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Chapter 63

The Divine Warrior[a]

Who is this that comes from Edom,
    in crimsoned garments, from Bozrah?
Who is this, glorious in his apparel,
    striding in the greatness of his strength?
“It is I, I who announce vindication,
    mighty to save.”(A)
Why is your apparel red,
    and your garments like one who treads the wine press?(B)
“The wine press I have trodden alone,
    and from the peoples no one was with me.
I trod them in my anger,
    and trampled them down in my wrath;
Their blood spurted on my garments,
    all my apparel I stained.
For a day of vindication was in my heart,
    my year for redeeming had come.(C)
I looked about, but there was no one to help,
    I was appalled that there was no one to lend support;
So my own arm brought me victory
    and my own wrath lent me support.(D)
I trampled down the peoples in my anger,
    I made them drunk in my wrath,
    and I poured out their blood upon the ground.”

Prayer for the Return of God’s Favor

[b]The loving deeds of the Lord I will recall,
    the glorious acts of the Lord,
Because of all the Lord has done for us,
    the immense goodness to the house of Israel,
Which he has granted according to his mercy
    and his many loving deeds.(E)
He said: “They are indeed my people,
    children who are not disloyal.”
So he became their savior
    in their every affliction.
It was not an envoy or a messenger,
    but his presence that saved them.
Because of his love and pity
    the Lord redeemed them,
Lifting them up and carrying them
    all the days of old.(F)
10 But they rebelled
    and grieved his holy spirit;
So he turned to become their enemy,
    and warred against them.(G)

11 Then they remembered the days of old, of Moses, his servant:

Where is the one who brought up out of the sea
    the shepherd of his flock?
Where is the one who placed in their midst
    his holy spirit,(H)
12 Who guided Moses by the hand,
    with his glorious arm?
Where is the one who divided the waters before them—
    winning for himself an everlasting renown—
13 Who guided them through the depths,
    like horses in open country?
14 As cattle going down into the valley,
    they did not stumble.
    The spirit of the Lord guided them.
Thus you led your people,
    to make for yourself a glorious name.
15 Look down from heaven and regard us
    from your holy and glorious palace!
Where is your zealous care and your might,
    your surge of pity?(I)
Your mercy hold not back!
16     For you are our father.
Were Abraham not to know us,
    nor Israel to acknowledge us,
You, Lord, are our father,
    our redeemer you are named from of old.
17 Why do you make us wander, Lord, from your ways,
    and harden our hearts so that we do not fear you?[c]
Return for the sake of your servants,
    the tribes of your heritage.
18 Why have the wicked invaded your holy place,
    why have our enemies trampled your sanctuary?
19 [d]Too long have we been like those you do not rule,
    on whom your name is not invoked.
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
    with the mountains quaking before you,(J)

Footnotes

  1. 63:1–6 Two questions are raised at the approach of a majestic figure coming from Edom. It is the Lord, his garments red with the blood from the judgment battle. Edom (its capital Bozrah) plundered Judah after the fall of Jerusalem; cf. 34:5–17. Wine press: here a symbol of a bloody judgment; cf. Lam 1:15; Jl 4:13.
  2. 63:7–64:11 This lament of the exilic community recalls God’s protection, and especially the memories of the exodus (vv. 7–14), before begging the Lord to come once more to their aid (63:15–64:3), as they confess their sins (64:4–11). The prayer is marked by God’s “holy spirit” (63:10–11, 14) and fatherhood (63:8, 9, 16; 64:7).
  3. 63:17 The hardening of the heart (Ex 4:21; 7:3) serves to explain Israel’s sins—a motif to induce the Lord to relent.
  4. 63:19–64:3 A new theophany, like Sinai of old, is invoked so that Israel’s enemies will be humbled by God’s intervention.

Vengeance of Yahweh

63 Who is this who comes from (A)Edom,
With (B)garments of [a]glowing colors from (C)Bozrah,
This One who is majestic in His clothing,
[b]Marching in the greatness of His power?
“It is I who speak in righteousness, (D)mighty to save.”
Why is Your clothing red,
And Your garments like the one who (E)treads in the wine press?
(F)I have trodden the wine trough alone,
And from the peoples there was no man with Me.
I also (G)trod them in My anger
And (H)trampled them in My wrath;
And (I)their [c]lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments,
And I [d]stained all My clothes.
For the (J)day of vengeance was in My heart,
And My year of redemption has come.
I looked, and there was (K)no one to help,
And I was astonished, and there was no one to uphold;
So My (L)own arm brought salvation to Me,
And My wrath upheld Me.
I (M)trod down the peoples in My anger
And made them (N)drunk in My wrath,
And I brought down their lifeblood to the earth.”

