< Isaiah 63 >
1 Who [is] this coming from Edom? With dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is honorable in His clothing, Traveling in the abundance of His power? “I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.”
[I ask], “Who is this who is coming from Bozrah [city] in Edom, whose clothes are stained red [from blood]? Who is this who is wearing beautiful robes?” [He replies], “It is I, [Yahweh], declaring that I have defeated [your enemies], and I am able to rescue you!”
2 Why [is] Your clothing red? And Your garments as treading in a winepress?
[I ask him], “What are those red spots on your clothes? It appears that [SIM] you have been treading/tramping on grapes [to make wine].”
3 “I have trodden a wine vat by Myself, And of the peoples there is no one with Me, And I tread them in My anger, And I trample them in My fury, Their strength is sprinkled on My garments, And I have defiled all My clothing.
[He replies], “I have been treading on [my enemies, not] on grapes. I did it myself; no one helped me. I punished them because I was very angry with them, and my clothes became stained with their blood.
4 For the day of vengeance [is] in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come.
I did that because it was time for me [SYN] to get revenge; it was time to rescue [my people from those who had oppressed them].
5 And I look attentively, and there is none helping, And I am astonished that there is none supporting, And My own arm gives salvation to Me. And My wrath—it has supported Me.
I searched for someone who would enable me to help [my people], but I was amazed/shocked that there was no one to help me. So I defeated [their enemies] with my own power/strength [MTY]; I was able [PRS] to do that because of my being very angry.
6 And I tread down peoples in My anger, And I make them drunk in My fury, And I bring down their strength to earth.”
Because I was extremely angry, I punished the nations; I caused them [to stagger like] [MET] drunk men, and I caused their blood to pour out on the ground.”
7 I make mention of the kind acts of YHWH, The praises of YHWH, According to all that YHWH has done for us, And the abundance of the goodness to the house of Israel, That He has done for them, According to His mercies, And according to the abundance of His kind acts.
I will tell about Yahweh faithfully loving his people, and I will praise him for all that he has done. Yahweh has done good things for [us] people [MTY] of Israel; he has acted mercifully toward us, and he has steadfastly and faithfully loved us.
8 And He says, “Surely they [are] My people, Sons—they do not lie,” and He is to them for a Savior.
Yahweh said, “These are my people; they will not deceive me;” so he rescued us.
9 In all their distress [He is] no adversary, And the Messenger of His Presence saved them, In His love and in His pity He redeemed them, And He lifts them up, And carries them all the days of old.
When we had many troubles, he was sad [also]. He sent his angel to rescue us. Because he loved us and was merciful to us, he saved us; [it was as though] he picked our ancestors up and carried them all those years [during which they were oppressed in Egypt].
10 And they have been rebellious and have grieved His Holy Spirit, And He turns to them for an enemy, He Himself has fought against them.
But we rebelled against him, and we caused his Holy Spirit to be sad. So he became [like] [MET] an enemy who fought against us.
11 And He remembers the days of old, Moses—his people. Where [is] He who is bringing them up from the sea, The shepherd of His flock? Where [is] He who is putting in its midst His Holy Spirit?
Then we thought about [what happened] long ago, during the time when Moses led [our ancestors out of Egypt]. We cried out, “Where is the one who brought our ancestors through the [Red] Sea while Moses led them? Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit to be among our ancestors?
12 Leading by the right hand of Moses, the arm of His glory, Cleaving waters from before them, To make to Himself a continuous Name.
Where is the one who showed his glorious power [MTY], and caused the water to separate when Moses lifted his arm above it, with the result that he will be honored/praised forever?
13 Leading them through the depths, They do not stumble as a horse in a plain.
Where is the one who led our ancestors while they walked through the sea bed? They were like [SIM] horses that were racing along and never stumbled.
14 As a beast goes down into a valley, The Spirit of YHWH causes him to rest, So You have led Your people, To make to Yourself a glorious Name.
They were like [SIM] cattle that walk down into a valley [to rest], and the Spirit of Yahweh enabled them to go to a place where they could rest. Yahweh, you led your people, and you caused yourself [MTY] to (get a wonderful reputation/be greatly honored).”
15 Look attentively from the heavens, And see from Your holy and beautiful habitation, Where [is] Your zeal and Your might? The multitude of Your bowels and Your mercies—Are they restrained?
[Yahweh], look down from heaven; look down on us from your holy and glorious home. You were [RHQ] previously very concerned [about us], and you acted powerfully [to help us]. But it seems that you do not act mercifully and zealously for us any more.
16 For You [are] our Father, For Abraham has not known us, And Israel does not acknowledge us, You, O YHWH, [are] our Father, Our Redeemer from the Age, [is] Your Name.
You are our father. Abraham does not know [what is happening to] us, and Jacob is not concerned about us, [either], but Yahweh, you are our father; you rescued us long ago.
17 Why cause us to wander, O YHWH, from Your ways? You harden our heart from Your fear, Turn back for Your servants’ sake, The tribes of Your inheritance.
Yahweh, why did you cause us to wander away from your road [RHQ]? Why did you cause us to be stubborn, with the result that we no [longer] revere you [RHQ]? Help us like you did previously, because we are the people who serve you and belong to you.
18 For a little while Your holy people possessed, Our adversaries have trodden down Your sanctuary.
We, your holy people, possessed your sacred temple for only a short time, [and now] our enemies have destroyed it.
19 We have been from of old, You have not ruled over them, Your Name is not called on them!
Now it seems as though we never were ruled by you, as though we were never part of your family [MTY].