Isaiah 23
23
God’s Message About Tyre
1This is a message#23:1 message Or “burden.” about Tyre:
Ships traveling from Cyprus heard this message:
“Cry, you ships from Tarshish#23:1 ships from Tarshish This is probably a special type of cargo ship. Also in verse 14.!
Your harbor has been destroyed.”
2You people living near the sea, mourn in silence.
The merchants of Sidon sent traders across the sea
and filled the city with riches.
3They traveled the seas looking for grain.
The men from Tyre bought grain that grows near the Nile River
and sold it to other nations.
4Sidon, you should be very sad,
because now the Sea and the Fort of the Sea#23:4 Fort of the Sea Another name for the city of Tyre. say,
“I have no children.
I have never felt the pain of birth;
I have never given birth to children.
I have never raised young men and women.”
5When Egypt hears the news about Tyre,
it will feel the pain of sorrow.
6You ships, try to escape to Tarshish!
Cry out, you people living near the sea!
7Can this be that happy city that was founded so long ago?
Is it that same city whose people traveled so far to settle other lands?#23:7 traveled … other lands? Or “came from so far to live here?”
8This city produced so many leaders.
Its merchants were like princes.
Its traders had the whole world’s respect.
So who made these plans against Tyre?
9It was the Lord All-Powerful.
He decided to destroy the great things they were so proud of.
He wanted to disgrace those who were so highly respected.
10Ships from Tarshish, go back home.
Cross the sea as if it were a river.
No one will stop you now.
11The Lord raised his arm over the sea
to make the kingdoms angry enough to fight against Tyre.
He commanded Canaan
to destroy her place of safety.#23:11 Or “He raised his arm over the sea and shook nations. He gave a command about Canaan to destroy its fortresses.”
12He said, “Daughter Sidon,#23:12 Daughter Sidon Another name for the city of Sidon. you have been hurt badly,
so you will no longer rejoice like a bride.
Go ahead, go to Cyprus#23:12 Cyprus Literally, “Kittim.” This could also mean “Crete.” for help,
but you will not find a place to rest there either.”
13As for Babylon, look at the land of the Chaldeans!
It is not even a country now.
Assyria built war towers to attack it.
The soldiers took everything from the beautiful houses.
Assyria destroyed Babylon.
They turned it into a pile of ruins
and made it a place for wild animals.
14So be sad, you ships from Tarshish.
Your place of safety has been destroyed.
15People will forget about Tyre for 70 years—that is, about the length of a king’s rule. After 70 years, Tyre will be like the prostitute in this song:
16“Oh, woman who men forgot,
take your harp and walk through the city.
Play your song well and sing it often.
Maybe someone will remember you.”
17After 70 years, the Lord will review Tyre’s case, and he will give her a decision. Tyre will again have trade. She will be like a prostitute for all the nations on earth. 18But Tyre will not keep the money she earns. The profit from her trade will be saved for the Lord. Tyre will give that money to the people who serve the Lord to buy good food and nice clothes.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Isaiah 23
23
1 #
Ezek 26.1—28.19; Joel 3.4-8; Amos 1.9-10; Zech 9.3-4. The oracle concerning Tyre.
Wail, O ships of Tarshish,
for Tyre is laid waste, without house or haven!
From the land of Cyprus
it is revealed to them.
2Be still, O inhabitants of the coast,
O merchants of Sidon;
your messengers passed over the sea#23.2 One ancient Ms: Heb who passed over the sea, they replenished you
3and were on many waters;
your revenue was the grain of Shihor,
the harvest of the Nile;
you were the merchant of the nations.
4Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken,
the stronghold of the sea, saying:
“I have neither travailed nor given birth,
I have neither reared young men
nor brought up virgins.”
5When the report comes to Egypt,
they will be in anguish over the report about Tyre.
6Pass over to Tarshish,
wail, O inhabitants of the coast!
7Is this your exultant city
whose origin is from days of old,
whose feet carried her
to settle afar?
8Who has purposed this
against Tyre, the bestower of crowns,
whose merchants were princes,
whose traders were the honored of the earth?
9The Lord of hosts has purposed it,
to defile the pride of all glory,
to dishonor all the honored of the earth.
10Overflow your land like the Nile,
O daughter of Tarshish;
there is no restraint any more.
11He has stretched out his hand over the sea,
he has shaken the kingdoms;
the Lord has given command concerning Canaan
to destroy its strongholds.
12And he said:
“You will no more exult,
O oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon;
arise, pass over to Cyprus,
even there you will have no rest.”
13Behold the land of the Chaldeans! This is the people; it was not Assyria. They destined Tyre for wild beasts. They erected their siege towers, they razed her palaces, they made her a ruin.#23.13 The Hebrew of this verse is obscure
14Wail, O ships of Tarshish,
for your stronghold is laid waste.
15In that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, like the days of one king. At the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:
16“Take a harp,
go about the city,
O forgotten harlot!
Make sweet melody,
sing many songs,
that you may be remembered.”
17 #
Rev 17.2. At the end of seventy years, the Lord will visit Tyre, and she will return to her hire, and will play the harlot with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. 18Her merchandise and her hire will be dedicated to the Lord; it will not be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and fine clothing for those who dwell before the Lord.
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Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America