 That’s because the Lord is our judge.
The Lord gives us our law.
The Lord is our king.
He will save us.
23 The ropes on your ship hang loose.
The mast isn’t very secure.
The sail isn’t spread out.
But the Lord will strike down the Assyrians.
Then a large amount of goods will be taken from them and divided up.
Even people who are disabled will carry off some of it.
24 No one living in Zion will ever say again, “I’m sick.”
And the sins of those who live there will be forgiven.
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