1 A message a23:1 Lit. An oracle concerning Tyre. “Wail, you ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is destroyed and is without house or harbor! From the land of Cyprus b23:1 Lit. of the Kittim it was revealed to them. ISV — Isaiah 23:1
2 “Be silent, c23:2 So 1QIsaa 4QIsaa MT; LXX reads To whom are they like? you inhabitants of the coast, you merchants of Sidon, whose messengers crossed over the sea, d23:2 So 1QIsaa 4QIsaa LXX; MT reads you whom the merchants of Sidon, passing over the sea, have replenished ISV — Isaiah 23:2
3 and were on mighty waters. Her revenue was the grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile; and she became the marketplace of nations. ISV — Isaiah 23:3
4 Be ashamed, Sidon, because the sea e23:4 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsaa MT read for he has spoken, the fortress of the sea: I have neither been in labor nor given birth, I have neither reared young men nor brought up young women.” ISV — Isaiah 23:4
5 When the news reaches Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report about Tyre. ISV — Isaiah 23:5
6 “You who are crossing over f23:6 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read Cross over to Tarshish— Wail, you inhabitants of the coast! ISV — Isaiah 23:6
7 Is this your exciting g23:7 Or happy city, that was founded long ago, whose feet carried her to settle in far-off lands? ISV — Isaiah 23:7
8 Who has planned this against Tyre, that bestower of crowns, whose merchants were princes, h23:8 So 1QIsaa corrector whose traders were the most renowned on earth? ISV — Isaiah 23:8
9 The LORD of the Heavenly Armies has planned it— to neutralize all the hubris of grandeur, i23:9 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads the hubris of all grandeur to discredit all the renowned men of earth. ISV — Isaiah 23:9
10 “Cultivate j23:10 Or Worship; so 1QIsaa LXX; 4QIsac MT read Pass through your land like the Nile, you daughter of Tarshish; for there is no longer a harbor. ISV — Isaiah 23:10
11 He has stretched out his hand over the sea; he has made k23:11 So 1QIsaa 4QIsaa MT LXX; 4QIsac reads to make kingdoms tremble. The LORD has issued orders concerning Canaan to destroy its strongholds. ISV — Isaiah 23:11
12 And he said: ‘You will revel no longer, l23:12 So 1QIsaa MT LXX; 4QIsac reads won’t take refuge to revel; or won’t revel with gusto you virgin daughter of Sidon, now crushed. Get up, cross over to Cyprus— but even there you will find no rest.’” ISV — Isaiah 23:12
13 “Look at the land of the Chaldeans! This is a people that no longer exist; Assyria destined her m23:13 i.e. Tyre for desert creatures. n23:13 Or demons They raised up her o23:13 So 1QIsaa; MT reads his siege towers, they stripped her fortresses bare and turned her into a ruin. ISV — Isaiah 23:13
14 Wail, you ships of Tarshish, because your p23:14 So 1QIsaa (sing.); MT LXX (pl.) stronghold is destroyed!” ISV — Isaiah 23:14
15 It will happen at that time that Tyre will be forgotten for 70 years, the span of a king’s life. Then, at the end of those 70 years, it will turn out for Tyre as in the prostitute’s song: q23:15 So 1QIsac MT LXX; 1QIsaa lacks that Tyre will be forgotten for 70 years, the span of a king’s life. Then, at the end of those 70 years ISV — Isaiah 23:15
16 “Take a harp; walk around the city, you forgotten whore! Make sweet melody; sing many songs, and perhaps you’ll be remembered.” ISV — Isaiah 23:16
17 At the end of 70 years, the LORD will deal with Tyre, at which time she’ll return to her courtesan’s trade, and prostitute herself with the kingdoms r23:17 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read all the kingdoms of the world on the surface of the earth. ISV — Isaiah 23:17
18 Nevertheless, her profits and her earnings will be dedicated s23:18 Or given to the LORD; they will not be stored up or hoarded—but her profits will go to those who live in the LORD’s presence, t23:18 So 1QIsaa MT; 4QIsac reads but will be for those who live in the LORD’s presence. And her profits will be for abundant food and choice clothing. ISV — Isaiah 23:18