Isaiah

CHAPTER 25

Praise for God’s Deliverance and the Celebration in Zion^*

I extol you, I praise your name;

For you have carried out your wonderful plans of old,

faithful and true.^a

the fortified city a ruin,

The castle of the insolent, a city no more,

not ever to be rebuilt.^b

ruthless nations will fear you.

a refuge to the needy in their distress;

Shelter from the rain,

shade from the heat.^c

When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rain,

You subdued the heat with the shade of a cloud,

the rain of the tyrants was vanquished.

will provide for all peoples

A feast of rich food and choice wines,

juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.

the veil that veils all peoples,

The web that is woven over all nations.

The Lord GOD will wipe away

the tears from all faces;

The reproach of his people he will remove

from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.^d

“Indeed, this is our God; we looked to him, and he saved us!

This is the LORD to whom we looked;

let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”^e

Judgment on Moab^*

but Moab will be trodden down

as straw is trodden down in the mire.^f

as a swimmer spreads out his hands to swim;

His pride will be brought low

despite his strokes.^g

bringing it low, leveling it to the ground, to the very dust.^h

* [25:1–9] These verses praise God for carrying out his plan to destroy the enemy and to save the poor of his people in Zion (14:32), and they announce the victory banquet to be celebrated in the Lord’s city.

* [25:6] This mountain: i.e., Jerusalem’s mountain, Zion.

* [25:10–12] Moab: one of Israel’s bitterest enemies.

a. [25:1] Is 12:1, 4; 22:11; 28:29; 37:26.

b. [25:2] Is 17:1; Jer 51:37.

c. [25:4] Is 14:32; 32:2; Na 1:7.

d. [25:8] Is 60:1, 3; 1 Cor 15:53–55; Rev 7:17; 21:4.

e. [25:9] Is 30:18–19.

f. [25:10] Zep 2:9–10.

g. [25:11] Is 16:6–7, 14.

h. [25:12] Is 26:5.