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Isaiah 54:11-17
The Voice
Isaiah 54:11-17
The Voice
This promise stands to God’s covenant people: nothing can happen to them unless God wills it and makes it so. Only if they invite it will destruction come. Throughout this time of rebellion and punishment God makes it clear that they hold their fate in their own hands. And if they haven’t understood the message, God tells them who will do the nation-building—an unworldly restoration. He says that He provides the raw materials; He creates the tools and provides the skills with which the builders build. He alone is responsible for restoring the nation. And no matter what charges the adversary may concoct, God will not be put off. Even though Israel rebelled and was unfaithful at one time, that is in the past. The future is sure: God’s faithfulness to His covenant, His enduring love for His people, will stand for all time. So the challenge goes out from the prophet to God’s people—speaking on God’s authority—to align themselves with God, accept Him as God, and they will surely win.
11 Eternal One: Ah, Jerusalem, so miserable and distressed! I will rebuild you
with floors of shimmering mosaics, set sapphires in your foundations.
12 I will decorate your towers with rubies,
and your gates will sparkle with all manner of precious gems.
Costly jewels will adorn the entire wall that circles your precincts.
13 Every one of your children, the people who call you home,
will be students of the Eternal; oh, they’ll be so happy and live in peace!
14 This time, you will be founded and grounded
on right thought, speech, and action.
And no one will trouble you, abuse or oppress you;
you will know no fear and have no worries.
15 If a nation marches against you,
know that I am not behind it.
Anyone foolish enough to challenge you will fall to you.
16 I have created the blacksmith
who readies the fire and forges weapons for wars;
And I have created the destroyer to ravage and ruin.
17 But no instrument forged against you will be allowed to hurt you,
and no voice raised to condemn you will successfully prosecute you.
It’s that simple; this is how it will be for the servants of the Eternal;
I will vindicate them.
Isaiah 54:11-17
New International Version
Isaiah 54:11-17
New International Version
11 “Afflicted(A) city, lashed by storms(B) and not comforted,(C)
I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise,[a](D)
your foundations(E) with lapis lazuli.(F)
12 I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates(G) of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.
13 All your children will be taught by the Lord,(H)
and great will be their peace.(I)
14 In righteousness(J) you will be established:(K)
Tyranny(L) will be far from you;
you will have nothing to fear.(M)
Terror(N) will be far removed;
it will not come near you.
15 If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;
whoever attacks you will surrender(O) to you.
16 “See, it is I who created the blacksmith(P)
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon(Q) fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer(R) to wreak havoc;
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail,(S)
and you will refute(T) every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants(U) of the Lord,
and this is their vindication(V) from me,”
declares the Lord.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 54:11 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
Isaiah 54:11-17
King James Version
Isaiah 54:11-17
King James Version
11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
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The Voice (VOICE)
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