Isaiah 64
64
1If you would tear open the skies
and come down to earth, then everything would change.
Mountains would melt before you.
2The mountains would burst into flames like burning bushes.
The mountains would boil like water on the fire.
Then your enemies would learn about you.
And all nations would shake with fear when they see you.
3But you have done awesome things that we did not expect.
You came down, and mountains shook in fear before you.
4No one has ever heard of such a God.
No one has ever heard such a story.
No one has ever seen any God except you,
who does such great things for those who trust him.
5You welcome people who enjoy doing good and who remember you
by living the way you want them to.
But we sinned against you,
and you became angry with us.#64:5 we sinned … us Or “But you became angry with us and we sinned.”
But you always saved us!
6We are all dirty with sin.
Even our good works are not pure.
They are like bloodstained rags.
We are all like dead leaves.
Our sins have carried us away like wind.
7We don’t call to you for help.
We aren’t excited about following you,
so you have turned away from us.
We are helpless before you,
because we are full of sin.
8But, Lord, you are our father.
We are like clay, and you are the potter.
Your hands made us all.
9Lord, don’t continue to be angry with us!
Don’t remember our sins forever!
Please, look at us!
We are all your people.
10Your holy cities are as empty as the desert.
Zion has become a desert.
Jerusalem is destroyed.
11Our ancestors worshiped you in our holy Temple.
That wonderful Temple has now been burned.
All our precious possessions have been destroyed.
12Lord, will these things always keep you from helping?
Will you continue to say nothing?
Will you punish us forever?
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Isaiah 64
64
1#sn In BHS the chapter division occurs in a different place from the English Bible: 64:1 ET (63:19b HT) and 64:2-12 (64:1-11 HT). Beginning with 65:1 the verse numbers in the English Bible and the Hebrew Bible are again the same. If only you would tear apart the sky#tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context. and come down!
The mountains would tremble#tn Or “quake.” נָזֹלּוּ (nazollu) is from the verbal root זָלַל (zalal, “quake”; see HALOT 272 s.v. II זלל). Perhaps there is a verbal allusion to Judg 5:5, the only other passage where this verb occurs. In that passage the poet tells how the Lord’s appearance to do battle caused the mountains to shake. before you!
2 (64:1) As when fire ignites dry wood,
or fire makes water boil,
let your adversaries know who you are,#tn Heb “to make known your name to your adversaries.” Perhaps the infinitive construct with preposition -לְ (lamed) should be construed with “come down” in v. 1a, or subordinated to the following line: “To make known your name to your adversaries, let the nations shake from before you.”
and may the nations shake at your presence!
3 When you performed awesome deeds that took us by surprise,#tn Heb “[for which] we were not waiting.”
you came down, and the mountains trembled#tn See the note at v. 1. before you.
4 Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived,#tn Heb “from ancient times they have not heard, they have not listened.”
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who intervenes for those who wait for him.
5 You assist#tn Heb “meet [with kindness].” those who delight in doing what is right,#tn Heb “the one who rejoices and does righteousness.”
who observe your commandments.#tn Heb “in your ways they remember you.”
Look, you were angry because we violated them continually.
How then can we be saved?#tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “look, you were angry and we sinned against them continually [or perhaps, “in ancient times”] and we were delivered.” The statement makes little sense as it stands. The first vav [ו] consecutive (“and we sinned”) must introduce an explanatory clause here (see Num 1:48 and Isa 39:1 for other examples of this relatively rare use of the vav [ו] consecutive). The final verb (if rendered positively) makes no sense in this context – God’s anger at their sin resulted in judgment, not deliverance. One of the alternatives involves an emendation to וַנִּרְשָׁע (vannirsha’, “and we were evil”; LXX, NRSV, TEV). The Vulgate and the Qumran scroll 1QIsaa support the MT reading. One can either accept an emendation or cast the statement as a question (as above).
6 We are all like one who is unclean,
all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight.#tn Heb “and like a garment of menstruation [are] all our righteous acts”; KJV, NIV “filthy rags”; ASV “a polluted garment.”
We all wither like a leaf;
our sins carry us away like the wind.
7 No one invokes#tn Or “calls out in”; NASB, NIV, NRSV “calls on.” your name,
or makes an effort#tn Or “rouses himself”; NASB “arouses himself.” to take hold of you.
For you have rejected us#tn Heb “for you have hidden your face from us.”
and handed us over to our own sins.#tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “and you caused us to melt in the hand of our sin.” The verb וַתְּמוּגֵנוּ (vattÿmugenu) is a Qal preterite 2nd person masculine singular with a 1st person common plural suffix from the root מוּג (mug, “melt”). However, elsewhere the Qal of this verb is intransitive. If the verbal root מוּג (mug) is retained here, the form should be emended to a Polel pattern (וַתְּמֹגְגֵנוּ, vattÿmogÿgenu). The translation assumes an emendation to וַתְּמַגְּנֵנוּ (vattÿmaggÿnenu, “and you handed us over”). This form is a Piel preterite 2nd person masculine singular with a 1st person common plural suffix from the verbal root מִגֵּן (miggen, “hand over, surrender”; see HALOT 545 s.v. מגן and BDB 171 s.v. מָגָן). The point is that God has abandoned them to their sinful ways and no longer seeks reconciliation.
8 Yet,#tn On the force of וְעַתָּה (vÿ’attah) here, see HALOT 902 s.v. עַתָּה. Lord, you are our father.
We are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the product of your labor.#tn Heb “the work of your hand.”
9 Lord, do not be too angry!
Do not hold our sins against us continually!#tn Heb “do not remember sin continually.”
Take a good look at your people, at all of us!#tn Heb “Look, gaze at your people, all of us.” Another option is to translate, “Take a good look! We are all your people.”
10 Your chosen#tn Heb “holy” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV, NLT); NIV “sacred.” cities have become a desert;
Zion has become a desert,
Jerusalem#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. is a desolate ruin.
11 Our holy temple, our pride and joy,#tn Heb “our source of pride.”
the place where our ancestors praised you,
has been burned with fire;
all our prized possessions have been destroyed.#tn Or “all that we valued has become a ruin.”
12 In light of all this,#tn Heb “because of these”; KJV, ASV “for these things.” how can you still hold back, Lord?
How can you be silent and continue to humiliate us?
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