Isaiah 22:13

Updated Bible Version

but saw joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
But look, everyone was happy. The people rejoiced, saying, "Kill the cattle and sheep, and let's celebrate. Let's eat meat and drink wine. Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

New Living Translation
But instead, you dance and play; you slaughter cattle and kill sheep. You feast on meat and drink wine. You say, "Let's feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!"

New Century Version
But look, the people are happy and are having wild parties. They kill the cattle and the sheep; they eat the food and drink the wine. They say, "Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we will die."

New English Translation
But look, there is outright celebration! You say, "Kill the ox and slaughter the sheep, eat meat and drink wine. Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"

Webster's Bible Translation
And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we shall die.

World English Bible
and behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die.

Amplified Bible
Instead, there is joy and jubilation, Killing of oxen and slaughtering of sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine, saying, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die."

English Standard Version
and behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
ioie and gladnesse is to sle caluys, and to strangle wetheris, to ete fleisch, and to drynke wyn; ete we, and drynke we, for we schulen die to morewe.

English Revised Version
and behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die.

Berean Standard Bible
But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"

Contemporary English Version
But instead, you celebrated by feasting on beef and lamb and by drinking wine, because you said, "Let's eat and drink! Tomorrow we may die."

American Standard Version
and, behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die.

Bible in Basic English
But in place of these there was joy and delight, oxen and sheep were being made ready for food, there was feasting and drinking: men said, Now is the time for food and wine, for tomorrow death comes.

Complete Jewish Bible
but instead, one sees joy and celebrating, killing of oxen, slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat, drinking of wine — "Let's eat and drink now, because tomorrow we'll be dead!"

Darby Translation
and behold joy and rejoicing, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine:—Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine--'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die!'

King James Version (1611)
And behold ioy and gladnesse, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine; let vs eate and drinke, for to morrow we shall die.

New Life Bible
But instead, there is joy and happiness, killing of cattle and sheep, eating of meat, and drinking of wine. You say, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

New Revised Standard
but instead there was joy and festivity, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating meat and drinking wine. "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

Geneva Bible (1587)
And beholde, ioy and gladnes, slaying oxen and killing sheepe, eating flesh, & drinking wine, eating and drinking: for to morowe we shall die.

George Lamsa Translation
And behold joy and gladness, slaughtering oxen and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine; let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then lo! joy and rejoicing, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine, - Let us eat and drink, For to-morrow, we may die!

Douay-Rheims Bible
And behold joy and gladness, killing calves, and slaying rams, eating flesh, and drinking wine: Let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.

Revised Standard Version
and behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And beholde they haue ioy and gladnesse, slaying oxen, and kyllyng sheepe, eatyng fleshe, and drynkyng wine: Let vs eate and drynke, for to morowe we shall dye.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
but they engaged in joy and gladness, slaying calves, and killing sheep, so as to eat flesh, and drink wine; saying, Let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die.

Good News Translation
Instead, you laughed and celebrated. You killed sheep and cattle to eat, and you drank wine. You said, "We might as well eat and drink! Tomorrow we'll be dead."

Christian Standard Bible®
But look: joy and gladness,butchering of cattle, slaughtering of sheep and goats,eating of meat, and drinking of wine—“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

Hebrew Names Version
and behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die.

King James Version
And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.

Lexham English Bible
But look! Joy and gladness, the killing of oxen and the slaughtering of sheep, the eating of meat and the drinking of wine! "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"

Literal Translation
Then, lo, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and slaughtering sheep; eating flesh and drinking wine, saying, Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!

Young's Literal Translation
And lo, joy and gladness, slaying of oxen, And slaughtering of sheep, Eating of flesh, and drinking of wine, Eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But they to fulfil their lust and wilfulnes, slaugter oxe, they kyll shepe, they eate costly meate, & drynke wyne: let vs eate and drinke, tomorow we shal die.

New American Standard Bible
Instead, there is joy and jubilation, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: "Let's eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die."

New King James Version
But instead, joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die."

Legacy Standard Bible
Instead, behold, there is joy and gladness,Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep,Eating of meat and drinking of wine:"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die."

Contextual Overview

⁸ And he took away the covering of Judah; and you looked in that day to the armor in the house of the forest. ⁹ And you saw the breaches of the city of David, that they were many; and you gathered together the waters of the lower pool; ¹⁰ and you numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall; ¹¹ you also made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you didn't look to him that had done this, neither had you respect to him that purposed it long ago. ¹² And in that day the Lord, Yahweh of hosts, called to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: ¹³ but saw joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die. ¹⁴ And Yahweh of hosts revealed himself in my ears, Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you until you die, says the Lord, Yahweh of hosts.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

behold: Isaiah 5:12, Isaiah 21:4, Isaiah 21:5, Isaiah 56:12, Amos 6:3-7, Luke 17:26-29

let: Isaiah 56:12, 1 Corinthians 15:32, James 5:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:34 - eat Genesis 37:34 - General Judges 16:25 - their hearts 1 Samuel 30:16 - eating 1 Kings 4:20 - eating 2 Chronicles 18:2 - Ahab Job 21:12 - General Proverbs 23:20 - not Proverbs 23:35 - I will Ecclesiastes 2:2 - It is Ecclesiastes 3:4 - time to weep Isaiah 22:2 - that art Isaiah 29:9 - General Isaiah 32:13 - in the Isaiah 47:8 - given Ezekiel 16:49 - fulness Amos 6:4 - lie Zechariah 7:3 - Should Luke 12:19 - take Luke 15:13 - wasted Acts 14:17 - filling Romans 13:13 - rioting 1 Timothy 5:6 - she James 4:9 - afflicted James 5:1 - weep

Cross-References

Genesis 22:6
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. And they went both of them together.

