Isaiah 33:17-24

New International Reader's Version

¹⁷ People of Judah, you will see the king in all his glory and majesty.
    You will view his kingdom spreading far and wide.
¹⁸ You will think about what used to terrify you.
    You will say to yourself,
    “Where is that chief officer of Assyria?
Where is the one who forced us to send gifts to his king?
    Where is the officer in charge of the towers
    that were used when we were attacked?”
¹⁹ You won’t see those proud people anymore.
    They spoke a strange language.
    None of us could understand it.

²⁰ Just look at Zion! It’s the city
    where we celebrate our regular feasts.
    Turn your eyes toward Jerusalem.
It will be a peaceful place to live in.
    It will be like a tent that will never be moved.
Its stakes will never be pulled up.
    None of its ropes will be broken.
²¹ There the Lord will be our Mighty One.
    It will be like a place of wide rivers and streams.
No boat with oars will travel on them.
    No mighty ship will sail on them.
²² That’s because the Lord is our judge.
    The Lord gives us our law.
The Lord is our king.
    He will save us.

²³ The ropes on your ship hang loose.
    The mast isn’t very secure.
    The sail isn’t spread out.
But the Lord will strike down the Assyrians.
    Then a large amount of goods will be taken from them and divided up.
    Even people who are disabled will carry off some of it.
²⁴ No one living in Zion will ever say again, “I’m sick.”
    And the sins of those who live there will be forgiven.