Isaiah 10

1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers that write perverseness:

Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who write oppressive decrees

2 to turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right of the poor of my people, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!

to deprive the needy of justice, and to rob the poor amongst my people of their rights, that widows may be their plunder, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!

3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

What will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

4 They shall only bow down under the prisoners, and shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

They will only bow down under the prisoners, and will fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

5 Ho Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in whose hand is mine indignation!

Alas Assyrian, the rod of my anger, the staff in whose hand is my indignation!

6 I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people who anger me I will give him a command to take the plunder and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few.

However, he doesn’t mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations.

8 For he saith, Are not my princes all of them kings?

For he says, “Aren’t all of my princes kings?

9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?

Isn’t Calno like Carchemish? Isn’t Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t Samaria like Damascus?”

10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose engraved images exceeded those of Jerusalem and of Samaria,

11 shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

shall I not, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

Therefore it will happen that when the Lord has performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the wilful proud heart of the king of Assyria, and the insolence of his arrogant looks.

13 For he hath said, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures, and I have brought down as a valiant man them that sit [on thrones]:

For he has said, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding. I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures. Like a valiant man I have brought down their rulers.

14 and my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the peoples; and as one gathereth eggs that are forsaken, have I gathered all the earth: and there was none that moved the wing, or that opened the mouth, or chirped.

My hand has found the riches of the peoples like a nest, and like one gathers eggs that are abandoned, I have gathered all the earth. There was no one who moved their wing, or that opened their mouth, or chirped.”

15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if a rod should shake them that lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up [him that is] not wood.

Should an axe brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood.

16 Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory there shall be kindled a burning like the burning of fire.

Therefore the Lord, GOD of Hosts, will send amongst his fat ones leanness; and under his glory a burning will be kindled like the burning of fire.

17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.

The light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.

18 And he shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and it shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth.

He will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, both soul and body. It will be as when a standard bearer faints.

19 And the remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.

The remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few, so that a child could write their number.

20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and they that are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.

It will come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and those who have escaped from the house of Jacob will no more again lean on him who struck them, but shall lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.

21 A remnant shall return, [even] the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.

A remnant will return, even the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, [only] a remnant of them shall return: a consumption [is] determined, overflowing with righteousness.

For though your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.

23 For a consummation, and that determined, shall the Lord, the LORD of hosts, make in the midst of all the earth.

For the Lord, GOD of Hosts, will make a full end, and that determined, throughout all the earth.

24 Therefore thus saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: though he smite thee with the rod, and lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.

Therefore the Lord, GOD of Hosts, says, “My people who dwell in Zion, don’t be afraid of the Assyrian, though he strike you with the rod, and lift up his staff against you, as Egypt did.

25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall be accomplished, and mine anger, in their destruction.

For yet a very little while, and the indignation against you will be accomplished, and my anger will be directed to his destruction.”

26 And the LORD of hosts shall stir up against him a scourge, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and his rod shall be over the sea, and he shall lift it up after the manner of Egypt.

The LORD of Hosts will stir up a scourge against him, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb. His rod will be over the sea, and he will lift it up like he did against Egypt.

27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall depart from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

It will happen in that day that his burden will depart from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing oil.

28 He is come to Aiath, he is passed through Migron; at Michmash he layeth up his baggage:

He has come to Aiath. He has passed through Migron. At Michmash he stores his baggage.

29 they are gone over the pass; they have taken up their lodging at Geba: Ramah trembleth; Gibeah of Saul is fled.

They have gone over the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saul has fled.

30 Cry aloud with thy voice, O daughter of Gallim! hearken, O Laishah! O thou poor Anathoth!

Cry aloud with your voice, daughter of Gallim! Listen, Laishah! You poor Anathoth!

31 Madmenah is a fugitive; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.

Madmenah is a fugitive. The inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.

32 This very day shall he halt at Nob: he shaketh his hand at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

This very day he will halt at Nob. He shakes his hand at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the boughs with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the lofty shall be brought low.

Behold, the Lord, GOD of Hosts, will lop the boughs with terror. The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.

34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.

He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.