Isaiah 63
The Lord is described as a warrior, returning from Edom with garments stained with the blood of his enemies, whom he has defeated in his anger and fury. He recalls his past lovingkindnesses and mercies towards the house of Israel, but notes that they rebelled against him and vexed his holy Spirit, leading him to become their enemy. The Lord is asked to look down from heaven and remember his people, who acknowledge him as their father and redeemer, and to return to them for their sake.
1Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?3I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.4For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.5And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.6And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.7I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.8For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.9In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.10But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.11Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?12That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?13That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?14As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.15Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?16Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.17O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.18The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.19We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.
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