Remember the Lovingkindness of Yahweh

I shall bring to remembrance the (O)lovingkindnesses of Yahweh, the praises of Yahweh,
According to all the ways that Yahweh has dealt bountifully with us,
And the abundant (P)goodness toward the house of Israel,
Which He has dealt bountifully to them according to His (Q)compassion
And according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses.
And He said, “Surely, they are (R)My people,
Sons who will not deal falsely.”
So He became their (S)Savior.
In all their distress [e](T)He was distressed,
And the (U)angel of His presence saved them;
In His (V)love and in His mercy He (W)redeemed them,
And He (X)lifted them and carried them all the ancient days.
10 But they (Y)rebelled
And grieved His (Z)Holy Spirit;
Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy;
He fought against them.
11 Then (AA)His people remembered the ancient days, of Moses.
Where is (AB)He who brought them up out of the sea with the [f]shepherds of His flock?
Where is He who (AC)put His Holy Spirit in the midst of [g]them,
12 Who caused His (AD)glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses,
Who (AE)split the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name,
13 Who led them through the depths?
Like the horse in the wilderness, they did not (AF)stumble;
14 As the cattle which go down into the valley,
The Spirit of (AG)Yahweh gave [h]them rest.
So You (AH)led Your people,
To make for Yourself a glorious name.

Prayer for Mercy and Help

15 (AI)Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious (AJ)habitation;
Where are Your (AK)zeal and Your mighty deeds?
The (AL)tumults within You and Your compassion are restrained toward me.
16 For You are our (AM)Father, though (AN)Abraham does not know us
And Israel does not recognize us.
You, O Yahweh, are our Father,
Our (AO)Redeemer from everlasting is Your name.
17 Why, O Yahweh, do You (AP)cause us to stray from Your ways
And (AQ)stiffen our heart from fearing You?
(AR)Return for the sake of Your slaves, the tribes of Your inheritance.
18 Your holy people possessed Your sanctuary for a little while;
Our adversaries have (AS)trodden it down.
19 We have become like those over whom You have never ruled,
Like those who were not called by Your name.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 63:1 Or crimson
  2. Isaiah 63:1 Lit Inclining
  3. Isaiah 63:3 Lit juice
  4. Isaiah 63:3 Lit defiled
  5. Isaiah 63:9 Or He was not an adversary
  6. Isaiah 63:11 Some mss shepherd
  7. Isaiah 63:11 Lit him
  8. Isaiah 63:14 Lit him

The Lord in Judgment and Salvation

63 Who is this who comes from Edom,
With dyed garments from Bozrah,
This One who is [a]glorious in His apparel,
Traveling in the greatness of His strength?—

“I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”

Why (A)is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?

“I have (B)trodden the winepress alone,
And from the peoples no one was with Me.
For I have trodden them in My anger,
And trampled them in My fury;
Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments,
And I have stained all My robes.
For the (C)day of vengeance is in My heart,
And the year of My redeemed has come.
(D)I looked, but (E)there was no one to help,
And I wondered
That there was no one to uphold;
Therefore My own (F)arm brought salvation for Me;
And My own fury, it sustained Me.
I have trodden down the peoples in My anger,
Made them drunk in My fury,
And brought down their strength to the earth.”

God’s Mercy Remembered

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord
And the praises of the Lord,
According to all that the Lord has bestowed on us,
And the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
Which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies,
According to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses.
For He said, “Surely they are My people,
Children who will not lie.”
So He became their Savior.
(G)In all their affliction He was [b]afflicted,
(H)And the Angel of His Presence saved them;
(I)In His love and in His pity He redeemed them;
And (J)He bore them and carried them
All the days of old.
10 But they (K)rebelled and (L)grieved His Holy Spirit;
(M)So He turned Himself against them as an enemy,
And He fought against them.

11 Then he (N)remembered the days of old,
Moses and his people, saying:
“Where is He who (O)brought them up out of the sea
With the [c]shepherd of His flock?
(P)Where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them,
12 Who led them by the right hand of Moses,
(Q)With His glorious arm,
(R)Dividing the water before them
To make for Himself an everlasting name,
13 (S)Who led them through the deep,
As a horse in the wilderness,
That they might not stumble?”

