Isaiah 33:1–13

A Prayer in Deep Distress

33Woe to you ^awho plunder, though you have not been plundered;

And you who deal treacherously, though they have not dealt treacherously with you!

^bWhen you cease plundering,

You will be ^cplundered;

When you make an end of dealing treacherously,

They will deal treacherously with you.

²O Lord, be gracious to us;

^dWe have waited for You.

Be ¹their arm every morning,

Our salvation also in the time of trouble.

³At the noise of the tumult the people ^eshall flee;

When You lift Yourself up, the nations shall be scattered;

⁴And Your plunder shall be gathered

Like the gathering of the caterpillar;

As the running to and fro of locusts,

He shall run upon them.

^5fThe Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high;

He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

⁶Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,

And the strength of salvation;

The fear of the Lord is His treasure.

⁷Surely their valiant ones shall cry outside,

^gThe ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

^8hThe highways lie waste,

The traveling man ceases.

ⁱHe has broken the covenant,

²He has despised the ³cities,

He regards no man.

^9jThe earth mourns and languishes,

Lebanon is shamed and shriveled;

Sharon is like a wilderness,

And Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.

Impending Judgment on Zion

¹⁰“Now ^kI will rise,” says the Lord;

“Now I will be exalted,

Now I will lift Myself up.

^11lYou shall conceive chaff,

You shall bring forth stubble;

Your breath, as fire, shall devour you.

¹²And the people shall be like the burnings of lime;

^mLike thorns cut up they shall be burned in the fire.

¹³Hear, ⁿyou who are afar off, what I have done;

And you who are near, acknowledge My might.”