<\/p>\n
AT THAT TIME MERODACHBALADAN,<\/strong><\/p>\n THE SON OF BALADAN,<\/strong><\/p>\n KING OF BABYLON,<\/strong><\/p>\n SENT LETTERS<\/strong><\/p>\n AND A PRESENT<\/strong><\/p>\n TO HEZEKIAH:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n FOR HE HAD HEARD THAT HE HAD BEEN SICK,<\/strong><\/p>\n AND WAS RECOVERED.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And Hezekiah was glad of them,<\/p>\n and shewed them the house of his precious things,<\/p>\n the silver,<\/p>\n and the gold,<\/p>\n and the spices,<\/p>\n and the precious ointment,<\/p>\n and all the house of his armour,<\/p>\n and all that was found in his treasures:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n there was nothing in his house,<\/p>\n nor in all his dominion,<\/p>\n that Hezekiah shewed them not.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n THEN CAME ISAIAH THE PROPHET<\/p>\n UNTO KING HEZEKIAH,<\/p>\n AND SAID UNTO HIM,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What said these men?<\/p>\n and from whence came they unto thee?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And Hezekiah said,<\/p>\n They are come from a far country unto me,<\/p>\n even from Babylon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Then said he,<\/p>\n What have they seen in thine house?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And Hezekiah answered,<\/p>\n All that is in mine house have they seen:<\/p>\n there is nothing among my treasures<\/p>\n that I have not shewed them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n THEN SAID ISAIAH TO HEZEKIAH,<\/p>\n HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD OF HOSTS:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BEHOLD,<\/p>\n THE DAYS COME,<\/p>\n that all that is in thine house,<\/p>\n and that which thy fathers have laid up in store<\/p>\n until this day,<\/p>\n shall be carried to Babylon:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n nothing shall be left,<\/p>\n saith the LORD.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And of thy sons that shall issue from thee,<\/p>\n which thou shalt beget,<\/p>\n shall they take away;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and they shall be eunuchs<\/p>\n in the palace of the king of Babylon.<\/p>\n T<\/p>\n HEN SAID HEZEKIAH TO ISAIAH,<\/p>\n Good is the word of the LORD<\/p>\n which thou hast spoken.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He said moreover,<\/p>\n For there shall be peace<\/p>\n and truth<\/p>\n in my days.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Comfort ye,<\/em><\/p>\n comfort ye my people,<\/em><\/p>\n saith your God.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem,<\/p>\n and cry unto her,<\/p>\n that her warfare is accomplished,<\/p>\n that her iniquity is pardoned:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n for she hath received of the LORD’S hand<\/p>\n double for all her sins.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Prepare ye the way of the LORD,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n make straight in the desert a highway for our God.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Every valley shall be exalted,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n and every mountain and hill shall be made low:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n and the crooked shall be made straight,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n and the rough places plain:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n and all flesh shall see it together:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n THE VOICE SAID,<\/p>\n CRY.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And he said,<\/p>\n What shall I cry?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n All flesh is grass,<\/p>\n and all the goodliness thereof<\/p>\n is as the flower of the field:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The grass withereth,<\/p>\n the flower fadeth:<\/p>\n because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n surely the people is grass.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The grass withereth,<\/p>\n the flower fadeth:<\/p>\n but the word of our God shall stand for ever.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n O ZION,<\/p>\n THAT BRINGEST GOOD TIDINGS,<\/p>\n get thee up into the high mountain;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n O Jerusalem,<\/p>\n that bringest good tidings,<\/p>\n lift up thy voice with strength;<\/p>\n lift it up,<\/p>\n be not afraid;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n say unto the cities of Judah,<\/p>\n Behold your God!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Behold,<\/p>\n the Lord GOD will come<\/em> with strong hand,<\/p>\n and his arm shall rule for him:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n behold,<\/p>\n his reward is with him,<\/p>\n and his work before him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He shall feed his flock like a shepherd<\/em>:<\/p>\n he shall gather the lambs with his arm,<\/p>\n and carry them in his bosom,<\/p>\n and shall gently lead those that are with young.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n WHO HATH MEASURED THE WATERS<\/p>\n IN THE HOLLOW OF HIS HAND,<\/p>\n and meted out heaven with the span,<\/p>\n and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure,<\/p>\n and weighed the mountains in scales,<\/p>\n and the hills in a balance?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD,<\/p>\n or being his counsellor hath taught him?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With whom took he counsel,<\/p>\n and who instructed him,<\/p>\n and taught him in the path of judgment,<\/p>\n and taught him knowledge,<\/p>\n and shewed to him the way of understanding?