Old Testament · Isaiah

Isaiah 63

God’s Vengeance on the Nations

1Who is this who comes from Edom, with crimsoned garments from Bozrah? This one majestic in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? "It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save^a."
2"Why is there red on your apparel, and your garments like one who treads in the winevat?"
3"A winepress I have trodden alone, and from the peoples there was no man^b with me; and I trod them in my anger, and I trampled them in my fury; and their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and I stained all my raiment.
4For a day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come.
5And I looked, and there was none helping, and I was astonished, and there was none upholding; therefore my own arm saved me, and my fury, it upheld me.
6And I trod down peoples in my anger, and made them drunk in my fury, and I brought down their lifeblood to the earth."

God’s Mercies Recalled

7The kindnesses of the LORD I will make mention, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has bestowed on us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel, which he bestowed on them according to his compassions, and according to the abundance of his kindnesses.
8And he said, "Surely they are my people, sons who will not deal falsely"; and he became to them a Savior.
9In 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 lifted them up and bore them all the days of old.
10But they rebelled and grieved his holy spirit^c; therefore he turned to be their enemy, he himself fought against them.
11Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people: Where is he who brought them up from the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his holy spirit?
12who led at the right hand of Moses the arm of his glory, who split the waters before them, to make for himself an everlasting name?
13who led them through the deeps, like the horse in the wilderness they did not stumble?
14Like the cattle that goes down into the valley, the spirit of the LORD caused them to rest; so you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name.

A Prayer for Mercy

(Jeremiah 14:19–22)

15Look down from heaven and see, from the lofty dwelling of your holiness and your glory. Where is your zeal and your mighty acts? The yearning of your inward parts and your compassions toward me are restrained.
16For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from of old is your name.
17Why, O LORD, do you make us wander from your ways, and harden our heart from your fear? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance.
18For a little while your holy people possessed it; our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary.
19We have become as those over whom from of old you have not ruled, over whom your name was not called. Oh that you would rend the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains would quake before you—