Isaiah 33

1Woe to you, destroyer, though you were not destroyed, betrayer, though they did not betray you! When you finish destroying, you will be destroyed; when you make an end of betraying, they will betray you.

2Yahweh, be gracious to us; we have waited for you. Be their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

3At the sound of the tumult peoples fled; at your exaltation nations scattered.

4Your spoil will be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar, like locusts running to and fro jostling upon it.

5Yahweh is exalted, for he dwells in the heights; he has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

6There will be stability in your times, riches of deliverance, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of Yahweh is his treasure.

7Behold, their mighty men cry abroad; envoys of peace weep bitterly.

8The highways are laid waste, the wayfarer ceases; he has violated the covenant, scorned the cities, and esteems no man.

9The land mourns and grows weak; Lebanon stands ashamed and withered; Sharon has become like the desert, and Bashan and Carmel shake.

10Now I will arise, says Yahweh; now I will be exalted; now I will lift myself up.

11You will conceive chaff, bear stubble; your breath, fire, will consume you.

12The nations will be like burnt lime, like thorns mown down that burn in the fire.

13Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; you who are near, know my might.

14Sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has gripped the hypocrites. Who among us can dwell with devouring fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?

15Who walks in righteousness and speaks straightforwardly, who rejects the gain of oppression, who shakes his hands from grasping a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil.

16He will dwell in the heights; rock fortresses will be his stronghold. His bread will be given, his waters assured.

17Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty and see a land far off.

18Your heart will ponder the terror: where is the counter, where the weigher, where the counter of the towers?

19You will not see a fierce people, a people of obscure speech beyond comprehension, a stammering tongue without understanding.

20Look at Zion, the city of our sacred assemblies. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful dwelling, a tent that will not be folded or struck—its pegs fixed forever, nor any of its ropes torn loose.

21But there Yahweh in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars will go nor any majestic ship pass through it.

22For Yahweh is our judge, Yahweh our lawgiver, Yahweh our king; he will save us.

23Your ropes have been cast loose; they could not secure the base of their mast, nor unfurl the sail. Then abundant plunder was divided; the lame seized the booty.

24No inhabitant will say, "I am sick." The people dwelling there will be forgiven their iniquity.