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Isaiah 10:1-4
The Message
Isaiah 10:1-4
The Message
You Who Legislate Evil
10 1-4 Doom to you who legislate evil,
who make laws that make victims—
Laws that make misery for the poor,
that rob my destitute people of dignity,
Exploiting defenseless widows,
taking advantage of homeless children.
What will you have to say on Judgment Day,
when Doomsday arrives out of the blue?
Who will you get to help you?
What good will your money do you?
A sorry sight you’ll be then, huddled with the prisoners,
or just some corpses stacked in the street.
Even after all this, God is still angry,
his fist still raised, ready to hit them again.
Isaiah 10:1-3
New International Version
Isaiah 10:1-3
New International Version
10 Woe(A) to those who make unjust laws,
to those who issue oppressive decrees,(B)
2 to deprive(C) the poor of their rights
and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,(D)
making widows their prey
and robbing the fatherless.(E)
3 What will you do on the day of reckoning,(F)
when disaster(G) comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help?(H)
Where will you leave your riches?
Isaiah 10:1-3
New Living Translation
Isaiah 10:1-3
New Living Translation
10 What sorrow awaits the unjust judges
and those who issue unfair laws.
2 They deprive the poor of justice
and deny the rights of the needy among my people.
They prey on widows
and take advantage of orphans.
3 What will you do when I punish you,
when I send disaster upon you from a distant land?
To whom will you turn for help?
Where will your treasures be safe?
Isaiah 10:1-3
New American Standard Bible
Isaiah 10:1-3
New American Standard Bible
Assyria Is God’s Instrument
10 Woe to those who (A)enact unjust statutes
And to those who constantly record [a]harmful decisions,
2 So as (B)to [b]deprive the needy of justice
And rob the poor among My people of their rights,
So (C)that widows may be their spoil
And that they may plunder the [c]orphans.
3 Now (D)what will you do in the (E)day of punishment,
And in the devastation which will come (F)from afar?
(G)To whom will you flee for help?
And where will you leave your wealth?
Footnotes
- Isaiah 10:1 Lit harm
- Isaiah 10:2 Lit turn the needy aside from
- Isaiah 10:2 Or fatherless
Isaiah 10:1-3
GOD’S WORD Translation
Isaiah 10:1-3
GOD’S WORD Translation
10 How horrible it will be for those who make unjust laws
and who make oppressive regulations.
2 They deprive the poor of justice.
They take away the rights of the needy among my people.
They prey on widows and rob orphans.
3 What will you do on the day
you are called to account ⌞for these things⌟,
when the disaster comes from far away?
Where will you run for help?
Where will you leave your wealth?
Isaiah 41:17-20
The Message
Isaiah 41:17-20
The Message
17-20 “The poor and homeless are desperate for water,
their tongues parched and no water to be found.
But I’m there to be found, I’m there for them,
and I, God of Israel, will not leave them thirsty.
I’ll open up rivers for them on the barren hills,
spout fountains in the valleys.
I’ll turn the baked-clay badlands into a cool pond,
the waterless waste into splashing creeks.
I’ll plant the red cedar in that treeless wasteland,
also acacia, myrtle, and olive.
I’ll place the cypress in the desert,
with plenty of oaks and pines.
Everyone will see this. No one can miss it—
unavoidable, indisputable evidence
That I, God, personally did this.
It’s created and signed by The Holy of Israel.
Isaiah 41:17-18
New International Version
Isaiah 41:17-18
New International Version
17 “The poor and needy search for water,(A)
but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.(B)
But I the Lord will answer(C) them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake(D) them.
18 I will make rivers flow(E) on barren heights,
and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert(F) into pools of water,(G)
and the parched ground into springs.(H)
Isaiah 41:17-18
New Living Translation
Isaiah 41:17-18
New Living Translation
17 “When the poor and needy search for water and there is none,
and their tongues are parched from thirst,
then I, the Lord, will answer them.
I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.
18 I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus.
I will give them fountains of water in the valleys.
I will fill the desert with pools of water.
Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.
