Isaiah 42:21–24

21 It pleased the Lord

for the sake of his righteousness

to make his law great and glorious.

22 But this is a people plundered and looted,

all of them trapped in pits

or hidden away in prisons.

They have become plunder,

with no one to rescue them;

they have been made loot,

with no one to say, “Send them back.”

23 Which of you will listen to this

or pay close attention in time to come?

24 Who handed Jacob over to become loot,

and Israel to the plunderers?

Was it not the Lord,

against whom we have sinned?

For they would not follow his ways;

they did not obey his law.

21 The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness’ sake,

to magnify his law and make it glorious.

22 But this is a people plundered and looted;

they are all of them trapped in holes

and hidden in prisons;

they have become plunder with none to rescue,

spoil with none to say, “Restore!”

23 Who among you will give ear to this,

will attend and listen for the time to come?

24 Who gave up Jacob to the looter,

and Israel to the plunderers?

Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned,

in whose ways they would not walk,

and whose law they would not obey?

21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake;

He will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled;

They are all of them snared in holes,

And they are hid in prison houses:

They are for a prey, and none delivereth;

For a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

23 Who among you will give ear to this?

Who will hearken and hear for the time to come?

24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers?

Did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned?

For they would not walk in his ways,

Neither were they obedient unto his law.

21 Because he is righteous,

the Lord has exalted his glorious law.

22 But his own people have been robbed and plundered,

enslaved, imprisoned, and trapped.

They are fair game for anyone

and have no one to protect them,

no one to take them back home.

23 Who will hear these lessons from the past

and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?

24 Who allowed Israel to be robbed and hurt?

It was the Lord, against whom we sinned,

for the people would not walk in his path,

nor would they obey his law.

21 The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake;

He will exalt the law and make it honorable.

22 But this is a people robbed and plundered;

All of them are snared in holes,

And they are hidden in prison houses;

They are for prey, and no one delivers;

For plunder, and no one says, “Restore!”

23 Who among you will give ear to this?

Who will listen and hear for the time to come?

24 Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers?

Was it not the Lord,

He against whom we have sinned?

For they would not walk in His ways,

Nor were they obedient to His law.

21 The Lord made his teachings wonderful,

because he is good.

22 These people have been defeated and robbed.

They are trapped in pits

or locked up in prison.

Like robbers, enemies have taken them away,

and there is no one to save them.

Enemies carried them off,

and no one said, “Bring them back.”

23 Will any of you listen to this?

Will you listen carefully in the future?

24 Who let the people of Jacob be carried off?

Who let robbers take Israel away?

The Lord allowed this to happen,

because we sinned against him.

We did not live the way he wanted us to live

and did not obey his teaching.

21 It pleased Jehovah, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable. 22 But this is a people robbed and plundered; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

23 Who is there among you that will give ear to this? that will hearken and hear for the time to come? 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not Jehovah? he against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient unto his law.

21 Jehovah had delight in him for his righteousness’ sake: he hath magnified the law, and made it honourable. 22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and hidden in prison-houses; they are become a prey, and none delivereth, —a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 23 Who among you will give ear to this, who will hearken and hear what is to come? 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not Jehovah, he against whom we have sinned? And they would not walk in his ways, neither did they hearken unto his law.

21 The Lord is pleased because he does what is right. 

He praises the greatness of his teachings and makes them glorious. 

22 But these people are robbed and looted. 

They are all trapped in pits and hidden in prisons. 

They have become prey with no one to rescue them. 

They have become loot with no one to say, “Give it back.” 

23 Who among you will listen to this? 

Is there anyone who will pay attention and listen in the future? 

24 Who gave Jacob away as loot 

and handed Israel over to robbers? 

Wasn’t it the Lord, against whom we have sinned? 

They didn’t want to live his way. 

They didn’t obey his teachings. 

21 The Lord was pleased, because of His righteousness,

to magnify His instruction and make it glorious.

22 But this is a people plundered and looted,

all of them trapped in holes

or imprisoned in dungeons.

They have become plunder

with no one to rescue them

and loot, with no one saying, “Give it back!”

23 Who among you will pay attention to this?

Let him listen and obey in the future.

24 Who gave Jacob to the robber,

and Israel to the plunderers?

Was it not the Lord?

Have we not sinned against Him?

They were not willing to walk in His ways,

and they would not listen to His instruction.

21 The Lord was pleased, for the sake of his righteousness,

to magnify his teaching and make it glorious.

22 But this is a people robbed and plundered;

all of them are trapped in holes

and hidden in prisons;

they have become a prey with no one to rescue,

a spoil with no one to say, “Restore!”

23 Who among you will give heed to this;

who will attend and listen for the time to come?

24 Who gave up Jacob to the spoiler

and Israel to the robbers?

Was it not the Lord, against whom they sinned,

in whose ways they would not walk,

and whose law they would not obey?

21 Yahweh was willing for the sake of his righteousness;

he showed his teaching to be great and proved it to be glorious.

22 But this is a people plundered and looted; all of them are trapped in holes,

and they are kept hidden in houses of imprisonment.

They have become like plunder, and there is no one who saves;

like booty, and there is no one who says, “Restore!”

23 Who among you will heed this,

will listen attentively and listen, for the time to come?

24 Who gave Jacob to a plunderer

and Israel to those who plunder?

Was it not Yahweh, against whom we have sinned?

And they were not willing to walk in his ways,

and they would not obey his law.

21 The Lord wanted his people to see

how great and glorious his law is.

He wanted to show them

that he always does what is right.

22 Enemies have carried off everything they own.

All of my people are trapped in pits

or hidden away in prisons.

They themselves have become like stolen goods.

No one can save them.

They have been carried off.

And there is no one who will say, “Send them back.”

23 Family of Jacob, who among you will listen to what I’m saying?

People of Israel, which one of you will pay close attention in days to come?

24 Who allowed you to be carried off like stolen goods?

Who handed you over to robbers?

The Lord did it!

We have sinned against him.

Israel, you wouldn’t follow his ways.

You didn’t obey his law.