Revised Literal Translation

Isaiah 65

1I am soughtנִדְרַ֙שְׁתִּי֙nid.Rash.tiH1875of them thataskedשָׁאָ֔לוּsha.'A.luH7592notH3808for me;I am foundנִמְצֵ֖אתִיnim.Tze.tiH4672of them thatsoughtבִקְשֻׁ֑נִיvik.Shu.niH1245me notH3808:I saidאָמַ֙רְתִּי֙'a.Mar.tiH559,Behold me, behold me, unto a nationגּ֖וֹיGoyH1471thatwas not calledקֹרָ֥אko.Ra'H7121by my nameבִשְׁמִֽי׃vish.MiH8034.

2I have spread outפֵּרַ֧שְׂתִּיpe.Ras.tiH6566my handsיָדַ֛יya.DaiH3027all the dayהַיּ֖וֹםhai.YomH3117unto a rebelliousסוֹרֵ֑רso.RerH5637peopleעַ֣ם'amH5971,which walkethהַהֹלְכִים֙ha.ho.le.KhimH1980in a wayהַדֶּ֣רֶךְha.De.rekhH1870that wasnot goodט֔וֹבTovH2896,afterאַחַ֖ר'a.CharH310their own thoughtsמַחְשְׁבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃mach.she.vo.tei.HemH4284;

3A peopleהָעָ֗םha.'AmH5971that provoketh me to angerהַמַּכְעִיסִ֥יםha.makh.'i.SimH3707continuallyתָּמִ֑ידta.MidH8548to my faceפָּנַ֖יpa.NaiH6440;that sacrificethזֹֽבְחִים֙zoe.ChimH2076in gardensבַּגַּנּ֔וֹתba.ga.NotH1593,and burneth incenseוּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖יםu.me.ka.te.RimH6999upon altars of brickהַלְּבֵנִֽים׃ha.le.ve.NimH3843;

4Which remainהַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙hai.yo.she.VimH3427among the gravesבַּקְּבָרִ֔יםba.ke.va.RimH6913,and lodgeיָלִ֑ינוּya.Li.nuH3885in the monumentsוּבַנְּצוּרִ֖יםu.va.ne.tzu.RimH5341,which eatהָאֹֽכְלִים֙ha.'o.khe.LimH398swine’sהַחֲזִ֔ירha.cha.ZirH2386fleshבְּשַׂ֣רbe.SarH1320,and brothוּמְרַ֥קu.fe.rakH6564 H4839of abominableפִּגֻּלִ֖יםpi.gu.LimH6292things is intheir vesselsכְּלֵיהֶֽם׃ke.lei.HemH3627;

5Which sayהָאֹֽמְרִים֙ha.'o.me.RimH559,Standקְרַ֣בke.RavH7126by thyself, come not nearתִּגַּשׁ־ti.gash-H5066to me; for I am holierקְדַשְׁתִּ֑יךָke.dash.Ti.chaH6942than thou. These area smokeעָשָׁ֣ן'a.ShanH6227in my noseבְּאַפִּ֔יbe.'a.PiH639,a fireאֵ֥שׁ'eshH784that burnethיֹקֶ֖דֶתyo.Ke.detH3344all the dayהַיּֽוֹם׃hai.YomH3117.

6Behold, it iswrittenכְתוּבָ֖הkhe.tu.VahH3789beforeלְפָנָ֑יle.fa.NaiH6440me: I will not keep silenceאֶחֱשֶׂה֙'e.che.SehH2814,but will recompenseשִׁלַּ֔מְתִּיshi.Lam.tiH7999,even recompenseוְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֖יve.shi.lam.TiH7999into their bosomחֵיקָֽם׃chei.KamH2436,

7Your iniquitiesעֲ֠וֹנֹתֵיכֶם'A.vo.no.tei.khemH5771,and the iniquitiesוַעֲוֹנֹ֨תva.'a.vo.NotH5771of your fathersאֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֤ם'a.vo.tei.KhemH1togetherיַחְדָּו֙yach.DavH3162,saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,which have burned incenseקִטְּרוּ֙ki.te.RuH6999upon the mountainsהֶ֣הָרִ֔יםhe.ha.RimH2022,and blasphemedחֵרְפ֑וּנִיche.re.Fu.niH2778me upon the hillsהַגְּבָע֖וֹתha.ge.va.'otH1389:therefore will I measureוּמַדֹּתִ֧יu.ma.do.TiH4058their formerרִֽאשֹׁנָ֖הri.sho.NahH7223workפְעֻלָּתָ֛םfe.'u.la.TamH6468into their bosomחֵיקָֽם׃ סchei.KamH2436.

8Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068,As the new wineהַתִּירוֹשׁ֙ha.ti.ro.VoshH8492is foundיִמָּצֵ֤אyi.ma.Tze'H4672in the clusterבָּֽאֶשְׁכּ֔וֹלba.'esh.KolH811, and onesaithוְאָמַר֙ve.'a.MarH559,Destroyתַּשְׁחִיתֵ֔הוּtash.chi.Te.huH7843it not; for a blessingבְרָכָ֖הve.ra.KhahH1293isin it: so will I doאֶֽעֱשֶׂה֙'e.'e.SehH6213for my servants’עֲבָדַ֔י'a.va.DaiH5650sakes, that I may not destroyהַֽשְׁחִ֥יתhash.ChitH7843them all.

9And I will bring forthוְהוֹצֵאתִ֤יve.ho.tze.TiH3318a seedזֶ֔רַעZe.ra'H2233out of Jacobמִֽיַּעֲקֹב֙mi.ya.'a.KoH3290,and out of Judahוּמִיהוּדָ֖הu.mi.hu.DahH3063an inheritorיוֹרֵ֣שׁyo.ReshH3423of my mountainsהָרָ֑יha.RaiH2022:and mine electבְחִירַ֔יve.chi.RaiH972shall inheritוִירֵשׁ֣וּהָvi.re.Shu.haH3423it, and my servantsוַעֲבָדַ֖יva.'a.va.DaiH5650shall dwellיִשְׁכְּנוּ־yish.ke.nu-H7931there.

10And Sharonהַשָּׁרוֹן֙ha.sha.rOnH8289shall be a foldלִנְוֵה־lin.veh-H5116of flocksצֹ֔אןTzonH6629,and the valleyוְעֵ֥מֶקve.'E.mekH6010of Achorעָכ֖וֹרa.KhorH5911a place for the herdsבָּקָ֑רba.KarH1241to lie down inלְרֵ֣בֶץle.Re.vetzH7258,for my peopleלְעַמִּ֖יle.'a.MiH5971that have soughtדְּרָשֽׁוּנִי׃de.ra.Shu.niH1875me.

11But ye arethey that forsakeעֹזְבֵ֣י'o.ze.VeiH5800Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,that forgetהַשְּׁכֵחִ֖יםha.she.khe.ChimH7913my holyקָדְשִׁ֑יkod.shiH6944mountainהַ֣רharH2022,that prepareהַֽעֹרְכִ֤יםha.'o.re.KhimH6186a tableשֻׁלְחָ֔ןshul.ChanH7979for that troopלַגַּד֙la.GadH1408 H1409,and that furnishוְהַֽמְמַלְאִ֖יםve.ha.mal.'ImH4390the drink offeringמִמְסָֽךְ׃mi.SakhH4469unto that numberלַמְנִ֥יlam.NiH4507.

12Therefore will I numberוּמָנִ֨יתִיu.ma.Ni.tiH4487you to the swordלַחֶ֗רֶבla.Che.revH2719,and ye shall all bow downתִּכְרָ֔עוּtikh.Ra.'uH3766to the slaughterלַטֶּ֣בַחla.Te.vachH2874:because when I calledקָרָ֙אתִי֙ka.Ra.tiH7121,ye did not answerעֲנִיתֶ֔ם'a.ni.TemH6030;when I spakeדִּבַּ֖רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiH1696,ye did not hearשְׁמַעְתֶּ֑םshe.ma'.TemH8085;but didוַתַּעֲשׂ֤וּva.ta.'a.SuH6213evilהָרַע֙ha.Ra'H7451before mine eyesבְּעֵינַ֔יbe.'ei.NaiH5869,and did chooseבְּחַרְתֶּֽם׃ פbe.char.TemH977thatwherein I delightedחָפַ֖צְתִּיcha.Fatz.tiH2654not.