Genesis 22:7
And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here I am, my son. And he said, Look, the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?

Genesis 22:8
And Abraham said, God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son. So they went both of them together.

Genesis 22:9
And they came to the place which God had told him of. And Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood.

Genesis 22:10
And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

Genesis 22:19
So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.

Genesis 22:20
And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Look, Milcah, she also has borne sons to your brother Nahor.

Isaiah 30:21
and your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it; when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able; but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And behold joy and gladness,.... As if it was a time of rejoicing, rather than of weeping and mourning; and as if they were at a festival, and in the greatest prosperity and liberty, and not besieged by a powerful army:

slaying oxen, and killing sheep: not for sacrifice, to make atonement for sin, as typical of the great sacrifice; but to eat, and that not as at ordinary meals, or merely for the support of life, but as at feasts, where, as there was great plenty, so luxury and intemperance were indulged; just as Belshazzar did, at the same time that Babylon was beset by the army of the Medes and Persians, Daniel 5:1 so the Jews here, having taken the armour out of the treasury, and furnished the soldiers with them, and took care of provisions of bread and water, and having repaired and fortified the walls of the city, thought themselves secure, and gave up themselves to feasting, mirth, and pleasure: saying,

let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die; which they said, not as believing their case to be desperate; that the next day, or in a few days, their city would be taken by the Assyrians, and they should be put to the sword, and therefore, since they had but a short life to live, they would live a merry one; but rather as not believing it, but scoffing at the prophet, and at the word of the Lord by him; as if they should say, the prophet says we shall die tomorrow, or we are in great danger of being suddenly destroyed; but let us not be dismayed at such words, and to show that we do not believe them, or if this is our case, let us take our fill of pleasure, while we may have it. This is the language of epicures, and of such that disbelieve the resurrection of the dead, and a future state, to whom the apostle applies the words in

1 Corinthians 15:32.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And behold ... - When they ought to give themselves to fasting and prayer, they gave themselves up to revelry and riot.

Let us eat and drink - Saying, Let us eat and drink. That is, it is inevitable that we must soon die. The army of the Assyrian is approaching, and the city cannot stand against him. It is in vain to make a defense, and in vain to call upon God. Since we “must” soon die, we may as well enjoy life while it lasts. This is always the language of the epicure; and it seems to be the language of no small part of the world. Probably if the “real” feelings of the great mass of worldly people were expressed, they could not be better expressed than in this passage of Isaiah: ‘We must soon die at all events. We cannot avoid that, for it is the common lot of all. And since we have been sent into a dying world; since we had no agency in being placed here; since it is impossible to prevent this doom, we may as well “enjoy” life while it lasts, and give ourselves to pleasure, dissipation, and revelry.

While we can, we will take our comfort, and when death comes we will submit to it, simply because we cannot avoid it.’ Thus, while God calls people to repentance and seriousness; and while he would urge them, by the consideration that, this life is short, to prepare for a better life; and while he designs that the nearness of death should lead them to think solemnly of it, they abuse all His mercies, endeavor to thwart all His arrangements, and live and die like the brutes. This passage is quoted by Paul in his argument on the subject of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:32. Sentiments remarkably similar to this occur in the writings of the Greek and Roman poets. Among the Egyptians, the fact that life is short was urged as one argument for promoting soberness and temperance, and in order to produce this effect, it was customary at their feasts to have introduced, at some part of the entertainment, a wooden image of Osiris in the form of a human mummy standing erect, or lying on a bier, and to show it to each of the guests, warning him of his mortality, and of the transitory nature of human pleasures.

He was reminded that one day he would be like that; and was told that people ‘ought to love one another, and to avoid those evils which tend to make them consider life too long, when in reality it is too short, and while enjoying the blessings of this life, to bear in mind that life was precarious, and that death would soon close all their comforts.’ (See Wilkinson’s “Ancient Egyptians,” vol. ii. pp. 409-411.) With the Greeks and Romans, however, as well as the Jews in the time of Isaiah, the fact of the shortness of life was used to produce just the contrary effect - to prompt them to dissipation and licentiousness. The fact of the temporary pilgrimage of man served as an inducement to enjoy the pleasures of life while they lasted, since death was supposed to close the scene, and no prospect was held out of happiness in a future state. This sentiment was expressed in their songs at their entertainments to urge themselves on to greater indulgence in wine and in pleasure. Thus, in Anacreon, Ode 4:

Εις εαυτον

Ο δ ̓ Ερως χιτωνα δησας

Υπερ αυχενος παπυρῳ

Μεθυ μοι διηκονειτὀ

Τροχος αρματος γαροια

Βιοτος τρεχει κυλισθεις

Ολιγη δε κεισομεσθα

Κονις, οστεων λυθεντων

Τι σε δει λιθον μυριζειν;

Τι δε γῃ χεειν ματαια;

Εμε μαλλον, ως ετι ζω,

Μυριζον, καλει δ ̓ εταιρην.

