International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1However, the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will once again choose Israel. He will settle them in their own land, and foreigners will join them, affiliating themselves with the house of Jacob.

1For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob.

2Many nations will take them and bring them to their land and their own place. The house of Israel will put those nations to conscripted labor in the LORD's land. They will take captive those who were their captors, and will rule continually over those who oppressed them.

2And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the LORD’s land as male and female slaves. They will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them.

3At the time, when the LORD gives you rest from your suffering, turmoil, and the cruel bondage which they forced you to serve,

3When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve,

4you will lift up this song of mockery against the king of Babylon: "How the oppressor has come to an end! How the attacker has ceased!

4you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: “How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased!

5The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers,

5The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers,

6that struck down peoples in anger with unceasing blows, that oppressed nations in fury with relentless persecution.

6that struck the peoples in wrath with unceasing blows, that ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution.

7The entire earth is at rest and peace; its inhabitants break into song.

7The whole earth is at rest and quiet; they break forth into singing.

8Even the cypresses rejoice over you, as do the cedars of Lebanon, saying, 'Now that you've been laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us.'

8The cypresses rejoice at you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us.’

9"The afterlife below is all astir to meet you when you arrive; it rouses up the spirits of the dead to greet you— everyone who used to be world leaders. It has raised up from their thrones all who used to be kings of the nations.

9Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations.

10In answer, all of them will tell you, 'You've also become as weak as we are! You have become just like us!'

10All of them will answer and say to you: ‘You too have become as weak as we! You have become like us!’

11Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the noise of your harps. Maggots are spread out beneath you, and worms are your covering."

11Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, the sound of your harps; maggots are laid as a bed beneath you, and worms are your covers.

12"How you have fallen from heaven, Day Star, son of the Dawn! How you have been thrown down to earth, you who laid low the nation!

12“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!

13You said in your heart, 'I'll ascend to heaven, above the stars of God. I'll erect my throne; I'll sit on the Mount of Assembly in the far reaches of the north;

13You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;

14I'll ascend above the tops of the clouds; I'll make myself like the Most High.'

14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

15But you are brought down to join the dead, to the far reaches of the Pit.

15But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

16"Those who see you will stare at you. They will wonder about you: 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who made kingdoms quake,

16Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms,

17who made the world like a desert, who destroyed its cities, who would not open the jails for his prisoners?'

17who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?’

18All the kings of the nations lie in state, each in his own tomb.

18All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb;

19But you are cast away from your grave, like a repulsive branch, your clothing is the slain, those pierced by the sword; those who go down to the Pit. Like a dead body trampled underfoot,

19but you are cast out, away from your grave, like a loathed branch, clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a dead body trampled underfoot.

20you will not be united with them in burial, for you have destroyed your land, you have slain your people. People will never mention the descendants of those who practice evil again!

20You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have slain your people. “May the offspring of evildoers nevermore be named!

21Prepare a massacre for his sons because of the guilt of their forefathers! They are not to rise and inherit the earth, and cover the surface of the world with cities."

21Prepare slaughter for his sons because of the guilt of their fathers, lest they rise and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities.”

22"I will rise up against them," declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, "and I will eliminate from Babylon her name and survivors, her offspring and descendants," declares the LORD.

22“I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, descendants and posterity,” declares the LORD.

23"And I'm going to make it a possession of the hedgehog—pools of water—and I'll sweep with the broom of destruction," declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.

23“And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of hosts.

24The LORD of the Heavenly Armies has sworn: "Surely as I have planned, that's what she will become; and just as I have determined, so will it remain—

24The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,

25to crush the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains I will trample him down. His yoke will turn away from you, and his burden from your shoulders."

25that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains trample him underfoot; and his yoke shall depart from them, and his burden from their shoulder.”

26"This is what I've planned for the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.

26This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.

27For the LORD of the Heavenly Armies has planned, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?"

27For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?

28In the year that King Ahaz died this message came:

28In the year that King Ahaz died came this oracle:

29"Don't rejoice, all of you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken, because from the snake's root a viper will spring up, and its offspring will be a darting, poisonous serpent.

29Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of you, that the rod that struck you is broken, for from the serpent’s root will come forth an adder, and its fruit will be a flying fiery serpent.

30The firstborn of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety; but I'll kill your root by famine, and I'll execute your survivors.

30And the firstborn of the poor will graze, and the needy lie down in safety; but I will kill your root with famine, and your remnant it will slay.

31Wail, you gate! Cry out, you city! Melt away, all you Philistines! For smoke comes from the north, and there's no one to take measure in its festivals.

31Wail, O gate; cry out, O city; melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you! For smoke comes out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks.

32How will they answer the messengers of the nation? "The LORD has founded Zion, and in it the afflicted among his people will find refuge."

32What will one answer the messengers of the nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge.”

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.