Isaiah 23

1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in. It is revealed to them from the land of Kittim.

The prophecy concerning Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste; No house, no entrance is left! From the land of the Chittaeans were the tidings brought to them.

2 Be still, ye inhabitants of the coast, thou whom the merchants of Sidon, who pass over the sea, have replenished.

Be amazed, ye inhabitants of the sea-coast, Which the merchants of Sidon, that pass over the sea, did crowd!

3 And on great waters the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue, and she was the mart of nations.

Upon the wide waters, the corn of the Nile, The harvest of the river, was her revenue; She was the mart of the nations.

4 Be thou ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.

Be thou ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea hath spoken, The fortress of the sea hath spoken thus: “I have not travailed, nor brought forth children; I have not nourished youths, nor brought up virgins.”

5 When the report comes to Egypt, they shall be greatly pained at the report of Tyre.

When the tidings shall reach Egypt, They shall be filled with anguish at the tidings concerning Tyre.

6 Pass ye over to Tarshish. Wail, ye inhabitants of the coast.

Pass ye over to Tarshish; Howl, ye inhabitants of the sea-coast!

7 Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her afar off to sojourn?

Is this your joyous city, Whose antiquity is of ancient days? Now her own feet bear her To sojourn far away.

8 Who has purposed this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants are rulers, whose traders are the honored of the earth?

Who hath purposed this against Tyre, The dispenser of crowns, Whose merchants are princes, Whose traders the nobles of the earth?

9 Jehovah of hosts has purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.

Jehovah of hosts hath purposed it, To bring down the pride of all glory, To humble the nobles of the earth.

10 Pass through thy land as the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish, there is no restraint any more.

Go over thy land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish! Now thy bonds are broken.

11 He has stretched out his hand over the sea. He has shaken the kingdoms. Jehovah has given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds of it.

He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, He hath made the kingdoms tremble; Jehovah hath given commandment concerning Canaan To destroy her strong holds.

12 And he said, Thou shall no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, pass over to Kittim, even there shall thou have no rest.

He hath said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, Thou ravished virgin, daughter of Sidon! Arise, pass over to the Chittaeans; Yet even there shalt thou have no rest.

13 Behold, the land of the Chaldeans. This people once was not. The Assyrian founded it for those who dwell in the wilderness. They set up their towers. They raised up the palaces of it. Then they made it a ruin.

Behold the land of the Chaldaeans, Who, not long ago, were not a people, —The Assyrian assigned it to the inhabitants of the wilderness, —They raise their watch-towers; They destroy her palaces; They make her a heap of ruins.

14 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is laid waste.

Howl, ye ships of Tarshish! For your stronghold is destroyed.

15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. After the end of seventy years it shall be to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:

And it shall come to pass in that day, That Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, According to the days of one king; But at the end of seventy years It shall be with Tyre as in the song of the harlot:

16 Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot who has been forgotten. Make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou may be remembered.

“Take thy lyre, go about the city, O harlot, long forgotten; Make sweet melody; sing many songs, That thou mayst again be remembered!”

17 And it came to pass after the end of seventy years, that Jehovah examined Tyre, and she has repented of her gift, that she play the harlot with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

At the end of seventy years shall Jehovah show regard to Tyre, And she shall return to her hire, And play the harlot with all the kingdoms of the world, That are upon the face of the earth.

18 And her merchandise and her pay shall be holiness to Jehovah. It shall not be treasured nor laid up, for her merchandise shall be for those who dwell before Jehovah, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

But her gain and her hire shall be holy to Jehovah; It shall not be treasured, nor laid up in store; But it shall be for them that dwell before Jehovah, For abundant food, and for splendid clothing.