Isaiah 48
New English Translation
The Lord Appeals to the Exiles
48 Listen to this, O family of Jacob,[a]
you who are called by the name ‘Israel,’
and are descended from Judah,[b]
who take oaths in the name of the Lord,
and invoke[c] the God of Israel—
but not in an honest and just manner.[d]
2 Indeed, they live in the holy city;[e]
they trust in[f] the God of Israel,
whose name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
3 “I announced events beforehand,[g]
I issued the decrees and made the predictions;[h]
suddenly I acted and they came to pass.
4 I did this[i] because I know how stubborn you are.
Your neck muscles are like iron
and your forehead like bronze.[j]
5 I announced them to you beforehand;
before they happened, I predicted them for you,
so you could never say,
‘My image did these things,
my idol, my cast image, decreed them.’
6 You have heard; now look at all the evidence![k]
Will you not admit that what I say is true?[l]
From this point on I am announcing to you new events
that are previously unrevealed and you do not know about.[m]
7 Now they come into being,[n] not in the past;
before today you did not hear about them,
so you could not say,
‘Yes,[o] I know about them.’
8 You did not hear,
you do not know,
you were not told beforehand.[p]
For I know that you are very deceitful;[q]
you were labeled[r] a rebel from birth.
9 For the sake of my reputation[s] I hold back my anger;
for the sake of my prestige[t] I restrain myself from destroying you.[u]
10 Look, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have purified you[v] in the furnace of misery.
11 For my sake alone[w] I will act,
for how can I allow my name to be defiled?[x]
I will not share my glory with anyone else![y]
12 Listen to me, O Jacob,
Israel, whom I summoned.
I am the one;
I am present at the very beginning
and at the very end.[z]
13 Yes, my hand founded the earth;
my right hand spread out the sky.
I summon them;
they stand together.
14 All of you, gather together and listen!
Who among them[aa] announced these things?
The Lord’s ally[ab] will carry out his desire against Babylon;
he will exert his power against the Babylonians.[ac]
15 I, I have spoken—
yes, I have summoned him;
I lead him and he will succeed.[ad]
16 Approach me—listen to this!
From the very first I have not spoken in secret;
when it happens,[ae] I am there.”
So now, the Sovereign Lord has sent me, accompanied by his Spirit.[af]
17 This is what the Lord, your Protector,[ag] says,
the Holy One of Israel:[ah]
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you how to succeed,
who leads you in the way you should go.
18 If only you had obeyed my[ai] commandments,
prosperity would have flowed to you like a river,[aj]
deliverance would have come to you like the waves of the sea.[ak]
19 Your descendants would have been as numerous as sand,[al]
and your children[am] like its granules.
Their name would not have been cut off
and eliminated from my presence.[an]
20 Leave Babylon!
Flee from the Babylonians!
Announce it with a shout of joy!
Make this known—
proclaim it throughout the earth![ao]
Say, ‘The Lord protects[ap] his servant Jacob.
21 They do not thirst as he leads them through dry regions;
he makes water flow out of a rock for them;
he splits open a rock and water flows out.’[aq]
22 There will be no prosperity for the wicked,” says the Lord.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 48:1 tn Heb “house of Jacob”; TEV, CEV “people of Israel.”
- Isaiah 48:1 tc The Hebrew text reads literally “and from the waters of Judah came out.” מִמֵּי (mimme) could be a variation from an original מִמְּעֵי (mimmeʿe, “from the inner parts of”). The translation above as well as several other translations treat the text this way or understand that this is what the Hebrew phrase figuratively means (cf. HCSB, NASB, NIV, NLT, NRSV). Some translations (ESV, NKJV) retain the MT reading and render it literally as “waters.” The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa, which corrects a similar form to “from inner parts of” in 39:7, does not do it here.
- Isaiah 48:1 tn Heb “cause to remember”; KJV, ASV “make mention of.”
- Isaiah 48:1 tn Heb “not in truth and not in righteousness.”
- Isaiah 48:2 tn Heb “they call themselves [or “are called”] from the holy city.” The precise meaning of the statement is uncertain. The Niphal of קָרָא (qaraʾ) is combined with the preposition מִן (min) only here. When the Qal of קָרָא is used with מִן, the preposition often indicates the place from which one is summoned (see 46:11). So one could translate, “from the holy city they are summoned,” meaning that they reside there.
- Isaiah 48:2 tn Heb “lean on” (so NASB, NRSV); NAB, NIV “rely on.”
- Isaiah 48:3 tn Heb “the former things beforehand I declared.”
- Isaiah 48:3 tn Heb “and from my mouth they came forth, and I caused them to be heard.”
- Isaiah 48:4 tn The words “I did this” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text v. 4 is subordinated to v. 3.
- Isaiah 48:4 sn The image is that of a person who has tensed the muscles of the face and neck as a sign of resolute refusal.
