以色列人必重歸故土

14 耶和華必憐憫雅各,再次選擇以色列人做祂的子民,把他們安置在他們自己的土地上。外族人必與他們聯合,歸入以色列。 各國必幫助他們重返故鄉。在耶和華賜給他們的土地上,外族人必做他們的僕婢。他們必擄掠以前擄掠他們的人,統治以前壓制他們的人。

對巴比倫的諷刺

耶和華使他們脫離痛苦、悲傷和殘酷奴役的時候, 他們必這樣譏笑巴比倫王:

「暴君滅亡了!
暴政結束了!
耶和華折斷了邪惡君主的權杖。
他曾狂怒地攻伐列邦,
無休無止,
怒氣沖沖地征服列國,
大肆迫害。
如今天下太平,
人人歡呼歌唱,
連松樹和黎巴嫩的香柏樹都歡喜快樂地說,
『自從他滅亡後,
再沒有人上來砍伐我們。』
巴比倫王啊,你下到陰間,
陰間興奮地迎接你,
那些在世上做過君王和首領的陰魂都從座位上站起來迎接你,
10 對你說,
『你如今也跟我們一樣軟弱無能。』
11 你的榮耀和琴聲一同落入陰間,
蟲成了你的床鋪,
蛆成了你的被子。

12 「明亮的晨星、黎明之子啊,
你怎麼從天上墜落下來?
你這打敗列國的怎麼被砍倒在地上?
13 你曾想,『我要升到天上,
把自己的寶座設在上帝的眾星之上;
我要坐在遙遠的北方眾神明聚會的山上;
14 我要升到雲天之上,
使自己與至高者一樣。』
15 可是,你必墜入陰間,
掉進死亡的深坑。
16 看見你的都瞪大眼睛盯著你,
都在想,『這就是那曾使大地震動、列國顫抖的人嗎?
17 這就是那曾使天下荒涼、城邑傾覆、不肯釋放俘虜回家的人嗎?』
18 萬國的君王都躺在自己華麗的陵墓中,
19 只有你像一根毫無用處的樹枝,
被拋棄在自己的墳墓外。
你就像一具遭人踐踏的屍體,
與喪身刀下的人一同被扔進亂石坑裡。
20 你必得不到君王的葬禮,
因為你禍國殃民,
殺害自己的百姓。

「惡人的子孫必永遠被遺忘。
21 預備殺戮他的子孫吧,
因為他們的祖先罪惡深重,
免得他們興起統治世界、到處建造城邑。」
22 萬軍之耶和華說:
「我必攻擊巴比倫,
剷除巴比倫的名號、餘民和後裔。
這是耶和華說的。
23 我必用毀滅的掃帚清掃它,
使它成為沼澤之地和刺蝟的住所。
這是萬軍之耶和華說的。」

關於亞述的預言

24 萬軍之耶和華起誓說:
「我的計劃必實現,
我的旨意必成就。
25 我必在我的土地上擊垮亞述人,
在我的山上踐踏他們,
除去他們加在我子民身上的軛和重擔。
26 這是我對全世界所定的計劃,
是向列國伸出的懲罰之手。」
27 萬軍之耶和華定了計劃,
誰能阻撓呢?
祂的手已經伸出,
誰能叫祂收回呢?

關於非利士的預言

28 亞哈斯王駕崩那年,我得到以下預言:
29 非利士人啊,
不要因擊打你們的杖已經折斷[a]便高興。
因為那杖就像一條蛇,
必生出一條更危險的蛇,
一條會飛的毒蛇。
30 貧窮人必衣食無憂,
困苦人必安然度日,
但我必用饑荒除掉你們的子孫,
消滅你們殘存的人。
31 城門啊,哀號吧!
城邑啊,哭喊吧!
非利士人啊,戰抖吧!
因為有陣容整齊的軍隊從北方如塵煙滾滾而來。
32 該怎樣回覆外國的使者呢?
要告訴他們:「耶和華建立了錫安,
祂困苦的子民必得到保護。」

Footnotes

  1. 14·29 擊打你們的杖已經折斷」指攻擊非利士的王已死。

14 For Jehovah will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the sojourner shall join himself with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And the peoples shall take them, and bring them to their place; and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of Jehovah for servants and for handmaids: and they shall take them captive whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.

