Judgment on the Nations

34 Draw near, (A)O nations, to hear,
    and give attention, O peoples!
Let the earth hear, and all that fills it;
    the world, and all that comes from it.
For the Lord is enraged against all the nations,
    and furious against all their host;
    he has (B)devoted them to destruction,[a] has given them over for slaughter.
Their slain shall be cast out,
    and (C)the stench of their corpses shall rise;
    (D)the mountains shall flow with their blood.
(E)All the host of heaven shall rot away,
    and the skies roll up like a scroll.
All their host shall fall,
    as leaves fall from the vine,
    like leaves falling from the fig tree.

For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens;
    behold, it descends for judgment upon (F)Edom,
    upon the people (G)I have devoted to destruction.
The Lord has a sword; it is sated with blood;
    it is gorged with fat,
    with the blood of lambs and goats,
    with the fat of the kidneys of rams.
(H)For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah,
    a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
(I)Wild oxen shall (J)fall with them,
    and (K)young steers with (L)the mighty bulls.
Their land shall drink its fill of blood,
    and their soil shall be gorged with fat.

(M)For the Lord has a day of vengeance,
    a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
(N)And the streams of Edom[b] shall be turned into pitch,
    and her soil into sulfur;
    her land shall become burning pitch.
10 Night and day (O)it shall not be quenched;
    (P)its smoke shall go up forever.
(Q)From generation to generation it shall lie waste;
    none shall pass through it forever and ever.
11 (R)But the hawk and the porcupine[c] shall possess it,
    the owl and the raven shall dwell in it.
(S)He shall stretch the line of (T)confusion[d] over it,
    and the plumb line of emptiness.
12 Its nobles—there is no one there to call it a kingdom,
    and all its princes shall be nothing.

13 (U)Thorns shall grow over its strongholds,
    nettles and thistles in its fortresses.
It shall be the haunt of (V)jackals,
    an abode for ostriches.[e]
14 (W)And wild animals shall meet with hyenas;
    the wild goat shall cry to his fellow;
indeed, there the night bird[f] settles
    and finds for herself a resting place.

15 There the owl nests and lays
    and hatches and gathers her young in her shadow;
indeed, there (X)the hawks are gathered,
    each one with her mate.
16 Seek and read from the book of the Lord:
    Not one of these shall be missing;
    none shall be without her mate.
For the mouth of the Lord has commanded,
    and his Spirit has gathered them.
17 (Y)He has cast the lot for them;
    his hand has portioned it out to them with the line;
they shall possess it forever;
    from generation to generation they shall dwell in it.

The Ransomed Shall Return

35 (Z)The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
    (AA)the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
it shall blossom abundantly
    and rejoice with joy and singing.
(AB)The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
    the majesty of (AC)Carmel and (AD)Sharon.
(AE)They shall see the glory of the Lord,
    the majesty of our God.

(AF)Strengthen the weak hands,
    and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
    “Be strong; fear not!
(AG)Behold, your God
    will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
    He will come and save you.”

(AH)Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
(AI)then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
(AJ)For waters break forth in the wilderness,
    and streams in the desert;
(AK)the burning sand shall become a pool,
    and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of (AL)jackals, where they lie down,
    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

(AM)And a highway shall be there,
    and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
(AN)the unclean shall not pass over it.
    It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
    even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.[g]
No lion shall be there,
    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
    but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 (AO)And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
    and come to Zion with singing;
(AP)everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
    they shall obtain gladness and joy,
    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Sennacherib Invades Judah

36 (AQ)In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, (AR)Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. (AS)And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh[h] from (AT)Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army. And he stood (AU)by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field. And there came out to him (AV)Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and (AW)Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder.

And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the (AX)great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me? (AY)Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he (AZ)whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar”? Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. How then can you repulse (BA)a single captain among the least of my master's servants, when (BB)you trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 10 Moreover, is it without the Lord that I have come up against this land to destroy it? (BC)The Lord said to me, “Go up against this land and destroy it.”’”

11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants (BD)in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” 12 But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?”

13 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 Thus says the king: (BE)‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you. 15 Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” 16 Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me[i] and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, 17 until (BF)I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 (BG)Where are the gods of (BH)Hamath and (BI)Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? (BJ)Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 (BK)Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’”

21 But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, “Do not answer him.” 22 (BL)Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.