14 As a beast goes down into the valley,
And the Spirit of the Lord causes him to rest,
So You lead Your people,
(T)To make Yourself a glorious name.

A Prayer of Penitence

15 (U)Look down from heaven,
And see (V)from Your habitation, holy and glorious.
Where are Your zeal and Your strength,
The yearning (W)of Your heart and Your mercies toward me?
Are they restrained?
16 (X)Doubtless You are our Father,
Though Abraham (Y)was ignorant of us,
And Israel does not acknowledge us.
You, O Lord, are our Father;
Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
17 O Lord, why have You (Z)made us stray from Your ways,
And hardened our heart from Your fear?
Return for Your servants’ sake,
The tribes of Your inheritance.
18 (AA)Your holy people have possessed it but a little while;
(AB)Our adversaries have trodden down Your sanctuary.
19 We have become like those of old, over whom You never ruled,
Those who were never called by Your name.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 63:1 Or adorned
  2. Isaiah 63:9 Kt., LXX, Syr. not afflicted
  3. Isaiah 63:11 MT, Vg. shepherds

God’s Day of Vengeance and Redemption

63 Who is this coming from Edom,(A)
    from Bozrah,(B) with his garments stained crimson?(C)
Who is this, robed in splendor,
    striding forward in the greatness of his strength?(D)

“It is I, proclaiming victory,
    mighty to save.”(E)

Why are your garments red,
    like those of one treading the winepress?(F)

“I have trodden the winepress(G) alone;
    from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled(H) them in my anger
    and trod them down in my wrath;(I)
their blood spattered my garments,(J)
    and I stained all my clothing.
It was for me the day of vengeance;(K)
    the year for me to redeem had come.
I looked, but there was no one(L) to help,
    I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm(M) achieved salvation for me,
    and my own wrath sustained me.(N)
I trampled(O) the nations in my anger;
    in my wrath I made them drunk(P)
    and poured their blood(Q) on the ground.”

Praise and Prayer

I will tell of the kindnesses(R) of the Lord,
    the deeds for which he is to be praised,
    according to all the Lord has done for us—
yes, the many good things(S)
    he has done for Israel,
    according to his compassion(T) and many kindnesses.
He said, “Surely they are my people,(U)
    children who will be true to me”;
    and so he became their Savior.(V)
In all their distress he too was distressed,
    and the angel(W) of his presence(X) saved them.[a]
In his love and mercy he redeemed(Y) them;
    he lifted them up and carried(Z) them
    all the days of old.(AA)
10 Yet they rebelled(AB)
    and grieved his Holy Spirit.(AC)
So he turned and became their enemy(AD)
    and he himself fought(AE) against them.

11 Then his people recalled[b] the days of old,
    the days of Moses and his people—
where is he who brought them through the sea,(AF)
    with the shepherd of his flock?(AG)
Where is he who set
    his Holy Spirit(AH) among them,
12 who sent his glorious arm(AI) of power
    to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters(AJ) before them,
    to gain for himself everlasting renown,(AK)
13 who led(AL) them through the depths?(AM)
Like a horse in open country,
    they did not stumble;(AN)
14 like cattle that go down to the plain,
    they were given rest(AO) by the Spirit of the Lord.
This is how you guided your people
    to make for yourself a glorious name.

15 Look down from heaven(AP) and see,
    from your lofty throne,(AQ) holy and glorious.
Where are your zeal(AR) and your might?
    Your tenderness and compassion(AS) are withheld(AT) from us.
16 But you are our Father,(AU)
    though Abraham does not know us
    or Israel acknowledge(AV) us;
you, Lord, are our Father,
    our Redeemer(AW) from of old is your name.
17 Why, Lord, do you make us wander(AX) from your ways
    and harden our hearts(AY) so we do not revere(AZ) you?
Return(BA) for the sake of your servants,
    the tribes that are your inheritance.(BB)
18 For a little while(BC) your people possessed your holy place,
    but now our enemies have trampled(BD) down your sanctuary.(BE)
19 We are yours from of old;
    but you have not ruled over them,
    they have not been called[c] by your name.(BF)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 63:9 Or Savior in their distress. / It was no envoy or angel / but his own presence that saved them
  2. Isaiah 63:11 Or But may he recall
  3. Isaiah 63:19 Or We are like those you have never ruled, / like those never called

63 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.

And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?

12 That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

13 That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?

14 As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

15 Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?

16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

17 O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

18 The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.

19 We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.