Isaiah 23:1–6

The oracle concerning Tyre.

Wail, O ships of Tarshish,

for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor!

From the land of Cyprus

it is revealed to them.

Be still, O inhabitants of the coast;

the merchants of Sidon, who cross the sea, have filled you.

And on many waters

your revenue was the grain of Shihor,

the harvest of the Nile;

you were the merchant of the nations.

Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken,

the stronghold of the sea, saying:

“I have neither labored nor given birth,

I have neither reared young men

nor brought up young women.”

When the report comes to Egypt,

they will be in anguish over the report about Tyre.

Cross over to Tarshish;

wail, O inhabitants of the coast!

A prophecy against Tyre:

Wail, you ships of Tarshish!

For Tyre is destroyed

and left without house or harbor.

From the land of Cyprus

word has come to them.

Be silent, you people of the island

and you merchants of Sidon,

whom the seafarers have enriched.

On the great waters

came the grain of the Shihor;

the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre,

and she became the marketplace of the nations.

Be ashamed, Sidon, and you fortress of the sea,

for the sea has spoken:

“I have neither been in labor nor given birth;

I have neither reared sons nor brought up daughters.”

When word comes to Egypt,

they will be in anguish at the report from Tyre.

Cross over to Tarshish;

wail, you people of the island.

A pronouncement concerning Tyre:

Wail, ships of Tarshish,

for your haven has been destroyed.

Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus.

Mourn, inhabitants of the coastland,

you merchants of Sidon;

your agents have crossed the sea

over deep water.

Tyre’s revenue was the grain from Shihor—

the harvest of the Nile.

She was the merchant among the nations.

Be ashamed, Sidon, the stronghold of the sea,

for the sea has spoken:

“I have not been in labor or given birth.

I have not raised young men

or brought up young women.”

When the news reaches Egypt,

they will be in anguish over the news about Tyre.

Cross over to Tarshish;

wail, inhabitants of the coastland!

This message came to me concerning Tyre:

Wail, you trading ships of Tarshish,

for the harbor and houses of Tyre are gone!

The rumors you heard in Cyprus

are all true.

Mourn in silence, you people of the coast

and you merchants of Sidon.

Your traders crossed the sea,

sailing over deep waters.

They brought you grain from Egypt

and harvests from along the Nile.

You were the marketplace of the world.

But now you are put to shame, city of Sidon,

for Tyre, the fortress of the sea, says,

“Now I am childless;

I have no sons or daughters.”

When Egypt hears the news about Tyre,

there will be great sorrow.

Send word now to Tarshish!

Wail, you people who live in distant lands!

The oracle of Tyre:

Wail, ships of Tarshish, for the house is destroyed so that no one can enter;

it is announced to them from the land of Cyprus.

Be still, inhabitants of the coast,

merchant of Sidon, who travels over the sea, they filled you.

And on the great waters is the seed of Shihor,

the harvest of the Nile is its produce,

and she was the merchandise of the nations.

Be ashamed, Sidon, for the sea,

the fortress of the sea said, saying,

“I was not in labor,

and I have not given birth,

and I have not reared young men,

brought up young women.”

When the report comes to Egypt,

they will be in anguish at the report about Tyre.

Cross over to Tarshish!

Wail, inhabitants of the coast!

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 Chittim it is revealed to them.

Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle;

Thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.

And by great waters the seed of Sihor,

The harvest of the river, is her revenue;

And she is a mart of nations.

Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken,

Even the strength of the sea, saying,

I travail not, nor bring forth children,

Neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.

As at the report concerning Egypt,

So shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

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