the Fourth Week of Advent
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George Lamsa Translation
Isaiah 23
1 THE prophecy concerning the fall of Tyre. Howl, O ships of Tarshish! for he who brings merchandise is plundered; from the land of China the news has been revealed to us.2 Be still, O inhabitants of the islands, the merchants of Zidon that passed over the sea.3 Your commerce is on many waters, O offspring of merchants; the harvest of the river is her revenue, and she is a mart of nations.4 Be ashamed, O Zidon; for the sea has spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I have neither been in travail nor have I given birth to children, neither have I reared young men nor brought up virgins.5 When the news reaches Egypt, they will be in pain over the report of Tyre.6 Pass over to Tarshish; howl, O you inhabitants of the islands.7 Is this your mighty city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? Her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.8 Who has taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honorable of the earth?9 The LORD of hosts has purposed it, to bring to an end the glory of every mighty man and to bring into dishonor all the honorable men of the earth.10 Pass through your land like a river, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no one to drive you away.11 He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms; the LORD has given a commandment against Canaan to destroy its mighty men.12 And he said, You shall no more become mighty, O you oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon; arise, pass over to China; there also you shall have no rest.13 Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this is the people, and not the Assyrians, who destroyed it; they appointed spies who spied on her palaces, and they brought it to ruin.14 Howl, O ships of Tarshish; for your stronghold is plundered.
15 And it shall come to pass in that day that Tyre shall be forgotten for seventy years, according to the days of one king; after the end of seventy years they shall sing to Tyre a harlots song.16 Take a harp, go about the city, O you harlot that has been forgotten; play sweet melodies, sing many songs, that you may be remembered.17 And it shall come to pass at the end of seventy years that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her traffic and commit fornications with all the kingdoms that are upon the face of the earth.18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be sanctified to the LORD; it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat abundantly, and replace their old garments with new ones.