Πριν, Ερως, εκει με απελθειο

Υπο νερτερων χορειας,

Σκεδασαι θελω μεριμνας.

Eis eauton

Ho d' Erōs chitōna dēesas

Huper auchenos papurō

Methu moi diēkoneito.

Trochos armatos gar oia

Biotos trechei kulistheis

Oligē de keisomestha

Konis, osteōn luthentōn.

Ti se dei lithon murizein;

Ti de gē cheein mataia;

eme mallon, hōs eti zō,

Murizon, kalei d' hetairēn

Prin, Erōs, ekei me apelthein

Hupo nerterōn choreias,

Skedasai thelō merimnas.

‘In decent robe behind him bound,

Cupid shall serve the goblet round;

For fast away our moments steal,

Like the swift chariot’s rolling wheel;

The rapid course is quickly done,

And soon the race of life is run.

Then, then, alas! we droop, we die;

And sunk in dissolution lie:

Our frame no symmetry retains,

Nought but a little dust remains.

Why o’er the tomb are odors shed?

Why poured libations to the dead?

To me, far better, while I live,

Rich wines and balmy fragrance give.

Now, now, the rosy wreath prepare,

And hither call the lovely fair.

Now, while I draw my vital breath,

Ere yet I lead the dance of death,

For joy my sorrows I’ll resign,

And drown my cares in rosy wine.’

A similar sentiment occurs in Horace. Odyssey iii. 13:

Huc vina, et unguente, et nimium brevis

Flores amoenos ferre jube rosae.

Dum res, et aetas, et sororum

Fila trium patiuntur atra.

And still more strikingly in Petronius, “Satyric.” c. 34, “ad finem:”

Heu, heu, nos miseros, quam torus homuncio nil est!

Sic erimus cuncti, postquam nos auferat Orcus:

Ergo vivamus, dum licet esse, bene.

The same sentiments prevailed among the Jews in the time of the author of the Book of Wisdom (Wisd. 11:1-9): ‘Our life is short and tedious, and in the death of a man there is no remedy: neither was there any man known to have returned from the grave. For we are born at all adventure; and we shall be hereafter as though we had never been, for the breath in our nostrils is as smoke, and a little spark in the moving of our heart. Come on, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are present; let us fill ourselves with costly wine and ointments, and let no flower of the spring pass by us; let us crown ourselves with rose buds before they be withered; let none of us go without his part of our voluptuousness; let us leave tokens of our joyfulness in every place.’ It was with reference to such sentiments as these, that Dr. Doddridge composed that beautiful epigram which Dr. Johnson pronounced the finest in the English language:

‘Live while you live,’ the sacred preacher cries,

‘And give to God each moment as it flies;’

‘Live while you live,’ the Epicure would say,

‘And seize the pleasures of the present day.’

Lord, in my view, let both united be,

I live to pleasure when I live to thee.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 22:13. Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die. — This has been the language of all those who have sought their portion in this life, since the foundation of the world. So the poet: -

Heu, heu nos miseri! quam totus homuncio nil est!

Sic erimus cuncti, postquam nos auferet orcus.

Ergo vivamus, dum licet esse, bene.

Alas alas! what miserable creatures are we, only the semblances of men! And so shall we be all when we come to die. Therefore let us live joyfully while we may.

Domitian had an image of death hung up in his dining-room, to show his guests that as life was uncertain, they should make the best of it by indulging themselves. On this Martial, to flatter the emperor, whom he styles god, wrote the following epigram: -

Frange thoros, pete vina, tingere nardo.

Ipse jubet mortis te meminisse Deus.

Sit down to table - drink heartily - anoint thyself with spikenard; for God himself commands thee to remember death.

So the adage: -

Ede, bibe, lude: post mortem nulla voluptas.

"Eat, drink, and play, while here ye may:

No revelry after your dying day."

St. Paul quotes the same heathen sentiment, 1 Corinthians 15:32: "Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die."

Anacreon is full in point, and from him nothing better can be expected: -

Ὡς ουν ετ' ευδι' εστιν,

Και πινε και κυβευε

Και σπενδε τῳ Λυαιῳ·

Μη νουσος, ην τις ελθῃ,

Λεγῃ, σε μη δει πινειν.

ANAC. Od. xv., l. 11.

"While no tempest blots your sky,

Drink, and throw the sportful dye:

But to Bacchus drench the ground,

Ere you push the goblet round;

Lest some fatal illness cry,

'Drink no more the cup of joy.'"

ADDISON.