Isaiah 23

1 The prophecy concerning Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste; No house, no entrance is left! From the land of the Chittaeans were the tidings brought to them.

The burden of Tyre. Howl, you ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in. From the land of Kittim it is revealed to them.

2 Be amazed, ye inhabitants of the sea-coast, Which the merchants of Sidon, that pass over the sea, did crowd!

Be still, you inhabitants of the coast, you whom the merchants of Sidon that pass over the sea have replenished.

3 Upon the wide waters, the corn of the Nile, The harvest of the river, was her revenue; She was the mart of the nations.

On great waters, the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue. She was the market of nations.

4 Be thou ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea hath spoken, The fortress of the sea hath spoken thus: “I have not travailed, nor brought forth children; I have not nourished youths, nor brought up virgins.”

Be ashamed, Sidon; for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, “I have not travailed, nor given birth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.”

5 When the tidings shall reach Egypt, They shall be filled with anguish at the tidings concerning Tyre.

When the report comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report of Tyre.

6 Pass ye over to Tarshish; Howl, ye inhabitants of the sea-coast!

Pass over to Tarshish! Wail, you inhabitants of the coast!

7 Is this your joyous city, Whose antiquity is of ancient days? Now her own feet bear her To sojourn far away.

Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her far away to travel?

8 Who hath purposed this against Tyre, The dispenser of crowns, Whose merchants are princes, Whose traders the nobles of the earth?

Who has planned this against Tyre, the giver of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honourable of the earth?

9 Jehovah of hosts hath purposed it, To bring down the pride of all glory, To humble the nobles of the earth.

The LORD of Hosts has planned it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

10 Go over thy land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish! Now thy bonds are broken.

Pass through your land like the Nile, daughter of Tarshish. There is no restraint any more.

11 He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, He hath made the kingdoms tremble; Jehovah hath given commandment concerning Canaan To destroy her strong holds.

He has stretched out his hand over the sea. He has shaken the kingdoms. The LORD has ordered the destruction of Canaan’s strongholds.

12 He hath said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, Thou ravished virgin, daughter of Sidon! Arise, pass over to the Chittaeans; Yet even there shalt thou have no rest.

He said, “You shall rejoice no more, you oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, pass over to Kittim. Even there you will have no rest.”

13 Behold the land of the Chaldaeans, Who, not long ago, were not a people, —The Assyrian assigned it to the inhabitants of the wilderness, —They raise their watch-towers; They destroy her palaces; They make her a heap of ruins.

Behold, the land of the Kasdim. This people didn’t exist. The Assyrians founded it for those who dwell in the wilderness. They set up their towers. They overthrew its palaces. They made it a ruin.

14 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish! For your stronghold is destroyed.

Howl, you ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is laid waste!

15 And it shall come to pass in that day, That Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, According to the days of one king; But at the end of seventy years It shall be with Tyre as in the song of the harlot:

It will come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. After the end of seventy years it will be to Tyre like in the song of the prostitute.

16 “Take thy lyre, go about the city, O harlot, long forgotten; Make sweet melody; sing many songs, That thou mayst again be remembered!”

Take a harp; go about the city, you prostitute that has been forgotten. Make sweet melody. Sing many songs, that you may be remembered.

17 At the end of seventy years shall Jehovah show regard to Tyre, And she shall return to her hire, And play the harlot with all the kingdoms of the world, That are upon the face of the earth.

It will happen after the end of seventy years that the LORD will visit Tyre. She will return to her wages, and will play the prostitute with all the kingdoms of the world on the surface of the earth.

18 But her gain and her hire shall be holy to Jehovah; It shall not be treasured, nor laid up in store; But it shall be for them that dwell before Jehovah, For abundant food, and for splendid clothing.

Her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to the LORD. It will not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.