Notas al pie

  1. Isaiah 34:2 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verse 5
  2. Isaiah 34:9 Hebrew her streams
  3. Isaiah 34:11 The identity of the animals rendered hawk and porcupine is uncertain
  4. Isaiah 34:11 Hebrew formlessness
  5. Isaiah 34:13 Or owls
  6. Isaiah 34:14 Identity uncertain
  7. Isaiah 35:8 Or if they are fools, they shall not wander in it
  8. Isaiah 36:2 Rabshakeh is the title of a high-ranking Assyrian military officer
  9. Isaiah 36:16 Hebrew Make a blessing with me

Judgment Against the Nations

34 Come near, you nations, and listen;(A)
    pay attention, you peoples!(B)
Let the earth(C) hear, and all that is in it,
    the world, and all that comes out of it!(D)
The Lord is angry with all nations;
    his wrath(E) is on all their armies.
He will totally destroy[a](F) them,
    he will give them over to slaughter.(G)
Their slain(H) will be thrown out,
    their dead bodies(I) will stink;(J)
    the mountains will be soaked with their blood.(K)
All the stars in the sky will be dissolved(L)
    and the heavens rolled up(M) like a scroll;
all the starry host will fall(N)
    like withered(O) leaves from the vine,
    like shriveled figs from the fig tree.

My sword(P) has drunk its fill in the heavens;
    see, it descends in judgment on Edom,(Q)
    the people I have totally destroyed.(R)
The sword(S) of the Lord is bathed in blood,
    it is covered with fat—
the blood of lambs and goats,
    fat from the kidneys of rams.
For the Lord has a sacrifice(T) in Bozrah(U)
    and a great slaughter(V) in the land of Edom.
And the wild oxen(W) will fall with them,
    the bull calves and the great bulls.(X)
Their land will be drenched with blood,(Y)
    and the dust will be soaked with fat.

For the Lord has a day(Z) of vengeance,(AA)
    a year of retribution,(AB) to uphold Zion’s cause.
Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch,
    her dust into burning sulfur;(AC)
    her land will become blazing pitch!
10 It will not be quenched(AD) night or day;
    its smoke will rise forever.(AE)
From generation to generation(AF) it will lie desolate;(AG)
    no one will ever pass through it again.
11 The desert owl[b](AH) and screech owl[c] will possess it;
    the great owl[d] and the raven(AI) will nest there.
God will stretch out over Edom(AJ)
    the measuring line of chaos(AK)
    and the plumb line(AL) of desolation.
12 Her nobles will have nothing there to be called a kingdom,
    all her princes(AM) will vanish(AN) away.
13 Thorns(AO) will overrun her citadels,
    nettles and brambles her strongholds.(AP)
She will become a haunt for jackals,(AQ)
    a home for owls.(AR)
14 Desert creatures(AS) will meet with hyenas,(AT)
    and wild goats will bleat to each other;
there the night creatures(AU) will also lie down
    and find for themselves places of rest.
15 The owl will nest there and lay eggs,
    she will hatch them, and care for her young
    under the shadow of her wings;(AV)
there also the falcons(AW) will gather,
    each with its mate.

16 Look in the scroll(AX) of the Lord and read:

None of these will be missing,(AY)
    not one will lack her mate.
For it is his mouth(AZ) that has given the order,(BA)
    and his Spirit will gather them together.
17 He allots their portions;(BB)
    his hand distributes them by measure.
They will possess it forever
    and dwell there from generation to generation.(BC)

Joy of the Redeemed

35 The desert(BD) and the parched land will be glad;
    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.(BE)
Like the crocus,(BF) it will burst into bloom;
    it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.(BG)
The glory of Lebanon(BH) will be given to it,
    the splendor of Carmel(BI) and Sharon;(BJ)
they will see the glory(BK) of the Lord,
    the splendor of our God.(BL)

Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees(BM) that give way;
say(BN) to those with fearful hearts,(BO)
    “Be strong, do not fear;(BP)
your God will come,(BQ)
    he will come with vengeance;(BR)
with divine retribution
    he will come to save(BS) you.”

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened(BT)
    and the ears of the deaf(BU) unstopped.
Then will the lame(BV) leap like a deer,(BW)
    and the mute tongue(BX) shout for joy.(BY)
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams(BZ) in the desert.
The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground(CA) bubbling springs.(CB)
In the haunts where jackals(CC) once lay,
    grass and reeds(CD) and papyrus will grow.

And a highway(CE) will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;(CF)
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean(CG) will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.
No lion(CH) will be there,
    nor any ravenous beast;(CI)
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed(CJ) will walk there,
10     and those the Lord has rescued(CK) will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;(CL)
    everlasting joy(CM) will crown their heads.
Gladness(CN) and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.(CO)

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem(CP)

36 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s(CQ) reign, Sennacherib(CR) king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.(CS) Then the king of Assyria sent his field commander with a large army from Lachish(CT) to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. When the commander stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field,(CU) Eliakim(CV) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator,(CW) Shebna(CX) the secretary,(CY) and Joah(CZ) son of Asaph the recorder(DA) went out to him.

