Revised Literal Translation

Isaiah 29

1Woeה֚וֹיHoH1945to Arielאֲרִיאֵ֣ל'a.ri.'ElH740,to Arielאֲרִיאֵ֔ל'a.ri.'ElH740,the cityקִרְיַ֖תkir.YatH7151whereDavidדָוִ֑דda.VidH1732dweltחָנָ֣הcha.NahH2583!addH5595ye yearשָׁנָ֛הsha.NahH8141to yearשָׁנָ֖הsha.NahH8141;let them killיִנְקֹֽפוּ׃yin.Ko.fuH5362sacrificesחַגִּ֥יםcha.GimH2282.

2Yet I will distressוַהֲצִיק֖וֹתִיva.ha.tzi.Ko.tiH6693Arielלַֽאֲרִיאֵ֑לla.'a.ri.'ElH740,and there shall be heavinessתַֽאֲנִיָּה֙ta.'a.ni.YahH8386and sorrowוַֽאֲנִיָּ֔הva.'a.ni.YahH592:and it shall be unto me as Arielכַּאֲרִיאֵֽל׃ka.'a.ri.'ElH740.

3And I will campוְחָנִ֥יתִיve.cha.Ni.tiH2583against thee round aboutכַדּ֖וּרkha.DurH1754,and will lay siegeוְצַרְתִּ֤יve.tzar.TiH6696against thee with a mountמֻצָּ֔בmu.TzavH4674,and I will raiseוַהֲקִֽימֹתִ֥יva.ha.ki.mo.TiH6965fortsמְצֻרֹֽת׃me.tzu.RotH4694against thee.

4And thou shalt be brought downוְשָׁפַלְתְּ֙ve.sha.falTH8213, andshalt speakתְּדַבֵּ֔רִיte.da.Be.riH1696out of the groundמֵאֶ֣רֶץme.'E.retzH776,and thy speechאִמְרָתֵ֑ךְ'im.ra.TekhH565shall be lowתִּשַּׁ֣חti.ShachH7817out of the dustוּמֵֽעָפָ֖רu.me.'a.FarH6083,and thy voiceקוֹלֵ֔ךְko.LekhH6963shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spiritכְּא֤וֹבke.'ovH178,out of the groundמֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙me.'E.retzH776,and thy speechאִמְרָתֵ֥ךְ'im.ra.TekhH565shall whisperתְּצַפְצֵֽף׃te.tzaf.TzefH6850out of the dustוּמֵעָפָ֖רu.me.'a.FarH6083.

5Moreover the multitudeהֲמ֣וֹןha.MonH1995of thy strangersזָרָ֑יִךְza.Ra.yikhH2114shall be like smallדַּ֖קdakH1851dustכְּאָבָ֥קke.'a.VakH80,and the multitudeהֲמ֣וֹןha.MonH1995of the terrible onesעָֽרִיצִ֔ים'a.ri.TzimH6184shall beas chaffוּכְמֹ֤ץu.khe.MotzH4671that passeth awayעֹבֵר֙'o.VerH5674:yea, it shall be at an instantלְפֶ֥תַעle.Fe.ta'H6621suddenlyפִּתְאֹֽם׃pit.'OmH6597.

6Thou shalt be visitedתִּפָּקֵ֔דti.pa.KedH6485of Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068of Armiesצְבָאוֹת֙tze.va.'OtH6635with thunderבְּרַ֥עַםbe.Ra.'amH7482,and with earthquakeוּבְרַ֖עַשׁu.ve.Ra.'ashH7494,and greatגָּד֑וֹלga.DolH1419noiseוְק֣וֹלve.KolH6963,with stormסוּפָה֙su.FahH5492and tempestוּסְעָרָ֔הu.se.'a.RahH5591,and the flameוְלַ֖הַבve.La.havH3851of devouringאוֹכֵלָֽה׃'o.khe.LahH398fireאֵ֥שׁ'eshH784.