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Behold,<\/p>\n the nations are as a drop of a bucket,<\/p>\n and are counted as the small dust of the balance:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n behold,<\/p>\n he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.<\/p>\n And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,<\/p>\n nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n All nations before him are as nothing;<\/p>\n and they are counted to him less than nothing,<\/p>\n and vanity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n TO WHOM THEN WILL YE LIKEN GOD?<\/p>\n OR WHAT LIKENESS WILL YE COMPARE UNTO HIM?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The workman melteth a graven image,<\/p>\n and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold,<\/p>\n and casteth silver chains.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He that is so impoverished<\/p>\n that he hath no oblation<\/p>\n chooseth a tree that will not rot;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n he seeketh unto him a cunning workman<\/p>\n to prepare a graven image,<\/p>\n that shall not be moved.<\/p>\n Have ye not known?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n have ye not heard?<\/p>\n hath it not been told you from the beginning<\/em>?<\/p>\n have ye not understood<\/em><\/p>\n from the foundations of the earth<\/em>?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth,<\/p>\n and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers;<\/p>\n that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain,<\/p>\n and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:<\/p>\n That bringeth the princes to nothing;<\/p>\n he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yea,<\/p>\n they shall not be planted;<\/p>\n yea,<\/p>\n they shall not be sown:<\/p>\n yea,<\/p>\n their stock shall not take root in the earth:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and he shall also blow upon them,<\/p>\n and they shall wither,<\/p>\n and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To whom then will ye liken me,<\/p>\n or shall I be equal?<\/p>\n saith the Holy One.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lift up your eyes on high,<\/p>\n and behold who hath created these things,<\/p>\n that bringeth out their host by number:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n he calleth them all by names<\/p>\n by the greatness of his might,<\/p>\n for that he is strong in power;<\/p>\n not one faileth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why sayest thou,<\/p>\n O Jacob,<\/p>\n and speakest,<\/p>\n O Israel,<\/p>\n My way is hid from the LORD,<\/p>\n and my judgment is passed over from my God?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n HAST THOU NOT KNOWN?<\/p>\n hast thou not heard,<\/p>\n that the everlasting God,<\/p>\n the LORD,<\/p>\n the Creator of the ends of the earth,<\/p>\n fainteth not,<\/p>\n neither is weary?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n there is no searching of his understanding.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He giveth power to the faint;<\/p>\n and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even the youths shall faint and be weary,<\/p>\n and the young men shall utterly fall:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But they that wait upon the LORD<\/em><\/p>\n shall renew their strength;<\/em><\/p>\n they shall mount up with wings as eagles<\/em>;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n they shall run,<\/em><\/p>\n and not be weary;<\/em><\/p>\n and they shall walk,<\/em><\/p>\n and not faint<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n KEEP SILENCE BEFORE ME,<\/p>\n O ISLANDS;<\/p>\n and let the people renew their strength:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n let them come near;<\/p>\n then let them speak:<\/p>\n let us come near together to judgment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n WHO RAISED UP THE RIGHTEOUS MAN<\/p>\n FROM THE EAST,<\/p>\n called him to his foot,<\/p>\n gave the nations before him,<\/p>\n and made him rule over kings?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He gave them as the dust to his sword,<\/p>\n and as driven stubble to his bow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He pursued them,<\/p>\n and passed safely;<\/p>\n even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Who hath wrought and done it,<\/p>\n calling the generations from the beginning?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I the LORD,<\/p>\n the first,<\/em><\/p>\n and with the last<\/em>;<\/p>\n I am he.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The isles saw it,<\/p>\n and feared;<\/p>\n the ends of the earth were afraid,<\/p>\n drew near,<\/p>\n and came.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They helped every one his neighbour;<\/p>\n and every one said to his brother,<\/p>\n Be of good courage.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith,<\/p>\n and he that smootheth with the hammer<\/p>\n him that smote the anvil,<\/p>\n saying,<\/p>\n It is ready for the sodering:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and he fastened it with nails,<\/p>\n that it should not be moved.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But thou, Israel,<\/p>\n art my servant,<\/p>\n Jacob whom I have chosen,<\/p>\n the seed of Abraham my friend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,<\/p>\n and called thee from the chief men thereof,<\/p>\n and said unto thee,<\/p>\n Thou art my servant;<\/p>\n I have chosen thee,<\/p>\n and not cast thee away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fear thou not;<\/p>\n for I am with thee:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n be not dismayed;<\/p>\n for I am thy God:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I will strengthen thee;<\/p>\n yea,<\/p>\n I will help thee;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n yea,<\/p>\n I will uphold thee<\/p>\n with the right hand of my righteousness.