The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah:

“‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? You say you have counsel and might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel(DB) against me? Look, I know you are depending(DC) on Egypt,(DD) that splintered reed(DE) of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. But if you say to me, “We are depending(DF) on the Lord our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed,(DG) saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar”?(DH)

“‘Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses(DI)—if you can put riders on them! How then can you repulse one officer of the least of my master’s officials, even though you are depending on Egypt(DJ) for chariots(DK) and horsemen[e]?(DL) 10 Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this land without the Lord? The Lord himself told(DM) me to march against this country and destroy it.’”

11 Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah(DN) said to the field commander, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic,(DO) since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”

12 But the commander replied, “Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the people sitting on the wall—who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?(DP)

13 Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew,(DQ) “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!(DR) 14 This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive(DS) you. He cannot deliver you! 15 Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver(DT) us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’(DU)

16 “Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree(DV) and drink water from your own cistern,(DW) 17 until I come and take you to a land like your own(DX)—a land of grain and new wine,(DY) a land of bread and vineyards.

18 “Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ Have the gods of any nations ever delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad?(DZ) Where are the gods of Sepharvaim?(EA) Have they rescued Samaria(EB) from my hand? 20 Who of all the gods(EC) of these countries have been able to save their lands from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”(ED)

21 But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”(EE)

22 Then Eliakim(EF) son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and Joah son of Asaph the recorder(EG) went to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn,(EH) and told him what the field commander had said.

Notas al pie

  1. Isaiah 34:2 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verse 5.
  2. Isaiah 34:11 The precise identification of these birds is uncertain.
  3. Isaiah 34:11 The precise identification of these birds is uncertain.
  4. Isaiah 34:11 The precise identification of these birds is uncertain.
  5. Isaiah 36:9 Or charioteers

Christ's Example of Humility

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from (A)love, any (B)participation in the Spirit, any (C)affection and sympathy, (D)complete my joy by being (E)of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from (F)selfish ambition or (G)conceit, but in (H)humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you (I)look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (J)Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] (K)who, though he was in (L)the form of God, did not count equality with God (M)a thing to be grasped,[b] but (N)emptied himself, by taking the form of a (O)servant,[c] (P)being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by (Q)becoming obedient to the point of death, (R)even death on a cross. (S)Therefore (T)God has (U)highly exalted him and bestowed on him (V)the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus (W)every knee should bow, (X)in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and (Y)every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is (Z)Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

12 Therefore, my beloved, (AA)as you have always (AB)obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for (AC)it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for (AD)his good pleasure.

14 Do all things (AE)without grumbling or (AF)disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, (AG)children of God (AH)without blemish (AI)in the midst of (AJ)a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine (AK)as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to (AL)the word of life, so that in (AM)the day of Christ (AN)I may be proud that (AO)I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be (AP)poured out as a drink offering upon (AQ)the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus (AR)to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one (AS)like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all (AT)seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's[d] (AU)proven worth, how (AV)as a son[e] with a father (AW)he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and (AX)I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you (AY)Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and (AZ)fellow soldier, and your messenger and (BA)minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So (BB)receive him in the Lord with all joy, and (BC)honor such men, 30 for he nearly died[f] (BD)for the work of Christ, risking his life (BE)to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Notas al pie

  1. Philippians 2:5 Or which was also in Christ Jesus
  2. Philippians 2:6 Or a thing to be held on to for advantage
  3. Philippians 2:7 Or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
  4. Philippians 2:22 Greek his
  5. Philippians 2:22 Greek child
  6. Philippians 2:30 Or he drew near to the point of death; compare verse 8

Imitating Christ’s Humility

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,(A) if any tenderness and compassion,(B) then make my joy complete(C) by being like-minded,(D) having the same love, being one(E) in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.(F) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,(G) not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.(H)

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(I)

Who, being in very nature[a] God,(J)
    did not consider equality with God(K) something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing(L)
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(M)
    being made in human likeness.(N)
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(O)
        even death on a cross!(P)

Therefore God exalted him(Q) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,(R)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(S)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(T)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(U)
    to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,(V) 13 for it is God who works in you(W) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.(X)

14 Do everything without grumbling(Y) or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless(Z) and pure, “children of God(AA) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c](AB) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ(AC) that I did not run(AD) or labor in vain.(AE) 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering(AF) on the sacrifice(AG) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.(AH) 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy(AI) to you soon,(AJ) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him,(AK) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests,(AL) not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father(AM) he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.(AN) 24 And I am confident(AO) in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker(AP) and fellow soldier,(AQ) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.(AR) 26 For he longs for all of you(AS) and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,(AT) so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,(AU) 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.(AV)

Notas al pie

  1. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
  2. Philippians 2:7 Or the form
  3. Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5