7And the multitudeהֲמוֹן֙ha.mOnH1995of all the nationsהַגּוֹיִ֔םha.go.YimH1471that fightH6633against Arielאֲרִיאֵ֑ל'a.ri.'ElH740,even all that fightH6638against her and her munitionוּמְצֹ֣דָתָ֔הּu.me.Tzo.da.TahH4685,and that distressוְהַמְּצִיקִ֖יםve.ha.me.tzi.KimH6693her, shall be as a dreamכַּֽחֲלוֹם֙ka.cha.lOmH2472of a nightלַ֔יְלָהLay.lahH3915visionחֲז֣וֹןcha.ZonH2377.

8It shall even be as when an hungryהָרָעֵ֜בha.ra.'EvH7457mandreamethיַחֲלֹ֨םya.cha.LomH2492,and, behold, he eatethאוֹכֵ֗ל'o.KhelH398;but he awakethוְהֵקִיץ֮ve.he.KitzH6974,and his soulנַפְשׁוֹ֒naf.ShoH5315is emptyוְרֵיקָ֣הve.rei.KahH7386:or as whenH834a thirsty manהַצָּמֵא֙ha.tza.Me'H6771dreamethיַחֲלֹ֤םya.cha.LomH2492,and, behold, he drinkethשֹׁתֶ֔הsho.TehH8354;but he awakethוְהֵקִיץ֙ve.he.KitzH6974, and, behold, he isfaintעָיֵ֔ף'a.YefH5889,and his soulוְנַפְשׁ֖וֹve.naf.ShoH5315hath appetiteשׁוֹקֵקָ֑הsho.ke.KahH8264:so shall the multitudeהֲמוֹן֙ha.mOnH1995of all the nationsהַגּוֹיִ֔םha.go.YimH1471be, that fightהַצֹּבְאִ֖יםha.tzoe.'ImH6633against mountהַ֥רharH2022Zionצִיּֽוֹן׃ סtzi.YonH6726.

9Stayהִתְמַהְמְה֣וּhit.mah.me.HuH4102yourselves, and wonderוּתְמָ֔הוּu.te.Ma.huH8539;cry ye outהִשְׁתַּֽעַשְׁע֖וּhish.ta.'ash.'UH8173,and cryוָשֹׁ֑עוּva.Sho.'uH8173:they are drunkenשָֽׁכְר֣וּsha.khe.RuH7937,but not with wineיַ֔יִןYa.yinH3196;they staggerנָע֖וּna.'UH5128,but not with strong drinkשֵׁכָֽר׃she.KharH7941.

10For Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068hath poured outנָסַ֨ךְna.SakhH5258upon you the spiritר֣וּחַRu.achH7307of deep sleepתַּרְדֵּמָ֔הtar.de.MahH8639,and hath closedוַיְעַצֵּ֖םvay.'a.TzemH6105your eyesעֵֽינֵיכֶ֑ם'ei.nei.KhemH5869:the prophetsהַנְּבִיאִ֛יםha.ne.vi.'ImH5030and your rulersרָאשֵׁיכֶ֥םra.shei.KhemH7218,the seersהַחֹזִ֖יםha.cho.ZimH2374hath he coveredכִּסָּֽה׃ki.SahH3680.

11And the visionחָז֣וּתcha.ZutH2380of all is become unto you as the wordsכְּדִבְרֵי֮ke.div.ReiH1697of a bookH5612that is sealedהֶֽחָתוּם֒he.cha.TumH2856, which mendeliverיִתְּנ֣וּyi.te.NuH5414to one that is learnedיוֹדֵ֥עַyo.De.a'H3045,sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559,Readקְרָ֣אke.Ra'H7121this, I pray thee: and he saithוְאָמַר֙ve.'a.MarH559,I cannotאוּכַ֔ל'u.KhalH3201; for it issealedחָת֖וּםcha.TumH2856:

12And the bookH5612is deliveredוְנִתַּ֣ןve.ni.TanH5414to him that is not learnedיָדַ֥עya.Da'H5612 H3045,sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559,Readקְרָ֣אke.Ra'H7121this, I pray thee: and he saithוְאָמַ֕רve.'a.MarH559,I am not learnedיָדַ֖עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045.