- Isaiah 48:6 tn Heb “gaze [at] all of it”; KJV “see all this.”
- Isaiah 48:6 tn Heb “[as for] you, will you not declare?”
- Isaiah 48:6 tn Heb “and hidden things, and you do not know them.”
- Isaiah 48:7 tn Heb “are created” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “They are brand new.”
- Isaiah 48:7 tn Heb “look”; KJV, NASB “Behold.”
- Isaiah 48:8 tn Heb “beforehand your ear did not open.”
- Isaiah 48:8 tn Heb “deceiving, you deceive.” The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb for emphasis.
- Isaiah 48:8 tn Or “called” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
- Isaiah 48:9 tn Heb “for the sake of my name” (so NAB, NASB); NLT “for my own sake.”
- Isaiah 48:9 tn Heb “and my praise.” לְמַעַן (lemaʿan, “for the sake of”) is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
- Isaiah 48:9 tn Heb “I restrain [myself] concerning you not to cut you off.”
- Isaiah 48:10 tc The Hebrew text has בְּחַרְתִּיךָ (bekhartikha, “I have chosen you”), but the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa reads correctly בחנתיכה (“I have tested you”). The metallurgical background of the imagery suggests that purification through testing is the idea.
- Isaiah 48:11 tn The Hebrew text repeats לְמַעֲנִי (lemaʿani, “for my sake”) for emphasis.
- Isaiah 48:11 tn The Hebrew text reads literally, “for how can it be defiled?” The subject of the verb is probably “name” (v. 9).
- Isaiah 48:11 sn See 42:8.
- Isaiah 48:12 tn Heb “I [am] he, I [am the] first, also I [am the] last.”
- Isaiah 48:14 sn This probably refers to the idol gods (see v. 5).
- Isaiah 48:14 tn Or “friend,” or “covenant partner.” sn The Lord’s ally is a reference to Cyrus.
- Isaiah 48:14 tn Heb “and his arm [against] the Babylonians.”
- Isaiah 48:15 tn Heb “and his way will be prosperous.”
- Isaiah 48:16 tn Heb “from the time of its occurring.”
- Isaiah 48:16 sn The speaker here is not identified specifically, but he is probably Cyrus, the Lord’s “ally” mentioned in vv. 14-15.
- Isaiah 48:17 tn Heb “your redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.
- Isaiah 48:17 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
- Isaiah 48:18 tn Heb “paid attention to” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV); TEV “had listened to.”
- Isaiah 48:18 tn Heb “like a river your peace would have been.” שָׁלוֹם (shalom) probably refers here to the peace and prosperity which God promised in return for obedience to the covenant.
- Isaiah 48:18 tn Heb “and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” צְדָקָה (tsedaqah) probably refers here to divine deliverance from enemies. See v. 19.
- Isaiah 48:19 tn Heb “like sand”; NCV “as many as the grains of sand.”
- Isaiah 48:19 tn Heb “and the issue from your inner parts.”
- Isaiah 48:19 tn Heb “and his name would not be cut off and would not be destroyed from before me.”
- Isaiah 48:20 tn Heb “to the end of the earth” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV).
- Isaiah 48:20 tn Heb “redeems.” See the note at 41:14.
- Isaiah 48:21 sn The translation above (present tense) assumes that this verse describes God’s provision for returning Babylonian exiles (see v. 20; 35:6; 49:10) in terms reminiscent of the Exodus from Egypt (see Exod 17:6).
以賽亞書 48
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
頑梗的以色列
48 「雅各家啊，聽我說！
你們被稱為以色列人，是猶大的子孫，
憑耶和華的名起誓、
呼求以色列的上帝，
卻不真心誠意。
2 你們還自稱為聖城的人，
聲稱倚靠名為萬軍之耶和華的以色列的上帝。
3 「過去所發生的事，
我很久以前就預言過、
親口宣告過，
然後使它們瞬間發生。
4 我知道你頑梗，
有鐵一般的頸項，
銅一般的額頭。
5 所以，在很久以前，
事情還沒有發生時就向你預言這些事，
免得你說這些是你的偶像做的，
是你雕刻和鑄造的偶像命定的。
6 「你已經聽見了，看看這一切，
難道你還不承認嗎？
現在我要把新事，把你不知道的隱秘事告訴你。
7 這些事過去沒有，現在才有，
在今天以前你從未聽過，
免得你說，『這些事我早就知道了。』
8 你不知道這些事，
甚至聞所未聞。
我知道你生性詭詐，
你自出母胎就被稱為悖逆之徒。
9 「我為了我的名，暫時忍怒；
我為了我的榮耀，壓住怒氣，
不消滅你。
10 看啊，我熬煉你，但不像在火爐中煉銀子，
我是在苦難的爐中熬煉你。
11 我這樣做是為了自己，
我豈能讓自己的名受褻瀆，
把自己的榮耀給別人？
12 雅各，我所揀選的以色列啊，
聽我說！
我是上帝，我是首先的，
也是末後的。
13 我親手奠立大地的根基，
我的右手鋪展穹蒼。
我一呼喚，它們都侍立一旁。
14 「你們一起來聽吧。
假神中有誰曾預言過這些事？
耶和華所揀選的人必成就祂的旨意，
他的臂膀必攻擊迦勒底人。
15 唯有我說過這些事；
我召了他，領他出來；
他必一路亨通。
16 你們到我跟前來聽吧。
我一開始就沒有暗地裡說話，
事情發生的時候，我就在場。」
現在主耶和華差遣我和祂的靈來。
17 你的救贖主耶和華——以色列的聖者說：
「我是你的上帝耶和華，
我為了使你受益而教導你，
我引導你走當行的路。
18 真希望你當時肯聽我的命令！
那樣，你的平安必像滾滾河水，
你的公義必如滔滔海浪；
19 你的後裔必多如海沙，
你的子孫必像細沙一樣不可勝數，
他們的名號絕不會從我面前被剷除、被消滅。」
20 你們要離開巴比倫，
從迦勒底人那裡逃出來。
你們要高聲歡呼，向普天下傳揚、宣告：
「耶和華救贖了祂的僕人雅各！」
21 耶和華帶領他們經過沙漠，
他們也不會口渴。
為了他們，
祂使水從磐石中流出，祂使磐石裂開、湧出水來。
22 耶和華說：「惡人得不到平安。」
Isaiah 48
New King James Version
Israel Refined for God’s Glory
48 “Hear this, O house of Jacob,
Who are called by the name of Israel,
And have come forth from the wellsprings of Judah;
