Isaiah 33

₁Our enemies are doomed! They have robbed and betrayed, although no one has robbed them or betrayed them. But their time to rob and betray will end, and they themselves will become victims of robbery and treachery.

₂LORD, have mercy on us. We have put our hope in you. Protect us day by day and save us in times of trouble. ₃When you fight for us, nations run away from the noise of battle. ₄Their belongings are pounced upon and taken as loot.

₅How great the LORD is! He rules over everything. He will fill Jerusalem with justice and integrity ₆and give stability to the nation. He always protects his people and gives them wisdom and knowledge. Their greatest treasure is their reverence for the LORD.

₇The brave are calling for help. The ambassadors who tried to bring about peace are crying bitterly. ₈The highways are so dangerous that no one travels on them. Treaties are broken and agreements are violated. No one is respected any more. ₉The land lies idle and deserted. The forests of Lebanon have withered, the fertile valley of Sharon is like a desert, and in Bashan and on Mount Carmel the leaves are falling from the trees.

₁₀The LORD says to the nations, “Now I will act. I will show how powerful I am. ₁₁You make worthless plans and everything you do is useless. My spirit is like a fire that will destroy you. ₁₂You will crumble like rocks burnt to make lime, like thorns burnt to ashes. ₁₃Let everyone near and far hear what I have done and acknowledge my power.”

₁₄The sinful people of Zion are trembling with fright. They say, “God's judgement is like a fire that burns for ever. Can any of us survive a fire like that?” ₁₅You can survive if you say and do what is right. Don't use your power to cheat the poor and don't accept bribes. Don't join with those who plan to commit murder or to do other evil things. ₁₆Then you will be safe; you will be as secure as if you were in a strong fortress. You will have food to eat and water to drink.

₁₇Once again you will see a king ruling in splendour over a land that stretches in all directions. ₁₈Your old fears of foreign tax collectors and spies will be only a memory. ₁₉You will no longer see any arrogant foreigners who speak a language that you can't understand. ₂₀Look at Zion, the city where we celebrate our religious festivals. Look at Jerusalem! What a safe place it will be to live in! It will be like a tent that is never moved, whose pegs are never pulled up and whose ropes never break. ₂₁The LORD will show us his glory. We will live beside broad rivers and streams, but hostile ships will not sail on them. _22-23All the rigging on those ships is useless; the sails cannot be spread! We will seize all the wealth of enemy armies, and there will be so much that even the lame can have a share. The LORD himself will be our king; he will rule over us and protect us. ₂₄No one who lives in our land will ever again complain of being ill, and all sins will be forgiven.