13Wherefore the Lordאֲדֹנָ֗י'a.do.NaiH136saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Forasmuchיַ֚עַןYa.'anH3282as this peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971draw nearנִגַּשׁ֙ni.GashH5066mewith their mouthבְּפִ֤יוbe.FivH6310,and with their lipsוּבִשְׂפָתָיו֙u.vis.fa.TavH8193do honourכִּבְּד֔וּנִיki.be.Du.niH3513me, but have removedH7368their heartוְלִבּ֖וֹve.li.BoH3820farרִחַ֣קri.ChakH7368from me, and their fearיִרְאָתָם֙yir.'a.TamH3374toward me is taughtמְלֻמָּדָֽה׃me.lu.ma.DahH3925by the preceptמִצְוַ֥תmitz.VatH4687of menאֲנָשִׁ֖ים'a.na.ShimH582:

14Therefore, behold, I will proceedיוֹסִ֛ףyo.SifH3254to do a marvellous workלְהַפְלִ֥יאle.haf.Li'H6381among this peopleהָֽעָם־ha.'om-H5971, evena marvellous workהַפְלֵ֣אhaf.Le'H6381and a wonderוָפֶ֑לֶאva.Fe.le'H6382:for the wisdomחָכְמַ֣תcha.khe.MatH2451of their wiseחֲכָמָ֔יוcha.kha.MavH2450menshall perishוְאָֽבְדָה֙ve.'a.ve.DahH6,and the understandingוּבִינַ֥תu.vi.NatH998of their prudentנְבֹנָ֖יוne.vo.NavH995menshall be hidתִּסְתַּתָּֽר׃ סtis.ta.TarH5641.

15Woeה֛וֹיHoH1945unto them that seek deepהַמַּעֲמִיקִ֥יםha.ma.'a.mi.KimH6009to hideלַסְתִּ֣רlas.TirH5641their counselעֵצָ֑ה'e.TzahH6098from Yhwhמֵֽיהוָ֖הme.Yah.wehH3068,and their worksמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֔םma.'a.sei.HemH4639are in the darkבְמַחְשָׁךְ֙ve.mach.shoKhH4285,and they sayוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559,Who seethרֹאֵ֖נוּro.'E.nuH7200us? and who knowethיוֹדְעֵֽנוּ׃yod.'E.nuH3045us?

16Surely your turning of things upside downהַ֨פְכְּכֶ֔םhaf.ke.KhemH2017shall be esteemedיֵֽחָשֵׁ֑בye.cha.ShevH2803as the potter’sהַיֹּצֵ֖רhai.yo.TzerH3335clayכְּחֹ֥מֶרke.Cho.merH2563:for shall the workמַעֲשֶׂ֤הma.'a.SehH4639sayיֹאמַ֨רyo.MarH559of him that madeלְעֹשֵׂ֙הוּ֙le.'o.Se.huH6213it, He madeעָשָׂ֔נִי'a.Sa.niH6213me not? or shall the thing framedוְיֵ֛צֶרve.Ye.tzerH3336sayאָמַ֥ר'a.MarH559of him that framedלְיוֹצְר֖וֹle.yotz.RoH3335it, He had no understandingהֵבִֽין׃he.VinH995?

17Isit not yet a veryמִזְעָ֔רmiz.'ArH4213little whileמְעַ֣טme.'AtH4592,and Lebanonלְבָנ֖וֹןle.va.NonH3844shall be turnedוְשָׁ֥בve.ShavH7725into a fruitful fieldלַכַּרְמֶ֑לla.kar.MelH3759,and the fruitful fieldוְהַכַּרְמֶ֖לve.ha.kar.MelH3759shall be esteemedיֵחָשֵֽׁב׃ye.cha.ShevH2803as a forestלַיַּ֥עַרlai.Ya.'arH3293?

