Isaiah 63

The Lord’s Day of Vengeance

1 Who is this coming from Edom  * 63:1 Ps 137:7; Is 34:5–6; Ezk 25:12–14; 35:1–15; Ob 1–14; Mal 1:2–5

in crimson-stained garments from Bozrah —

this one who is splendid in his apparel,

striding in his formidable  * 63:1 Syr, Vg read apparel, striding forward in might?

It is I, proclaiming vindication,  * 63:1 Or righteousness

powerful to save.

2 Why are your clothes red,

and your garments like one who treads a winepress?  * 63:2 Rv 19:13–15

3 I trampled the winepress alone,

and no one from the nations was with me.

I trampled them in my anger

and ground them underfoot in my fury;

their blood spattered my garments,

and all my clothes were stained.

4 For I planned the day of vengeance,  * 63:4 Is 34:8; 61:2; Jr 46:10

and the year of my redemption  * 63:4 Or blood retribution  came.

5 I looked, but there was no one to help,  * 63:5 Is 59:16

and I was amazed that no one assisted;

so my arm accomplished victory for me,

and my wrath assisted me.

6 I crushed nations in my anger;

I made them drunk with my wrath  * 63:6 Is 29:9; 51:17; Jr 51:39

and poured out their blood on the ground.  * 63:6 Rv 14:20

Remembrance of Grace

7 I will make known the  Lord’s faithful love

and the Lord’s praiseworthy acts,

because of all the  Lord has done for us —

even the many good things

he has done for the house of Israel,

which he did for them based on his compassion

and the abundance of his faithful love.

8 He said, "They are indeed my people,

children who will not be disloyal,"

and he became their Savior.

9 In all their suffering, he suffered,  * 63:9 Alt Hb tradition reads did not suffer,* 63:9 Jdg 10:16

and the angel of his presence saved them.

He redeemed them

because of his love and compassion;  * 63:9 Dt 7:7–8

he lifted them up and carried them

all the days of the past.  * 63:9 Dt 1:31; 32:10–12; Is 46:3

10 But they rebelled

and grieved his Holy Spirit.  * 63:10 Ps 51:11; 78:40; 106:33; Is 48:16; Ac 7:51; Eph 4:30

So he became their enemy

and fought against them.

11 Then he  * 63:11 Or they remembered the days of the past,

the days of Moses and his people.

Where is he who brought them out of the sea

with the shepherds  * 63:11 LXX, Tg, Syr read shepherd of his flock?

Where is he who put his Holy Spirit among the flock?

12 He made his glorious strength

available at the right hand of Moses,

divided the water before them  * 63:12 Ex 14:21; Ps 74:13

to make an eternal name for himself,

13 and led them through the depths

like a horse in the wilderness,

so that they did not stumble.

14 Like cattle that go down into the valley,

the Spirit of the  Lord gave them  * 63:14 Lit him  rest.

You led your people this way

to make a glorious name for yourself.

Israel’s Prayer

15 Look down from heaven and see  * 63:15 Dt 26:15; Ps 80:14

from your lofty home — holy and beautiful.

Where is your zeal and your might?

Your yearning  * 63:15 Lit The agitation of your inward parts and your compassion

are withheld from me.

16 Yet you are our Father,

even though Abraham does not know us

and Israel doesn’t recognize us.

You, Lord, are our Father;

your name is Our Redeemer  * 63:16 Is 41:14; 43:14

from Ancient Times.

17 Why, Lord, do you make us stray from your ways?

You harden our hearts so we do not fear  * 63:17 Lit our heart from fearing  you.  * 63:17 Is 6:10

Return, because of your servants,

the tribes of your heritage.

18 Your holy people had a possession  * 63:18 Or Your people possessed your holy place

for a little while,

but our enemies have trampled down

your sanctuary.  * 63:18 Ps 74:3–7; Is 64:11

19 We have become like those you never ruled,

like those who did not bear your name.  * 63:19 Dt 28:10; Is 43:7; 65:1