Add parallel Print Page Options

God Will Save His People and Punish Their Enemies

63 Who is this man coming from the city of Bozrah in Edom?
    His clothes are stained bright red.
Who is he? He is dressed up in all his glory.
    He is marching toward us with great strength.

The Lord answers, “It is I.
    I have won the battle.
I am mighty.
    I have saved my people.”

Why are your clothes red?
    They look as if you have been stomping
    on grapes in a winepress.

The Lord answers, “I have been stomping on the nations
    as if they were grapes.
    No one was there to help me.
I walked all over the nations because I was angry.
    That is why I stomped on them.
Their blood splashed all over my clothes.
    So my clothes were stained bright red.
I decided it was time to pay back Israel’s enemies.
    The year for me to set my people free had come.
I looked around, but no one was there to help me.
    I was shocked that no one gave me any help.
So I used my own power to save my people.
    I had the strength to do it because I was angry.
I walked all over the nations because I was angry with them.
    I made them drink from the cup of my great anger.
    I poured out their blood on the ground.”

Isaiah Praises the Lord and Prays to Him

I will talk about the kind things the Lord has done.
    I’ll praise him for everything he’s done for us.
He has done many good things
    for the nation of Israel.
    That’s because he loves us and is very kind to us.
In the past he said, “They are my people.
    They are children who will be faithful to me.”
    So he saved them.
When they suffered, he suffered with them.
    He sent his angel to save them.
He set them free because he is loving and kind.
    He lifted them up and carried them.
    He did it again and again in days long ago.
10 But they refused to obey him.
    They made his Holy Spirit sad.
So he turned against them and became their enemy.
    He himself fought against them.

11 Then his people remembered what he did long ago.
    They recalled the days of Moses and his people.
They asked, “Where is the God who brought
    Israel through the Red Sea?
    Moses led them as the shepherd of his flock.
Where is the God who put
    his Holy Spirit among them?
12 He used his glorious and powerful arm
    to help Moses.
He parted the waters of the sea in front of them.
    That mighty act made him famous forever.
13     He led them through that deep sea.
Like a horse in open country,
    they didn’t trip and fall.
14 They were like cattle that are taken down to the plains.
    They were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord.”
That’s how he guided his people.
    So he made a glorious name for himself.

15 Lord, look down from heaven.
    Look down from your holy and glorious throne.
Where is your great love for us?
    Where is your power?
Why don’t you show us
    your tender love and concern?
16 You are our Father.
    Abraham might not accept us as his children.
    Jacob might not recognize us as his family.
But you are our Father, Lord.
    Your name is One Who Always Sets Us Free.
17 Lord, why do you let us wander away from you?
    Why do you let us become so stubborn
    that we don’t respect you?
Come back and help us.
    We are the tribes that belong to you.
18 For a little while your holy people possessed the land.
    But now our enemies have torn your temple down.
19 We are like people you never ruled over.
    We are like those who don’t belong to you.

God’s Day of Vengeance and Redemption

63 Who is this coming from Edom,(A)
    from Bozrah,(B) with his garments stained crimson?(C)
Who is this, robed in splendor,
    striding forward in the greatness of his strength?(D)

“It is I, proclaiming victory,
    mighty to save.”(E)

Why are your garments red,
    like those of one treading the winepress?(F)

“I have trodden the winepress(G) alone;
    from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled(H) them in my anger
    and trod them down in my wrath;(I)
their blood spattered my garments,(J)
    and I stained all my clothing.
It was for me the day of vengeance;(K)
    the year for me to redeem had come.
I looked, but there was no one(L) to help,
    I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm(M) achieved salvation for me,
    and my own wrath sustained me.(N)
I trampled(O) the nations in my anger;
    in my wrath I made them drunk(P)
    and poured their blood(Q) on the ground.”

Praise and Prayer

I will tell of the kindnesses(R) of the Lord,
    the deeds for which he is to be praised,
    according to all the Lord has done for us—
yes, the many good things(S)
    he has done for Israel,
    according to his compassion(T) and many kindnesses.
He said, “Surely they are my people,(U)
    children who will be true to me”;
    and so he became their Savior.(V)
In all their distress he too was distressed,
    and the angel(W) of his presence(X) saved them.[a]
In his love and mercy he redeemed(Y) them;
    he lifted them up and carried(Z) them
    all the days of old.(AA)
10 Yet they rebelled(AB)
    and grieved his Holy Spirit.(AC)
So he turned and became their enemy(AD)
    and he himself fought(AE) against them.

11 Then his people recalled[b] the days of old,
    the days of Moses and his people—
where is he who brought them through the sea,(AF)
    with the shepherd of his flock?(AG)
Where is he who set
    his Holy Spirit(AH) among them,
12 who sent his glorious arm(AI) of power
    to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters(AJ) before them,
    to gain for himself everlasting renown,(AK)
13 who led(AL) them through the depths?(AM)
Like a horse in open country,
    they did not stumble;(AN)
14 like cattle that go down to the plain,
    they were given rest(AO) by the Spirit of the Lord.
This is how you guided your people
    to make for yourself a glorious name.

15 Look down from heaven(AP) and see,
    from your lofty throne,(AQ) holy and glorious.
Where are your zeal(AR) and your might?
    Your tenderness and compassion(AS) are withheld(AT) from us.
16 But you are our Father,(AU)
    though Abraham does not know us
    or Israel acknowledge(AV) us;
you, Lord, are our Father,
    our Redeemer(AW) from of old is your name.
17 Why, Lord, do you make us wander(AX) from your ways
    and harden our hearts(AY) so we do not revere(AZ) you?
Return(BA) for the sake of your servants,
    the tribes that are your inheritance.(BB)
18 For a little while(BC) your people possessed your holy place,
    but now our enemies have trampled(BD) down your sanctuary.(BE)
19 We are yours from of old;
    but you have not ruled over them,
    they have not been called[c] by your name.(BF)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 63:9 Or Savior in their distress. / It was no envoy or angel / but his own presence that saved them
  2. Isaiah 63:11 Or But may he recall
  3. Isaiah 63:19 Or We are like those you have never ruled, / like those never called

63 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.

And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?

12 That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

13 That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?

14 As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

15 Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?

16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

17 O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

18 The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.

19 We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.