Isaiah

The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.

1This is the heavy message about Tyre. Cry out loud, you ships of Tarshish! Tyre is destroyed. No houses are left, and no harbor to sail into. The news reached the sailors from the land of Cyprus.

NoteA "burden" here means a heavy message of judgment, not a load someone carries. The KJV's "no entering in" means the harbor is gone, so ships cannot dock. "Chittim" is the island of Cyprus.

2Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.

2Be silent, you people who live along the coast. The merchants of Sidon crossed the sea and filled you with goods.

NoteIn 1611 English, "replenished" simply meant filled. The merchants of Sidon filled the coastal towns with goods and money.

3And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.

3Across the wide sea came grain from the Nile. The harvest of that river was Tyre's income. She was the marketplace of the nations.

4Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.

4Be ashamed, Sidon, you fortress by the sea. The sea itself has spoken: "I never went through labor or gave birth. I never raised young men or young women."

5As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

5When the news about Tyre reaches Egypt, the people there will twist in pain at the report.

6Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.

6Cross over the water to Tarshish. Cry out loud, you people who live along the coast.

7Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.

7Is this your happy city, the one standing since ancient days? Her own feet will carry her far away to live as a stranger.

8Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?

8Who planned this against Tyre, the city that handed out crowns? Her traders were princes. Her merchants were honored all over the earth.

9The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

9The LORD of Heaven's Armies planned it. He did it to stain her proud beauty and to shame everyone the earth honors.

10Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.

10Spread out and work your own land like the Nile, daughter of Tarshish. There is no harbor left for you.

11He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.

11The LORD stretched out his hand over the sea and made kingdoms shake. He gave the order to destroy the strongholds of that trading coast.

12And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.

12He said, "You will never celebrate again, crushed young daughter of Sidon. Get up and cross over to Cyprus. Even there you will find no rest."

13Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.

13Look at the land of the Chaldeans. This people counts for nothing now. The Assyrians left it to the creatures of the desert. They raised their siege towers, stripped its palaces, and brought it to ruin.

NoteThis verse is hard to follow in the original Hebrew, and translations word it differently. The point that stays the same is that a great land was built up and then left in ruins.

14Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.

14Cry out loud, you ships of Tarshish, for the harbor you relied on is destroyed.

15And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.

15At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the length of one king's life. After the seventy years, it will go for Tyre as the old song about the prostitute says:

16Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.

16"Pick up a harp and walk through the city, you forgotten woman. Play sweet music. Sing many songs, so people will remember you."

17And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

17After the seventy years, the LORD will come to Tyre and give her back her trade. She will go back to selling herself to every kingdom on earth.

18And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness 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 sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

18But what she earns will be set apart for the LORD. It will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the LORD, for plenty of food and good, lasting clothing.