13Therefore thus saithאָמַ֣ר׀'a.MarH559the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִ֗הYah.wehH3069,Behold, my servantsעֲבָדַ֤י׀'a.va.DaiH5650shall eatיֹאכֵ֙לוּ֙yo.Khe.luH398,but ye shall be hungryתִּרְעָ֔בוּtir.'A.vuH7456:behold, my servantsעֲבָדַ֛י'a.va.DaiH5650shall drinkיִשְׁתּ֖וּyish.TuH8354,but ye shall be thirstyתִּצְמָ֑אוּtitz.Ma.'uH6770:behold, my servantsעֲבָדַ֛י'a.va.DaiH5650shall rejoiceיִשְׂמָ֖חוּyis.Ma.chuH8055,but ye shall be ashamedתֵּבֹֽשׁוּ׃te.Vo.shuH954:

14Behold, my servantsעֲבָדַ֛י'a.va.DaiH5650shall singיָרֹ֖נּוּya.Ro.nuH7442for joyמִטּ֣וּבmi.TuvH2898of heartלֵ֑בLevH3820,but ye shall cryתִּצְעֲקוּ֙titz.'a.KuH6817for sorrowמִכְּאֵ֣בmi.ke.'EvH3511of heartלֵ֔בLevH3820,and shall howlתְּיֵלִֽילוּ׃te.ye.Li.luH3213for vexationוּמִשֵּׁ֥בֶרu.mi.She.verH7667of spiritר֖וּחַRu.achH7307.

15And ye shall leaveH3240your nameשִׁמְכֶ֤םshim.KhemH8034for a curseלִשְׁבוּעָה֙lish.vu.'AhH7621unto my chosenלִבְחִירַ֔יliv.chi.RaiH972:for the Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiH136Yhwhיְהוִ֑הYah.wehH3069shall slayוֶהֱמִיתְךָ֖ve.he.mi.te.KhaH4191thee, and callיִקְרָ֖אyik.Ra'H7121his servantsוְלַעֲבָדָ֥יוve.la.'a.va.DavH5650by anotherאַחֵֽר׃'a.CherH312nameשֵׁ֥םshemH8034:

16That he who blessethהַמִּתְבָּרֵ֜ךְha.mit.ba.RekhH1288himself in the earthבָּאָ֗רֶץba.'A.retzH776shall blessיִתְבָּרֵךְ֙yit.ba.reKhH1288himself in the Godבֵּאלֹהֵ֣יbe.lo.HeiH430of truthאָמֵ֔ן'a.MenH543;and he that swearethוְהַנִּשְׁבָּ֣עve.ha.nish.Ba'H7650in the earthבָּאָ֔רֶץba.'A.retzH776shall swearיִשָּׁבַ֖עyi.sha.Va'H7650by the Godבֵּאלֹהֵ֣יbe.lo.HeiH430of truthאָמֵ֑ן'a.MenH543;because the formerהָרִ֣אשֹׁנ֔וֹתha.Ri.sho.NotH7223troublesהַצָּרוֹת֙ha.tza.rOtH6869are forgottenנִשְׁכְּח֗וּnish.ke.ChuH7911,and because they are hidנִסְתְּר֖וּnis.te.RuH5641from mine eyesמֵעֵינָֽי׃me.'ei.NaiH5869.

17For, behold, I createבוֹרֵ֛אvo.Re'H1254newחֲדָשִׁ֖יםcha.da.ShimH2319heavensשָׁמַ֥יִםsha.Ma.yimH8064and a newחֲדָשָׁ֑הcha.da.ShahH2319earthוָאָ֣רֶץva.'A.retzH776:and the formerהָרִ֣אשֹׁנ֔וֹתha.Ri.sho.NotH7223shall not be rememberedתִזָּכַ֙רְנָה֙ti.za.Khar.nahH2142,nor comeתַעֲלֶ֖ינָהta.'a.Lei.nahH5927into mindלֵֽב׃LevH3820.

18But be ye gladשִׂ֤ישׂוּSi.suH7797and rejoiceוְגִ֙ילוּ֙ve.Gi.luH1523for everעַ֔ד'AdH5703in thatwhich I createבוֹרֵ֑אvo.Re'H1254:for, behold, I createבוֹרֵ֧אvo.Re'H1254Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֛םye.ru.sha.LimH3389a rejoicingגִּילָ֖הgi.LahH1525,and her peopleוְעַמָּ֥הּve.'a.MahH5971a joyמָשֽׂוֹשׂ׃ma.SosH4885.

