Isaiah 63
63
The Divine Warrior#Two questions are raised at the approach of a majestic figure coming from Edom. It is the Lord, his garments red with the blood from the judgment battle. Edom (its capital Bozrah) plundered Judah after the fall of Jerusalem; cf. 34:5–17. Wine press: here a symbol of a bloody judgment; cf. Lam 1:15; Jl 4:13.
1Who is this that comes from Edom,
in crimsoned garments, from Bozrah?
Who is this, glorious in his apparel,
striding in the greatness of his strength?
“It is I, I who announce vindication,
mighty to save.”#Is 34:6; 49:19.
2Why is your apparel red,
and your garments like one who treads the wine press?#Rev 19:13.
3“The wine press I have trodden alone,
and from the peoples no one was with me.
I trod them in my anger,
and trampled them down in my wrath;
Their blood spurted on my garments,
all my apparel I stained.
4For a day of vindication was in my heart,
my year for redeeming had come.#Is 34:8; 61:2.
5I looked about, but there was no one to help,
I was appalled that there was no one to lend support;
So my own arm brought me victory
and my own wrath lent me support.#Is 59:16.
6I trampled down the peoples in my anger,
I made them drunk in my wrath,
and I poured out their blood upon the ground.”
Prayer for the Return of God’s Favor
7#63:7–64:11] This lament of the exilic community recalls God’s protection, and especially the memories of the exodus (vv. 7–14), before begging the Lord to come once more to their aid (63:15–64:3), as they confess their sins (64:4–11). The prayer is marked by God’s “holy spirit” (63:10–11, 14) and fatherhood (63:8, 9, 16; 64:7). The loving deeds of the Lord I will recall,
the glorious acts of the Lord,
Because of all the Lord has done for us,
the immense goodness to the house of Israel,
Which he has granted according to his mercy
and his many loving deeds.#Is 26:15.
8He said: “They are indeed my people,
children who are not disloyal.”
So he became their savior
9in their every affliction.
It was not an envoy or a messenger,
but his presence that saved them.
Because of his love and pity
the Lord redeemed them,
Lifting them up and carrying them
all the days of old.#Dt 4:37–40.
10But they rebelled
and grieved his holy spirit;
So he turned to become their enemy,
and warred against them.#Dt 32:15; Ps 51:12.
11Then they remembered the days of old, of Moses, his servant:
Where is the one who brought up out of the sea
the shepherd of his flock?
Where is the one who placed in their midst
his holy spirit,#Heb 13:20.
12Who guided Moses by the hand,
with his glorious arm?
Where is the one who divided the waters before them—
winning for himself an everlasting renown—
13Who guided them through the depths,
like horses in open country?
14As cattle going down into the valley,
they did not stumble.
The spirit of the Lord guided them.
Thus you led your people,
to make for yourself a glorious name.
15Look down from heaven and regard us
from your holy and glorious palace!
Where is your zealous care and your might,
your surge of pity?#Dt 26:15; Bar 2:16.
Your mercy hold not back!
16For you are our father.
Were Abraham not to know us,
nor Israel to acknowledge us,
You, Lord, are our father,
our redeemer you are named from of old.
17Why do you make us wander, Lord, from your ways,
and harden our hearts so that we do not fear you?#The hardening of the heart (Ex 4:21; 7:3) serves to explain Israel’s sins—a motif to induce the Lord to relent.
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.
18Why have the wicked invaded your holy place,
why have our enemies trampled your sanctuary?
19#63:19–64:3] A new theophany, like Sinai of old, is invoked so that Israel’s enemies will be humbled by God’s intervention. Too long have we been like those you do not rule,
on whom your name is not invoked.
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
with the mountains quaking before you,#Ps 144:5; Mk 1:10.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Isaiah 63
63
Yahweh’s Day of Vengeance
1Who is this, coming from Edom,
from Bozrah in bright red garments?
Who is this honored in his garment,
lying down in his great strength?
“It is I, speaking in justice,
mighty#Literally “great” to save!”
2Why are your garments#Hebrew “garment” red,
and your garments like he who treads in the winepress?
3“I have trodden the winepress alone,
and there was no man from the peoples with me.
And I trod them in my anger,
and I trampled them in my wrath,
and spattered their juice on my garments,
and stained all my clothing,
4for the day of vengeance was in my heart,
and the year of my blood-vengeance has come!
5And I looked, but#Or “and” there was no helper,
and I was appalled, but#Or “and” there was no one who sustains,
so#Or “and” my arm came to assist me,
and my wrath was what#Literally “it” sustained me.
6And I trampled peoples in my anger,
and I made them drunk in my wrath,
and I brought their juice down to the earth.”
Remembering Yahweh’s Mercy
7I will mention the loyal love of Yahweh, the praises of Yahweh, according to all that Yahweh has done for us,
and the greatness of goodness to the house of Israel that he has done to them according to his mercy and the abundance of his loyal love.
8And he said, “Surely my people are children; they will not break faith.” And he became a Savior to them.
9In all their distress, there was no distress,#The reading tradition (Qere) has “he had distress”
and the messenger of his presence#Literally “face” saved them,
in his love and compassion he himself redeemed them,
and he lifted them up,
and he supported them all the days of old.
10But#Or “And” they were the ones who#Literally “they” rebelled,
and they grieved his Holy Spirit,#Literally “the spirit of his holiness”
so#Or “and” he became an enemy to them;#Literally “was changed to them to one who is hostile”
he himself fought against them.
11Then#Or “And” his people remembered the days of old, of Moses.
Where is the one who led up them from the sea with the shepherds of his flock?
Where is the one who puts his Holy Spirit#Literally “the spirit of his holiness” inside him,
12who made#Literally “bringing” his magnificent arm move at#Literally “to” the right hand of Moses,
who divided#Literally “dividing” the waters before them,#Literally “from their face”
to make an everlasting name for himself,
13who led#Literally “leading” them through the depths?
They did not stumble like a horse in the desert;
14like cattle in the valley that goes down, the Spirit of Yahweh gave him rest,#Literally “caused to rest”
so you lead your people to make a magnificent name for yourself.
Prayer for Mercy
15Look from heaven,
and see from the lofty residence of your holiness and glory.
Where are your zeal and strength?
Your compassion#Literally “The agitation of your intestines” and mercy to me hold themselves back.
16For you are our father, although Abraham does not know us,
and Israel does not acknowledge us.
You, Yahweh are our father,
Our Redeemer from of old is your name.
17Why do you make us wander, Yahweh?
You harden our heart from your ways so that we do not fear#Literally “from the fear of” you.
Turn back for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your inheritance.
18Your holy people#Literally “The people of your holiness” took possession for a little while;
our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary.
19We have been since antiquity; you did not rule them;
they were not called by your name.#Literally “your name was not called over them”
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