Who is this one that’s coming from Edom… from BozRah wearing clothes with red stains… this beautiful one with the strong arm?
‘I have [come to bring] justice, and [to plead] the case of salvation.’
2 But why are you wearing red clothes, which appear as though you’ve been treading a wine vat?
3 ‘I am covered with things I have trampled, and no man of the nations is with me, for I’ve trampled them all in my rage. I broke them up [like breaking] the
ground, and poured out their blood on the earth; so all my clothes are defiled. 4 For, a day of payback has come upon them, and the year of ransom is at hand. 5 I searched and found none to aid me; I paid attention and no one would help. So, I brought salvation with my mighty arm, and attended to it in my rage. 6 I trampled them down in my anger, and led their blood into the ground!’
7 I’ve thought about the mercy of Jehovah, and all the virtues of His retribution, [and I’ve found that His] judgment upon IsraEl is just, for what He brings upon us is justice and mercy. 8 He said, ‘My children must all respect Me.’ Then, from oppression He saved them… not an envoy or angel, Himself!
9 Because He loved them He saved them… He spared them and [paid] their ransom. But though He took them and raised them, through all the days of that
age, 10 they refused to listen to Him, and they provoked His
Holy Breath. So, the Lord turned against them in hatred, and then He waged war against them. 11 But He then remembered the days of their ages, and then from the ground, He raised one who would shepherd His sheep.
12 Where is the One who poured His Breath on them… the One who led Moses with His right hand… the One with the glorious arm? Before [Moses} He conquered the waters, and made a Name for Himself through the ages. 13 Through the deep [sea] He led them, and like horses, they didn’t get tired in the desert. 14 Then, as though they were cattle, [they moved on through] the plains, while Jehovah’s Breath descended to guide them.
That is how You’ve led Your people, to make a glorious Name for Yourself. 15 So now, turn from the heavens… look down from Your holiness and glory! Where is Your
zeal and Your strength? Where is Your mercy and compassion, which You’ve been withholding from us? 16 Our Father You’ve now become, for we wouldn’t be known by AbraHam, nor would IsraEl recognize us. So help us please, O Jehovah, for You are have become our [true] Father!
17 From ancient times Your Name has been on us, so why have You allowed us to stray from Your ways? Why have You hardened our hearts not to fear You? [O please] return because of Your servants… because we’re the tribes that You chose by lot, 18 and so we can
inherit Your Holy Mountain.
Our enemies have trampled on Your Holy Place, 19 and we have become as we were long ago… a time when You didn’t rule us, and we were not called by Your Name.
Chapter 64
1 If You should choose to open the sky, the mountains would tremble and melt, as though they were beeswax in fire. 2 So, a fire will incinerate our enemies, and Your Name will then shine among [them]… before You the nations will quiver. 3 For, whenever You do Your honorable deeds, trembling takes hold of the mountains.
4 Through the
ages no one has heard, nor have eyes seen a God beside You, or the deeds that You do, for those who are awaiting [Your] mercy.
5 He will meet with the
righteous, and their [righteous] ways [He’ll] remember. {Look!} But you have sinned and provoked Him to rage, and because of this we must wander. 6 For, we’ve set aside what is righteous, as a rag that’s used for menstruation. We have fallen like leaves for our lawless deeds, and the wind will blow us away; 7 Since, no one calls on Your Name, nor do any remember to take hold of You. So Your face You’ve now turned away, and You’ve handed us over because of our sins.
8 And now, O Jehovah; You are our only [true] Father, and we are just [clay]… the works of Your hands. 9 So, [please] don’t stay very angry with us… don’t remember our sins for a long time!
Now, O Jehovah, look down upon us, because we are your people! 10 Your Holy City, Zion, has become a desolation, and JeruSalem has been cursed with destruction. 11 The [Temple] and the Holy Place of glory, by which our fathers were blest, is scorched and its honorable things are thrown down. 12 All of this You’ve endured, O Jehovah… You’ve kept silent and humbled us much.
Chapter 65
1 ‘I was seen by those not searching for Me; I was found by those not asking for Me. And I said
Here I am to a nation, that had never called on
My Name. 2 For, I’d held out My hands all day long, to a people who won’t listen and just talk back… those who’ve not followed in good ways, but who keep on [walking] in their sins. 3 They stand before Me and always provoke Me… they offer sacrifices in their own gardens, and burn incense on bricks before
demons; 4 they sleep in tombs and in caves to have dreams; they’re the ones who eat meat of pigs, then [offer their] broth as sacrifices. So, all that [they offer] is tainted, 5 but then they say,
Stay away… don’t approach me, for I’m clean!
‘This is the smoke of My rage… it’s a fire that burns through the days. 6 {Look} It’s written that here in My presence, I won’t stay silent until I’ve repaid; I’ll [rake] all their sins onto their chests, 7 as well as the sins of their fathers,’ says Jehovah. ‘Upon all who burned incense on the mountains, and spoke ill of Me in the hills… I will [heap] their [bad] deeds on their chests!’
8 Jehovah says: ‘When they find seeds in grape clusters they say:
Don’t throw them away, for they will bring blessings. And that’s what I’ll do with My servants… that’s what I’ll do, so I don’t destroy all. 9 I’ll pick one seed out of Jacob and Judah, and He will inherit My Holy Mountain… he will inherit My
elected, and they will live with him there. 10 Then in their groves will live flocks, and there in
the Valley of Achor, My people’s herds will find rest… those who are searching for Me.
11 ‘But you are the ones who have left Me… those who’ve forgotten My Holy Mountain… those preparing a table for demons, and mixing [potions] for good luck. 12 So, to the sword I will give you, and you will fall in the slaughter; for, though I called to you, you just would not listen… I spoke and you paid no attention; you kept doing what’s wicked before Me, and the things I didn’t want are what you chose.
13 ‘And because of this,’ says Jehovah, ‘{Look!} Those who serve Me will eat, but you in turn will go hungry. {Look!} All My servants will drink, but you in turn will be thirsty. {Look!} Those serving Me will be happy, but you will just be ashamed. 14 {Look!} Those serving Me will cry out in joy, but you’ll cry out in misery of heart, and you’ll shriek for the destruction of your lives.
15 ‘The name that you’re leaving behind, will become a glut to those I’ve elected, so the Lord will do away with you all. Then I’ll give a new name to all those who serve Me, 16 which will be praised throughout the whole earth. For they will praise the true God, and those who swear oaths on the earth, will swear by the [only] true God. Then they will forget the trials they endured… such things won’t come into their hearts.