18And in that dayבַיּוֹם־vai.yom-H3117shall the deafהַחֵרְשִׁ֖יםha.che.re.ShimH2795hearוְשָׁמְע֧וּve.sha.me.'UH8085the wordsדִּבְרֵי־div.rei-H1697of the bookסֵ֑פֶרSe.ferH5612,and the eyesעֵינֵ֥י'ei.NeiH5869of the blindעִוְרִ֖ים'iv.RimH5787shall seeתִּרְאֶֽינָה׃tir.'Ei.nahH7200out of obscurityוּמֵאֹ֣פֶלu.me.'O.felH652,and out of darknessוּמֵחֹ֔שֶׁךְu.me.Cho.shekhH2822.

19The meekעֲנָוִ֛ים'a.na.VimH6035also shall increaseוְיָסְפ֧וּve.ya.se.FuH3254theirjoyשִׂמְחָ֑הsim.ChahH8057in Yhwhבַּֽיהוָ֖הba.Yah.wehH3068,and the poorוְאֶבְיוֹנֵ֣יve.'ev.yo.NeiH34among menאָדָ֔ם'a.DamH120shall rejoiceיָגִֽילוּ׃ya.Gi.luH1523in the Holy Oneבִּקְד֥וֹשׁbik.Do.oshH6918of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478.

20For the terrible oneעָרִ֖יץ'a.RitzH6184is brought to noughtאָפֵ֥ס'a.FesH656,and the scornerלֵ֑ץLetzH3887is consumedוְכָ֣לָהve.Kha.lahH3615,and all that watchשֹׁ֥קְדֵיSho.ke.deiH8245for iniquityאָֽוֶן׃'A.venH205are cut offוְנִכְרְת֖וּve.nikh.re.TuH3772:

21That make a manאָדָם֙'a.DamH120an offenderמַחֲטִיאֵ֤יma.cha.ti.'EiH2398for a wordבְּדָבָ֔רbe.da.VarH1697,and lay a snareיְקֹשׁ֑וּןye.ko.ShunH6983for him that reprovethוְלַמּוֹכִ֥יחַve.la.mo.Khi.achH3198in the gateבַּשַּׁ֖עַרba.Sha.'arH8179,and turn asideוַיַּטּ֥וּvai.ya.TuH5186the justצַדִּֽיק׃ סtza.DikH6662for a thing of noughtבַתֹּ֖הוּva.To.huH8414.

22Therefore thus saithאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,who redeemedפָּדָ֖הpa.DahH6299Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֑ם'av.ra.HamH85,concerning the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290shall not now be ashamedיֵבוֹשׁ֙ye.Vo.oshH954,neither shall his faceפָּנָ֥יוpa.NavH6440now wax paleיֶחֱוָֽרוּ׃ye.che.Va.ruH2357.

23But when he seethבִ֠רְאֹתוֹvir.'o.toH7200his childrenיְלָדָ֞יוye.la.DavH3206,the workמַעֲשֵׂ֥הma.'a.SehH4639of mine handsיָדַ֛יya.DaiH3027,in the midstבְּקִרְבּ֖וֹbe.kir.BoH7130of him, they shall sanctifyיַקְדִּ֣ישֽׁוּyak.Di.shuH6942my nameשְׁמִ֑יshe.MiH8034,and sanctifyוְהִקְדִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ve.hik.Di.shuH6942the Holy Oneקְד֣וֹשׁke.Do.oshH6918of Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,and shall fearיַעֲרִֽיצוּ׃ya.'a.Ri.tzuH6206the Godאֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478.

24They also that erredתֹֽעֵי־to.'ei-H8582in spiritר֖וּחַRu.achH7307shall comeוְיָדְע֥וּve.ya.de.'UH3045to understandingבִּינָ֑הbi.NahH998,and they that murmuredוְרוֹגְנִ֖יםve.rog.NimH7279shall learnיִלְמְדוּ־yil.me.du-H3925doctrineלֶֽקַח׃Le.kachH3948.

Commentaries on Isaiah 29