Isaiah 41:17-18
New American Standard Bible
Isaiah 41:17-18
New American Standard Bible
17 “The poor and needy are seeking (A)water, but there is none,
And their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the Lord, (B)will answer them Myself;
As the God of Israel I (C)will not abandon them.
18 I will open (D)rivers on the bare heights,
And springs in the midst of the valleys;
I will make (E)the wilderness a pool of water,
And the dry land fountains of water.
Isaiah 41:17-18
GOD’S WORD Translation
Isaiah 41:17-18
GOD’S WORD Translation
17 “The poor and needy are looking for water, but there is none.
Their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the Lord, will answer them.
I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them.
18 I will make rivers flow on bare hilltops.
I will make springs flow through valleys.
I will turn deserts into lakes.
I will turn dry land into springs.
Isaiah 58:6-12
The Message
Isaiah 58:6-12
The Message
6-9 “This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’
A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places
9-12 “If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people’s sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You’ll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.
Isaiah 58:6-11
New International Version
Isaiah 58:6-11
New International Version
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting(A) I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice(B)
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed(C) free
and break every yoke?(D)
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry(E)
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter(F)—
when you see the naked, to clothe(G) them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?(H)
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,(I)
and your healing(J) will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a](K) will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.(L)
9 Then you will call,(M) and the Lord will answer;(N)
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger(O) and malicious talk,(P)
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,(Q)
then your light(R) will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.(S)
11 The Lord will guide(T) you always;
he will satisfy your needs(U) in a sun-scorched land(V)
and will strengthen(W) your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,(X)
like a spring(Y) whose waters never fail.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 58:8 Or your righteous One
Isaiah 58:6-11
New Living Translation
Isaiah 58:6-11
New Living Translation
6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
7 Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10 Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
Isaiah 58:6-11
New American Standard Bible
Isaiah 58:6-11
New American Standard Bible
6 Is this not the fast that I choose:
To (A)release the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the ropes of the yoke,
And to (B)let the oppressed go free,
And (C)break every yoke?
7 Is it not to (D)break your bread [a]with the hungry
And (E)bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the (F)naked, to cover him;
And not to (G)hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then your (H)light will break out like the dawn,
And your (I)recovery will spring up quickly;
And your (J)righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the (K)Lord will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will (L)call, and the Lord will answer;
You will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you (M)remove the yoke from your midst,
The [b](N)pointing of the finger and (O)speaking wickedness,
10 And if you (P)offer yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the [c]need of the afflicted,
Then your (Q)light will rise in darkness,
And your gloom will become like midday.
11 And the (R)Lord will continually guide you,
And (S)satisfy your [d]desire in scorched places,
And (T)give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a (U)watered garden,
And like a (V)spring of water whose waters do not [e]fail.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 58:7 Lit for
- Isaiah 58:9 I.e., an abusive gesture
- Isaiah 58:10 Or soul
- Isaiah 58:11 Or soul
- Isaiah 58:11 Or deceive
Isaiah 58:6-11
GOD’S WORD Translation
Isaiah 58:6-11
GOD’S WORD Translation
6 This is the kind of fasting I have chosen:
Loosen the chains of wickedness,
untie the straps of the yoke,[a]
let the oppressed go free,
and break every yoke.
7 Share your food with the hungry,
take the poor and homeless into your house,
and cover them with clothes when you see ⌞them⌟ naked.
Don’t refuse to help your relatives.
8 Then your light will break through like the dawn,
and you will heal quickly.
Your righteousness will go ahead of you,
and the glory of the Lord will guard you from behind.
9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer.
You will cry for help, and he will say, “Here I am!”
Get rid of that yoke.
Don’t point your finger and say wicked things.
10 If you give some of your own food to ⌞feed⌟ those who are hungry
and to satisfy ⌞the needs of⌟ those who are humble,
then your light will rise in the dark,
and your darkness will become as bright as the noonday sun.
11 The Lord will continually guide you
and satisfy you even in sun-baked places.
He will strengthen your bones.
You will become like a watered garden
and like a spring whose water does not stop flowing.
Footnotes
- 58:6 A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.