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: from the land of Kittim it is revealed to them.

The burden of Tyre. Howl, you ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in. From the land of Kittim it is revealed to them.

2 Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.

Be still, you inhabitants of the coast, you whom the merchants of Sidon that pass over the sea have replenished.

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

On great waters, the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue. She was the market of nations.

4 Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, the strong hold of the sea; saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.

Be ashamed, Sidon; for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, “I have not travailed, nor given birth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.”

5 When the report cometh to Egypt, they shall be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

When the report comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report of Tyre.

6 Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.

Pass over to Tarshish! Wail, you inhabitants of the 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, whose feet carried her far away to travel?

8 Who hath purposed this against Tyre, the crowning [city], whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?

Who has planned this against Tyre, the giver of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honourable of the earth?

9 The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

The LORD of Hosts has planned it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

10 Pass through thy land as the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no girdle [about thee] any more.

Pass through your land like the Nile, daughter of Tarshish. There is no restraint any more.

11 He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, he hath shaken the kingdoms: the LORD hath given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strong holds thereof.

He has stretched out his hand over the sea. He has shaken the kingdoms. The LORD has ordered the destruction of Canaan’s strongholds.

12 And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Kittim; even there shalt thou have no rest.

He said, “You shall rejoice no more, you oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, pass over to Kittim. Even there you will have no rest.”

13 Behold, the land of the Chaldeans; this people is no more; the Assyrian hath appointed it for the beasts of the wilderness: they set up their towers, they overthrew the palaces thereof; he made it a ruin.

Behold, the land of the Kasdim. This people didn’t exist. The Assyrians founded it for those who dwell in the wilderness. They set up their towers. They overthrew its palaces. They made it a ruin.

14 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strong hold is laid waste.

Howl, you ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is laid waste!

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 unto Tyre as in the song of the harlot.

It will come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. After the end of seventy years it will be to Tyre like in the song of the prostitute.

16 Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.

Take a harp; go about the city, you prostitute that has been forgotten. Make sweet melody. Sing many songs, that you may be remembered.

17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall return to her hire, and shall play the harlot with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

It will happen after the end of seventy years that the LORD will visit Tyre. She will return to her wages, and will play the prostitute with all the kingdoms of the world on the surface of the earth.

18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

Her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to the LORD. It will not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.