And it shall come to pass in the day that Jehovah shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy trouble, and from the hard service wherein thou wast made to serve, that thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the [a]golden city ceased! Jehovah hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers; [b]that smote the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, that ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. Yea, the fir-trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid low, no hewer is come up against us. Sheol from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming; it stirreth up [c]the dead for thee, even all the [d]chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10 All they shall answer and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? 11 Thy pomp is brought down to Sheol, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and worms cover thee.

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations! 13 And thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to Sheol, to the uttermost parts of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall gaze at thee, they shall consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17 that made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities thereof; that let not loose his prisoners to their home? 18 All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, every one in his own house. 19 But thou art cast forth away from thy sepulchre like an abominable branch, [e]clothed with the slain, that are thrust through with the sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a dead body trodden under foot. 20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people; the seed of evil-doers shall not be named for ever.

21 Prepare ye [f]slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers, that they rise not up, and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities. 22 And I will rise up against them, saith Jehovah of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son’s son, saith Jehovah. 23 I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith Jehovah of hosts.

24 Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: 25 that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulder. 26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. 27 For Jehovah of hosts hath purposed, and who shall annul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

28 In the year that king Ahaz died was this [g]burden.

29 Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of thee, because the rod that smote thee is broken; for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth an adder, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. 30 And the first-born of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety; and I will kill thy root with famine, and thy remnant shall be slain. 31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou art melted away, O Philistia, all of thee; for there cometh a smoke out of the north, and [h]there is no straggler in his ranks.

32 What then shall one answer the messengers of the nation? That Jehovah hath founded Zion, and in her shall the afflicted of his people take refuge.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 14:4 Or, exactress
  2. Isaiah 14:6 Or, he that smote . . . is persecuted, and none hindereth
  3. Isaiah 14:9 Or, the shades. Hebrew Rephaim.
  4. Isaiah 14:9 Hebrew he-goats.
  5. Isaiah 14:19 Or, as the raiment of those that are slain
  6. Isaiah 14:21 Or, a place of slaughter
  7. Isaiah 14:28 Or, oracle
  8. Isaiah 14:31 Or, none standeth aloof at his appointed times

14 Ty HERREN skall förbarma sig över Jakob och ännu en gång utvälja Israel och låta dem komma till ro i deras land; och främlingar skola sluta sig till dem och hålla sig till Jakobs hus.

Och folk skola taga dem och föra dem hem igen; men Israels hus skall lägga dem under sig såsom sin arvedel i HERRENS land, och skall göra dem till trälar och trälinnor. Så skola de få sina fångvaktare till fångar och råda över sina plågare.

Och på den dag då HERREN låter dig få ro från din vedermöda och ångest, och från den hårda träldom som har varit dig pålagd,

då skall du stämma upp denna visa över konungen i Babel, du skall säga: »Vilken ände har icke plågaren fått, vilken ände pinoorten!

HERREN har brutit sönder de ogudaktigas stav, tyrannernas ris,

det ris som i grymhet slog folken med slag på slag, och i vrede härskade över folkslagen med skoningslös förföljelse.

Hela jorden har nu fått vila och ro; man brister ut i jubel.

Själva cypresserna glädja sig över ditt fall, så ock Libanons cedrar: 'Sedan du nu ligger där, drager ingen hitupp för att hugga ned oss.'

Dödsriket därnere störes i sin ro för din skull, när det måste taga emot dig. Skuggorna där väckas upp för din skull, jordens alla väldige; folkens alla konungar måste stå upp från sina troner.

10 De upphäva alla sin röst och säga till dig: 'Så har då också du blivit maktlös såsom vi, ja, blivit vår like.'

11 Ned till dödsriket har din härlighet måst fara, och dina harpors buller; förruttnelse är bädden under dig, och maskar äro ditt täcke.

