Isaiah 33
The Lord warns that those who have spoiled and dealt treacherously with others will eventually be spoiled and dealt with treacherously themselves. The people cry out to the Lord for salvation and protection, and He responds by exalting Himself and filling Zion with judgment and righteousness. The wicked will be punished, while the righteous will be protected and dwell in a place of safety and provision. The Lord will be the judge, lawgiver, and king, saving His people and forgiving their iniquity.
1Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.2O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.3At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.4And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.5The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.6And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.7Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.8The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.9The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.10Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.11Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.12And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.13Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.14The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?15He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;16He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.17Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.18Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?19Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.20Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.21But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.22For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.23Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.24And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
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