Who swear by the name of the Lord,
And make mention of the God of Israel,
But (A)not in truth or in righteousness;
2 For they call themselves (B)after the holy city,
And (C)lean on the God of Israel;
The Lord of hosts is His name:
3 “I have (D)declared the former things from the beginning;
They went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it.
Suddenly I did them, (E)and they came to pass.
4 Because I knew that you were [a]obstinate,
And (F)your neck was an iron sinew,
And your brow bronze,
5 Even from the beginning I have declared it to you;
Before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you,
Lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them,
And my carved image and my molded image
Have commanded them.’
6 “You have heard;
See all this.
And will you not declare it?
I have made you hear new things from this time,
Even hidden things, and you did not know them.
7 They are created now and not from the beginning;
And before this day you have not heard them,
Lest you should say, ‘Of course I knew them.’
8 Surely you did not hear,
Surely you did not know;
Surely from long ago your ear was not opened.
For I knew that you would deal very treacherously,
And were called (G)a transgressor from the womb.
9 “For(H) My name’s sake (I)I will [b]defer My anger,
And for My praise I will restrain it from you,
So that I do not cut you off.
10 Behold, (J)I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the (K)furnace of affliction.
11 For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it;
For (L)how should My name be profaned?
And (M)I will not give My glory to another.
God’s Ancient Plan to Redeem Israel
12 “Listen to Me, O Jacob,
And Israel, My called:
I am He, (N)I am the (O)First,
I am also the Last.
13 Indeed (P)My hand has laid the foundation of the earth,
And My right hand has stretched out the heavens;
When (Q)I call to them,
They stand up together.
14 “All of you, assemble yourselves, and hear!
Who among them has declared these things?
(R)The Lord loves him;
(S)He shall do His pleasure on Babylon,
And His arm shall be against the Chaldeans.
15 I, even I, have spoken;
Yes, (T)I have called him,
I have brought him, and his way will prosper.
16 “Come near to Me, hear this:
(U)I have not spoken in secret from the beginning;
From the time that it was, I was there.
And now (V)the Lord God and His Spirit
[c]Have sent Me.”
17 Thus says (W)the Lord, your Redeemer,
The Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
Who teaches you to profit,
(X)Who leads you by the way you should go.
18 (Y)Oh, that you had heeded My commandments!
(Z)Then your peace would have been like a river,
And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19 (AA)Your descendants also would have been like the sand,
And the offspring of your body like the grains of sand;
His name would not have been cut off
Nor destroyed from before Me.”
20 (AB)Go forth from Babylon!
Flee from the Chaldeans!
With a voice of singing,
Declare, proclaim this,
Utter it to the end of the earth;
Say, “The Lord has (AC)redeemed
His servant Jacob!”
21 And they (AD)did not thirst
When He led them through the deserts;
He (AE)caused the waters to flow from the rock for them;
He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.
22 “There(AF) is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 48:4 Heb. hard
- Isaiah 48:9 delay
- Isaiah 48:16 Heb. verb is sing.; or Has sent Me and His Spirit
Isaiah 48
King James Version
48 Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.
2 For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name.
3 I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
4 Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
5 I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
6 Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
7 They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.
8 Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.
9 For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
13 Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
14 All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The Lord hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.
15 I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
16 Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
17 Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
19 Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.
21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
22 There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