19And I will rejoiceוְגַלְתִּ֥יve.gal.TiH1523in Jerusalemבִירוּשָׁלִַ֖םvi.ru.sha.LimH3389,and joyוְשַׂשְׂתִּ֣יve.sas.TiH7797in my peopleבְעַמִּ֑יve.'a.MiH5971:and the voiceק֥וֹלKolH6963of weepingבְּכִ֖יbe.KhiH1065shall be no more heardיִשָּׁמַ֥עyi.sha.Ma'H8085in her, nor the voiceוְק֥וֹלve.KolH6963of cryingזְעָקָֽה׃ze.'a.KahH2201.

20There shall be no more thence an infantע֤וּל'ulH5764of daysיָמִים֙ya.MimH3117,nor an old manוְזָקֵ֔ןve.za.KenH2205that hath not filledיְמַלֵּ֖אye.ma.Le'H4390his daysיָמָ֑יוya.MavH3117:for the childהַנַּ֗עַרha.Na.'arH5288shall dieיָמ֔וּתya.MutH4191an hundredמֵאָ֤הme.'AhH3967yearsשָׁנָה֙sha.NahH8141oldבֶּן־ben-H1121;but the sinnerוְהַ֣חוֹטֶ֔אve.Ha.cho.Te'H2398beingan hundredמֵאָ֥הme.'AhH3967yearsשָׁנָ֖הsha.NahH8141oldבֶּן־ben-H1121shall be accursedיְקֻלָּֽל׃ye.ku.LalH7043.

21And they shall buildוּבָנ֥וּu.va.NuH1129housesבָתִּ֖יםva.TimH1004,and inhabitוְיָשָׁ֑בוּve.ya.Sha.vuH3427them;and they shall plantוְנָטְע֣וּve.na.te.'UH5193vineyardsכְרָמִ֔יםkhe.ra.MimH3754,and eatוְאָכְל֖וּve.'a.khe.LuH398the fruitפִּרְיָֽם׃pir.YamH6529of them.

22They shall not buildיִבְנוּ֙yiv.NuH1129,and anotherוְאַחֵ֣רve.'a.CherH312inhabitיֵשֵׁ֔בye.ShevH3427;they shall not plantיִטְּע֖וּyi.te.'UH5193,and anotherוְאַחֵ֣רve.'a.CherH312eatיֹאכֵ֑לyo.KhelH398:for as the daysכִימֵ֤יkhi.MeiH3117of a treeהָעֵץ֙ha.'EtzH6086arethe daysיְמֵ֣יye.MeiH3117of my peopleעַמִּ֔י'a.MiH5971,and mine electבְחִירָֽי׃ve.chi.RaiH972shall long enjoyיְבַלּ֥וּye.va.LuH1086the workוּמַעֲשֵׂ֥הu.ma.'a.SehH4639of their handsיְדֵיהֶ֖םye.dei.HemH3027.

23They shall not labourיִֽיגְעוּ֙yi.ge.'UH3021in vainלָרִ֔יקla.RikH7385,nor bring forthיֵלְד֖וּye.le.DuH3205for troubleלַבֶּהָלָ֑הla.be.ha.LahH928; for they arethe seedזֶ֜רַעZe.ra'H2233of the blessedבְּרוּכֵ֤יbe.ru.KheiH1288of Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,and their offspringוְצֶאֱצָאֵיהֶ֖םve.tze.'e.tza.'ei.HemH6631with them.

24And it shall come to pass, that before they callיִקְרָ֖אוּyik.Ra.'uH7121,I will answerאֶעֱנֶ֑ה'e.'e.NehH6030;and while they are yet speakingמְדַבְּרִ֖יםme.da.be.RimH1696,I will hearאֶשְׁמָֽע׃'esh.Ma'H8085.

25The wolfזְאֵ֨בze.'EvH2061and the lambוְטָלֶ֜הve.ta.LehH2924shall feedיִרְע֣וּyir.'UH7462togetherכְאֶחָ֗דkhe.'e.ChadH259,and the lionוְאַרְיֵה֙ve.'ar.YehH738shall eatיֹֽאכַל־yo.khal-H398strawתֶּ֔בֶןTe.venH8401like the bullockכַּבָּקָ֣רka.ba.KarH1241:and dustעָפָ֣ר'a.FarH6083shall bethe serpent’sוְנָחָ֖שׁve.na.ChashH5175meatלַחְמ֑וֹlach.MoH3899.They shall not hurtיָרֵ֧עוּya.Re.'uH7489nor destroyיַשְׁחִ֛יתוּyash.Chi.tuH7843in all my holyקָדְשִׁ֖יkod.shiH6944mountainהַ֥רharH2022,saithאָמַ֥ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.

Commentaries on Isaiah 65