Isaiah 33 WBT
Summary: Isaiah pronounces woe on the treacherous spoiler (likely Assyria) who has not yet been dealt treacherously with, while the people cry to the LORD to be gracious and be their strength each morning, their salvation in troubles. At the sound of God's rising, nations flee, spoil is gathered, and the land itself is described mourning under desolation, until the LORD promises to rise up, be exalted, and fill Zion with judgment and righteousness, its stability and the fear of the LORD becoming its treasure. Sinners in Zion are afraid, asking who can dwell with devouring fire, and the answer is the one who walks righteously and refuses bribes and violence — such a person will dwell securely, "bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure" (v. 16). The chapter closes picturing Jerusalem as a tranquil habitation with the LORD as judge, lawgiver, and king who will save it, its inhabitants forgiven and no longer sick.
1Woe to thee that layest waste, and thou [wast] not laid waste; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to lay waste, thou shalt be wasted; [and] when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
2O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
3At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.
4And your spoil shall be gathered [like] the gathering of the caterpillar: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.
5The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.
6And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, [and] strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD [is] his treasure.
7Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the embassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.
8The highways lie waste, the way-faring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.
9The earth mourneth [and] languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed [and] hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off [their fruits].
10Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.
11Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, [as] fire, shall devour you.
12And the people shall be [as] the burnings of lime: [as] thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
13Ye [that are] far off, hear what I have done; and ye [that are] near, acknowledge my might.
14The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
15He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
16He shall dwell on high: his place of defense [shall be] the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters [shall be] sure.
17Thy eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
18Thy heart shall meditate terror. Where [is] the scribe? where [is] the receiver? where [is] he that counted the towers?
19Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, [that thou canst] not understand.
20Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thy eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle [that] shall not be taken down; not one of its stakes shall ever be removed, neither shall any of its cords be broken.
21But there the glorious LORD [will be] to us a place of broad rivers [and] streams; in which shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass through it.
22For the LORD [is] our judge, the LORD [is] our lawgiver, the LORD [is] our king; he will save us.
23Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.
24And the inhabitants shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein [shall be] forgiven [their] iniquity.
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