Isaiah 63

1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

[I ask], “Who is this who is coming from Bozrah [city] in Edom, whose clothes are stained red [from blood]? Who is this who is wearing beautiful robes?” [He replies], “It is I, [Yahweh], declaring that I have defeated [your enemies], and I am able to rescue you!”

2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

[I ask him], “What are those red spots on your clothes? It appears that [SIM] you have been treading/tramping on grapes [to make wine].”

3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my fury; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment.

[He replies], “I have been treading on [my enemies, not] on grapes. I did it myself; no one helped me. I punished them because I was very angry with them, and my clothes became stained with their blood.

4 For the day of vengeance was in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

I did that because it was time for me [SYN] to get revenge; it was time to rescue [my people from those who had oppressed them].

5 And 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.

I searched for someone who would enable me to help [my people], but I was amazed/shocked that there was no one to help me. So I defeated [their enemies] with my own power/strength [MTY]; I was able [PRS] to do that because of my being very angry.

6 And I trod down the peoples in mine anger, and made them drunk in my fury, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.

Because I was extremely angry, I punished the nations; I caused them [to stagger like] [MET] drunk men, and I caused their blood to pour out on the ground.”

7 I will make mention of 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.

I will tell about Yahweh faithfully loving his people, and I will praise him for all that he has done. Yahweh has done good things for [us] people [MTY] of Israel; he has acted mercifully toward us, and he has steadfastly and faithfully loved us.

8 For he said, Surely, they are my people, children that will not deal falsely: so he was their saviour.

Yahweh said, “These are my people; they will not deceive me;” so he rescued us.

9 In 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.

When we had many troubles, he was sad [also]. He sent his angel to rescue us. Because he loved us and was merciful to us, he saved us; [it was as though] he picked our ancestors up and carried them all those years [during which they were oppressed in Egypt].

10 But they rebelled, and grieved his holy spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, [and] himself fought against them.

But we rebelled against him, and we caused his Holy Spirit to be sad. So he became [like] [MET] an enemy who fought against us.

11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, [and] his people, [saying], Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? where is he that put his holy spirit in the midst of them?

Then we thought about [what happened] long ago, during the time when Moses led [our ancestors out of Egypt]. We cried out, “Where is the one who brought our ancestors through the [Red] Sea while Moses led them? Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit to be among our ancestors?

12 that caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? that divided the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

Where is the one who showed his glorious power [MTY], and caused the water to separate when Moses lifted his arm above it, with the result that he will be honored/praised forever?

13 that led them through the depths, as an horse in the wilderness, that they stumbled not?

Where is the one who led our ancestors while they walked through the sea bed? They were like [SIM] horses that were racing along and never stumbled.

14 As the cattle that go down into the valley, the spirit of the LORD caused them to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

They were like [SIM] cattle that walk down into a valley [to rest], and the Spirit of Yahweh enabled them to go to a place where they could rest. Yahweh, you led your people, and you caused yourself [MTY] to (get a wonderful reputation/be greatly honored).”

15 Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy mighty acts? the yearning of thy bowels and thy compassions are restrained toward me.

[Yahweh], look down from heaven; look down on us from your holy and glorious home. You were [RHQ] previously very concerned [about us], and you acted powerfully [to help us]. But it seems that you do not act mercifully and zealously for us any more.

16 For thou art our father, though Abraham knoweth us not, and Israel doth not acknowledge us: thou, O LORD, art our father; our redeemer from everlasting is thy name.

You are our father. Abraham does not know [what is happening to] us, and Jacob is not concerned about us, [either], but Yahweh, you are our father; you rescued us long ago.

17 O LORD, why dost thou make us to err from thy ways, and hardenest our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

Yahweh, why did you cause us to wander away from your road [RHQ]? Why did you cause us to be stubborn, with the result that we no [longer] revere you [RHQ]? Help us like you did previously, because we are the people who serve you and belong to you.

18 Thy holy people possessed [it] but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.

We, your holy people, possessed your sacred temple for only a short time, [and now] our enemies have destroyed it.

19 We are become as they over whom thou never barest rule; as they that were not called by thy name.

Now it seems as though we never were ruled by you, as though we were never part of your family [MTY].