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Behold,<\/p>\n all they that were incensed against thee<\/p>\n shall be ashamed and confounded:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n they shall be as nothing;<\/p>\n and they that strive with thee shall perish.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thou shalt seek them,<\/p>\n and shalt not find them,<\/p>\n even them that contended with thee:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n they that war against thee shall be as nothing,<\/p>\n and as a thing of nought.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand,<\/p>\n saying unto thee,<\/p>\n Fear not;<\/p>\n I will help thee.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fear not,<\/p>\n thou worm Jacob,<\/p>\n and ye men of Israel;<\/p>\n I will help thee,<\/p>\n saith the LORD,<\/p>\n and thy redeemer,<\/p>\n the Holy One of Israel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BEHOLD,<\/p>\n I WILL MAKE THEE<\/p>\n A NEW SHARP THRESHING INSTRUMENT<\/p>\n HAVING TEETH:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n thou shalt thresh the mountains,<\/p>\n and beat them small,<\/p>\n and shalt make the hills as chaff.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thou shalt fan them,<\/p>\n and the wind shall carry them away,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and the whirlwind shall scatter them:<\/p>\n and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD,<\/p>\n and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When the poor and needy seek water,<\/p>\n and there is none,<\/p>\n and their tongue faileth for thirst,<\/p>\n I the LORD will hear them,<\/p>\n I the God of Israel will not forsake them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I will open rivers in high places,<\/p>\n and fountains in the midst of the valleys:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I will make the wilderness a pool of water,<\/p>\n and the dry land springs of water.<\/p>\n I will plant in the wilderness the cedar,<\/p>\n the shittah tree,<\/p>\n and the myrtle,<\/p>\n and the oil tree;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I will set in the desert the fir tree,<\/p>\n and the pine,<\/p>\n and the box tree together:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That they may see,<\/p>\n and know,<\/p>\n and consider,<\/p>\n and understand together,<\/p>\n that the hand of the LORD hath done this,<\/p>\n and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n PRODUCE YOUR CAUSE,<\/p>\n SAITH THE LORD;<\/p>\n BRING FORTH YOUR STRONG REASONS,<\/p>\n SAITH THE KING OF JACOB.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let them bring them forth,<\/p>\n and shew us what shall happen:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n let them shew the former things,<\/p>\n what they be,<\/p>\n that we may consider them,<\/p>\n and know the latter end of them;<\/p>\n or declare us things for to come.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Shew the things that are to come hereafter,<\/p>\n that we may know that ye are gods:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n yea, do good,<\/p>\n or do evil,<\/p>\n that we may be dismayed,<\/p>\n and behold it together.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Behold,<\/p>\n ye are of nothing,<\/p>\n and your work of nought:<\/p>\n an abomination is he that chooseth you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I have raised up one from the north,<\/p>\n and he shall come:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name:<\/p>\n and he shall come upon princes as upon morter,<\/p>\n and as the potter treadeth clay.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n WHO HATH DECLARED FROM THE BEGINNING,<\/p>\n THAT WE MAY KNOW?<\/p>\n and beforetime,<\/p>\n that we may say,<\/p>\n He is righteous?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n yea,<\/p>\n there is none that sheweth,<\/p>\n yea,<\/p>\n there is none that declareth,<\/p>\n yea,<\/p>\n there is none that heareth your words.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The first shall say to Zion,<\/p>\n Behold,<\/p>\n behold them:<\/p>\n and<\/p>\n I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For I beheld,<\/p>\n and there was no man;<\/p>\n even among them,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n and there was no counsellor,<\/p>\n that,<\/p>\n when I asked of them,<\/p>\n could answer a word.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Behold,<\/p>\n they are all vanity;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n their works are nothing:<\/p>\n their molten images are wind and confusion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Behold my servant,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n whom I uphold;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n mine elect,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n in whom my soul delighteth;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I have put my spirit upon him:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He shall not cry,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n nor lift up,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A bruised reed shall he not break,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n and the smoking flax shall he not quench:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He shall not fail nor be discouraged,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n till he have set judgment in the earth:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n and the isles shall wait for his law.