12 Huru har du icke fallit ifrån himmelen, du strålande morgonstjärna! Huru har du icke blivit fälld till jorden, du folkens förgörare!

13 Det var du som sade i ditt hjärta: 'Jag vill stiga upp till himmelen; högt ovanför Guds stjärnor vill jag ställa min tron; jag vill sätta mig på gudaförsamlingens berg längst uppe i norr.

14 Jag vill stiga upp över molnens höjder, göra mig lik den Högste.'

15 Nej, ned till dödsriket måste du fara, längst ned i graven.

16 De som se dig stirra på dig, de betrakta dig och säga: 'Är detta den man som kom jorden att darra och riken att bäva,

17 den som förvandlade jordkretsen till en öken och förstörde dess städer, den som aldrig frigav sina fångar, så att de fingo återvända hem?'

18 Folkens alla konungar ligga allasammans med ära var och en i sitt vilorum;

19 men du ligger obegraven och bortkastad, lik en föraktad gren; du ligger där överhöljd av dräpta, av svärdsslagna män, av döda som hava farit ned i gravkammaren, lik ett förtrampat as.

20 Du skulle icke såsom de få vila i en grav, ty du fördärvade ditt land och dräpte ditt folk. Om ogärningsmännens avföda skall man aldrig mer tala.

21 Anställen ett blodbad på hans söner för deras fäders missgärning. De få ej stå upp och besitta jorden och fylla jordkretsens yta med städer.»

22 Nej, jag skall stå upp emot dem, säger HERREN Sebaot; och jag skall utrota ur Babel både namn och kvarleva, både barn och efterkommande, säger HERREN.

23 Och jag skall göra det till ett tillhåll för rördrommar och fylla det med sumpsjöar; ja, jag skall bortsopa det med ödeläggelsens kvast, säger HERREN Sebaot.

24 HERREN Sebaot har svurit och sagt: Sannerligen, såsom jag har tänkt, så skall det ske, och vad jag har beslutit, det skall fullbordas.

25 Jag skall krossa Assur i mitt land, och på mina berg skall jag förtrampa honom. Så skall hans ok bliva borttaget ifrån dem och hans börda tagas av deras skuldra.

26 Detta är det beslut som är fattat mot hela jorden; detta är den hand som är uträckt mot alla folk.

27 Ty HERREN Sebaot har beslutit det; vem kan då göra det om intet? Hans hand är det som är uträckt; vem kan avvända den?

28 I det år då konung Ahas dog förkunnades följande utsaga:

29 Gläd dig icke, du filistéernas hela land, över att det ris som slog dig är sönderbrutet; ty från ormens rot skall en basilisk komma fram, och dennes avkomma bliver en flygande drake.

30 De utarmade skola sedan få bete och de fattiga få lägra sig i trygghet; men telningarna från din rot skall jag döda genom hunger, och vad som bliver kvar av dig skall dräpas.

31 Jämra dig, du port; ropa, du stad; försmält av ångest, du filistéernas hela land. Ty norrifrån kommer en rök; i fiendeskarornas tåg bliver ingen efter.

32 Vad skall man då svara det främmande folkets sändebud? Jo, att det är HERREN som har grundat Sion, och att de betryckta bland hans folk där hava sin tillflykt.

14 The Lord will have compassion(A) on Jacob;
    once again he will choose(B) Israel
    and will settle them in their own land.(C)
Foreigners(D) will join them
    and unite with the descendants of Jacob.
Nations will take them
    and bring(E) them to their own place.
And Israel will take possession of the nations(F)
    and make them male and female servants in the Lord’s land.
They will make captives(G) of their captors
    and rule over their oppressors.(H)

On the day the Lord gives you relief(I) from your suffering and turmoil(J) and from the harsh labor forced on you,(K) you will take up this taunt(L) against the king of Babylon:(M)

