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
A Pronouncement against Tyre
1A pronouncement#Is 13:1 concerning Tyre:#Jos 19:29; 1Kg 5:1; Jr 25:22; 47:4; Ezk 26:1–27:36; Jl 3:4–8; Am 1:9; Zch 9:2–4
Wail, ships of Tarshish,#Gn 10:4; 1Kg 10:22
for your haven has been destroyed.
Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus.#23:1 Hb Kittim#Jr 2:10; Ezk 27:6; Ac 11:19
2Mourn, inhabitants of the coastland,
you merchants of Sidon;#Gn 10:15; Jos 19:28; Jr 25:22; 27:3; Ezk 27:8; 32:30; Jl 3:4; Zch 9:2
your agents have crossed the sea#23:2 DSS; MT reads Sidon, whom the seafarers have filled
3over deep water.
Tyre’s revenue was the grain from Shihor —
the harvest of the Nile.
She was the merchant among the nations.#Ezk 27:3–23
4Be ashamed, Sidon, the stronghold of the sea,
for the sea has spoken:
“I have not been in labor or given birth.
I have not raised young men
or brought up young women.”
5When the news reaches Egypt,
they will be in anguish over the news about Tyre.#Ac 21:7
6Cross over to Tarshish;
wail, inhabitants of the coastland!
7Is this your jubilant city,
whose origin was in ancient times,
whose feet have taken her
to reside far away?
8Who planned this against Tyre,
the bestower of crowns,
whose traders are princes,
whose merchants are the honored ones of the earth?
9The Lord of Armies planned it,
to desecrate all its glorious beauty,
to disgrace all the honored ones of the earth.
10Overflow#23:10 DSS, LXX read Work your land like the Nile, daughter of Tarshish;
there is no longer anything to restrain you.#23:10 Or longer any harbor
11He stretched out his hand over the sea;#Ex 14:21; Is 14:26
he made kingdoms tremble.
The Lord has commanded
that the Canaanite fortresses be destroyed.
12He said,
“You will not celebrate anymore,
ravished young woman, daughter of Sidon.
Get up and cross over to Cyprus#Is 23:1; Jr 2:10; Ezk 27:6; Ac 4:36; 11:19–20; 13:4; 15:39; 21:3,16; 27:4 —
even there you will have no rest!”
13Look at the land of the Chaldeans —
a people who no longer exist.
Assyria destined it for desert creatures.
They set up their siege towers
and stripped its palaces.
They made it a ruin.
14Wail, ships of Tarshish,
because your fortress is destroyed!
15On that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years — the life span of one king. At the end of seventy years, what the song says about the prostitute will happen to Tyre:
16Pick up your lyre,
stroll through the city,
you forgotten prostitute.
Play skillfully,
sing many a song
so that you will be remembered.
17And at the end of the seventy years,#Jr 25:11,22 the Lord will restore Tyre#Ac 21:7 and she will go back into business, prostituting herself with all the kingdoms of the world throughout the earth. 18But her profits and wages will be dedicated to the Lord. They will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who live in the Lord’s presence, to provide them with ample food and sacred clothing.
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