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n THUS SAITH GOD THE LORD,<\/p>\n HE THAT CREATED THE HEAVENS,<\/p>\n and stretched them out;<\/p>\n he that spread forth the earth,<\/p>\n and that which cometh out of it;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n he that giveth breath unto the people upon it,<\/p>\n and spirit to them that walk therein:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I the LORD have called thee in righteousness,<\/p>\n and will hold thine hand,<\/p>\n and will keep thee,<\/p>\n and give thee for a covenant of the people,<\/p>\n for a light of the Gentiles;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To open the blind eyes,<\/em><\/p>\n to bring out the prisoners from the prison,<\/em><\/p>\n and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I am the LORD:<\/p>\n that is my name:<\/p>\n and my glory will I not give to another,<\/p>\n neither my praise to graven images.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Behold,<\/p>\n the former things are come to pass,<\/p>\n and new things do I declare:<\/p>\n before they spring forth<\/p>\n I tell you of them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n SING UNTO THE LORD A NEW SONG,<\/p>\n AND HIS PRAISE FROM THE END OF THE EARTH,<\/p>\n ye that go down to the sea,<\/p>\n and all that is therein;<\/p>\n the isles,<\/p>\n and the inhabitants thereof.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let the wilderness<\/p>\n and the cities thereof<\/p>\n lift up their voice,<\/p>\n the villages that Kedar doth inhabit:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n let the inhabitants of the rock sing,<\/p>\n let them shout from the top of the mountains.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let them give glory unto the LORD,<\/p>\n and declare his praise in the islands.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man,<\/p>\n he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war:<\/p>\n he shall cry,<\/p>\n yea,<\/p>\n roar;<\/p>\n he shall prevail against his enemies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I have long time holden my peace;<\/p>\n I have been still,<\/p>\n and refrained myself:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n now will I cry like a travailing woman;<\/p>\n I will destroy and devour at once.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I will make waste mountains and hills,<\/em><\/p>\n and dry up all their herbs;<\/em><\/p>\n and I will make the rivers islands,<\/em><\/p>\n and I will dry up the pools.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And I will bring the blind<\/p>\n by a way that they knew not;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I will lead them in paths that they have not known:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I will make darkness light before them,<\/p>\n and crooked things straight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These things will I do unto them,<\/p>\n and not forsake them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They shall be turned back,<\/p>\n they shall be greatly ashamed,<\/p>\n that trust in graven images,<\/p>\n that say to the molten images,<\/p>\n Ye are our gods.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hear,<\/p>\n ye deaf;<\/p>\n and look,<\/p>\n ye blind,<\/p>\n that ye may see.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n WHO IS BLIND,<\/p>\n BUT MY SERVANT?<\/p>\n or deaf,<\/p>\n as my messenger that I sent?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n who is blind as he that is perfect,<\/p>\n and blind as the LORD’S servant?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Seeing many things,<\/p>\n but thou observest not;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n opening the ears,<\/p>\n but he heareth not.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The LORD is well pleased<\/p>\n for his righteousness’ sake;<\/p>\n he will magnify the law,<\/p>\n and make it honourable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But this is a people robbed and spoiled;<\/p>\n they are all of them snared in holes,<\/p>\n and they are hid in prison houses:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n they are for a prey,<\/p>\n and none delivereth;<\/p>\n <\/p>\n for a spoil,<\/p>\n and none saith,<\/p>\n Restore.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Who among you will give ear to this?<\/p>\n who will hearken and hear for the time to come?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Who gave Jacob for a spoil,<\/p>\n and Israel to the robbers?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n did not the LORD,<\/p>\n he against whom we have sinned?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n for they would not walk in his ways,<\/p>\n neither were they obedient unto his law.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Therefore he hath poured upon him<\/p>\n the fury of his anger,<\/p>\n and the strength of battle:<\/p>\n and it hath set him on fire round about,<\/p>\n yet he knew not;<\/p>\n and it burned him,<\/p>\n yet he laid it not to heart.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n next<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n prev<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" AT THAT TIME MERODACHBALADAN, THE SON OF BALADAN, KING OF BABYLON, SENT LETTERS AND A PRESENT TO HEZEKIAH: FOR HE HAD HEARD THAT HE HAD BEEN SICK, AND WAS RECOVERED. And Hezekiah was glad of them, and … Continue reading Isaiah 39:1-42:25<\/em><\/h6>\n