How the oppressor(N) has come to an end!
    How his fury[a] has ended!
The Lord has broken the rod(O) of the wicked,(P)
    the scepter(Q) of the rulers,
which in anger struck down peoples(R)
    with unceasing blows,
and in fury subdued(S) nations
    with relentless aggression.(T)
All the lands are at rest and at peace;(U)
    they break into singing.(V)
Even the junipers(W) and the cedars of Lebanon
    gloat over you and say,
“Now that you have been laid low,
    no one comes to cut us down.”(X)

The realm of the dead(Y) below is all astir
    to meet you at your coming;
it rouses the spirits of the departed(Z) to greet you—
    all those who were leaders(AA) in the world;
it makes them rise from their thrones—
    all those who were kings over the nations.(AB)
10 They will all respond,
    they will say to you,
“You also have become weak, as we are;
    you have become like us.”(AC)
11 All your pomp has been brought down to the grave,(AD)
    along with the noise of your harps;(AE)
maggots are spread out beneath you
    and worms(AF) cover you.(AG)

12 How you have fallen(AH) from heaven,
    morning star,(AI) son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
    you who once laid low the nations!(AJ)
13 You said in your heart,
    “I will ascend(AK) to the heavens;
I will raise my throne(AL)
    above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,(AM)
    on the utmost heights(AN) of Mount Zaphon.[b]
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;(AO)
    I will make myself like the Most High.”(AP)
15 But you are brought down(AQ) to the realm of the dead,(AR)
    to the depths(AS) of the pit.(AT)

16 Those who see you stare at you,
    they ponder your fate:(AU)
“Is this the man who shook(AV) the earth
    and made kingdoms tremble,
17 the man who made the world a wilderness,(AW)
    who overthrew(AX) its cities
    and would not let his captives go home?”(AY)

18 All the kings of the nations lie in state,
    each in his own tomb.(AZ)
19 But you are cast out(BA) of your tomb
    like a rejected branch;
you are covered with the slain,(BB)
    with those pierced by the sword,(BC)
    those who descend to the stones of the pit.(BD)
Like a corpse trampled underfoot,
20     you will not join them in burial,(BE)
for you have destroyed your land
    and killed your people.

Let the offspring(BF) of the wicked(BG)
    never be mentioned(BH) again.
21 Prepare a place to slaughter his children(BI)
    for the sins of their ancestors;(BJ)
they are not to rise to inherit the land
    and cover the earth with their cities.

22 “I will rise up(BK) against them,”
    declares the Lord Almighty.
“I will wipe out Babylon’s name(BL) and survivors,
    her offspring and descendants,(BM)
declares the Lord.
23 “I will turn her into a place for owls(BN)
    and into swampland;
I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,(BO)
    declares the Lord Almighty.(BP)

24 The Lord Almighty has sworn,(BQ)

“Surely, as I have planned,(BR) so it will be,
    and as I have purposed, so it will happen.(BS)
25 I will crush the Assyrian(BT) in my land;
    on my mountains I will trample him down.
His yoke(BU) will be taken from my people,
    and his burden removed from their shoulders.(BV)

26 This is the plan(BW) determined for the whole world;
    this is the hand(BX) stretched out over all nations.
27 For the Lord Almighty has purposed,(BY) and who can thwart him?
    His hand(BZ) is stretched out, and who can turn it back?(CA)

A Prophecy Against the Philistines

28 This prophecy(CB) came in the year(CC) King Ahaz(CD) died:

29 Do not rejoice, all you Philistines,(CE)
    that the rod that struck you is broken;
from the root of that snake will spring up a viper,(CF)
    its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent.(CG)
30 The poorest of the poor will find pasture,
    and the needy(CH) will lie down in safety.(CI)
But your root I will destroy by famine;(CJ)
    it will slay(CK) your survivors.(CL)

31 Wail,(CM) you gate!(CN) Howl, you city!
    Melt away, all you Philistines!(CO)
A cloud of smoke comes from the north,(CP)
    and there is not a straggler in its ranks.(CQ)
32 What answer shall be given
    to the envoys(CR) of that nation?
“The Lord has established Zion,(CS)
    and in her his afflicted people will find refuge.(CT)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 14:4 Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.
  2. Isaiah 14:13 Or of the north; Zaphon was the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites.