Font Size
Isaiah 63
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Isaiah 63
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 63
The Divine Warrior[a]
1 Who is this that comes from Edom,
in crimsoned garments, from Bozrah?
Who is this, glorious in his apparel,
striding in the greatness of his strength?
“It is I, I who announce vindication,
mighty to save.”(A)
2 Why is your apparel red,
and your garments like one who treads the wine press?(B)
3 “The wine press I have trodden alone,
and from the peoples no one was with me.
I trod them in my anger,
and trampled them down in my wrath;
Their blood spurted on my garments,
all my apparel I stained.
4 For a day of vindication was in my heart,
my year for redeeming had come.(C)
5 I looked about, but there was no one to help,
I was appalled that there was no one to lend support;
So my own arm brought me victory
and my own wrath lent me support.(D)
6 I trampled down the peoples in my anger,
I made them drunk in my wrath,
and I poured out their blood upon the ground.”
Prayer for the Return of God’s Favor
7 [b]The loving deeds of the Lord I will recall,
the glorious acts of the Lord,
Because of all the Lord has done for us,
the immense goodness to the house of Israel,
Which he has granted according to his mercy
and his many loving deeds.(E)
8 He said: “They are indeed my people,
children who are not disloyal.”
So he became their savior
9 in their every affliction.
It was not an envoy or a messenger,
but his presence that saved them.
Because of his love and pity
the Lord redeemed them,
Lifting them up and carrying them
all the days of old.(F)
10 But they rebelled
and grieved his holy spirit;
So he turned to become their enemy,
and warred against them.(G)
11 Then they remembered the days of old, of Moses, his servant:
Where is the one who brought up out of the sea
the shepherd of his flock?
Where is the one who placed in their midst
his holy spirit,(H)
12 Who guided Moses by the hand,
with his glorious arm?
Where is the one who divided the waters before them—
winning for himself an everlasting renown—
13 Who guided them through the depths,
like horses in open country?
14 As cattle going down into the valley,
they did not stumble.
The spirit of the Lord guided them.
Thus you led your people,
to make for yourself a glorious name.
15 Look down from heaven and regard us
from your holy and glorious palace!
Where is your zealous care and your might,
your surge of pity?(I)
Your mercy hold not back!
16 For you are our father.
Were Abraham not to know us,
nor Israel to acknowledge us,
You, Lord, are our father,
our redeemer you are named from of old.
17 Why do you make us wander, Lord, from your ways,
and harden our hearts so that we do not fear you?[c]
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.
18 Why have the wicked invaded your holy place,
why have our enemies trampled your sanctuary?
19 [d]Too long have we been like those you do not rule,
on whom your name is not invoked.
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
with the mountains quaking before you,(J)
Footnotes
- 63:1–6 Two questions are raised at the approach of a majestic figure coming from Edom. It is the Lord, his garments red with the blood from the judgment battle. Edom (its capital Bozrah) plundered Judah after the fall of Jerusalem; cf. 34:5–17. Wine press: here a symbol of a bloody judgment; cf. Lam 1:15; Jl 4:13.
- 63:7–64:11 This lament of the exilic community recalls God’s protection, and especially the memories of the exodus (vv. 7–14), before begging the Lord to come once more to their aid (63:15–64:3), as they confess their sins (64:4–11). The prayer is marked by God’s “holy spirit” (63:10–11, 14) and fatherhood (63:8, 9, 16; 64:7).
- 63:17 The hardening of the heart (Ex 4:21; 7:3) serves to explain Israel’s sins—a motif to induce the Lord to relent.
- 63:19–64:3 A new theophany, like Sinai of old, is invoked so that Israel’s enemies will be humbled by God’s intervention.
Isaiah 63
New International Version
Isaiah 63
New International Version
God’s Day of Vengeance and Redemption
63 Who is this coming from Edom,(A)
from Bozrah,(B) with his garments stained crimson?(C)
Who is this, robed in splendor,
striding forward in the greatness of his strength?(D)
“It is I, proclaiming victory,
mighty to save.”(E)
2 Why are your garments red,
like those of one treading the winepress?(F)
3 “I have trodden the winepress(G) alone;
from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled(H) them in my anger
and trod them down in my wrath;(I)
their blood spattered my garments,(J)
and I stained all my clothing.
4 It was for me the day of vengeance;(K)
the year for me to redeem had come.
5 I looked, but there was no one(L) to help,
I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm(M) achieved salvation for me,
and my own wrath sustained me.(N)
6 I trampled(O) the nations in my anger;
in my wrath I made them drunk(P)
and poured their blood(Q) on the ground.”
Praise and Prayer
7 I will tell of the kindnesses(R) of the Lord,
the deeds for which he is to be praised,
according to all the Lord has done for us—
yes, the many good things(S)
he has done for Israel,
according to his compassion(T) and many kindnesses.
8 He said, “Surely they are my people,(U)
children who will be true to me”;
and so he became their Savior.(V)
9 In all their distress he too was distressed,
and the angel(W) of his presence(X) saved them.[a]
In his love and mercy he redeemed(Y) them;
he lifted them up and carried(Z) them
all the days of old.(AA)
10 Yet they rebelled(AB)
and grieved his Holy Spirit.(AC)
So he turned and became their enemy(AD)
and he himself fought(AE) against them.
11 Then his people recalled[b] the days of old,
the days of Moses and his people—
where is he who brought them through the sea,(AF)
with the shepherd of his flock?(AG)
Where is he who set
his Holy Spirit(AH) among them,
12 who sent his glorious arm(AI) of power
to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters(AJ) before them,
to gain for himself everlasting renown,(AK)
13 who led(AL) them through the depths?(AM)
Like a horse in open country,
they did not stumble;(AN)
14 like cattle that go down to the plain,
they were given rest(AO) by the Spirit of the Lord.
This is how you guided your people
to make for yourself a glorious name.
15 Look down from heaven(AP) and see,
from your lofty throne,(AQ) holy and glorious.
Where are your zeal(AR) and your might?
Your tenderness and compassion(AS) are withheld(AT) from us.
16 But you are our Father,(AU)
though Abraham does not know us
or Israel acknowledge(AV) us;
you, Lord, are our Father,
our Redeemer(AW) from of old is your name.
17 Why, Lord, do you make us wander(AX) from your ways
and harden our hearts(AY) so we do not revere(AZ) you?
Return(BA) for the sake of your servants,
the tribes that are your inheritance.(BB)
18 For a little while(BC) your people possessed your holy place,
but now our enemies have trampled(BD) down your sanctuary.(BE)
19 We are yours from of old;
but you have not ruled over them,
they have not been called[c] by your name.(BF)
Footnotes
- Isaiah 63:9 Or Savior 9 in their distress. / It was no envoy or angel / but his own presence that saved them
- Isaiah 63:11 Or But may he recall
- Isaiah 63:19 Or We are like those you have never ruled, / like those never called
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.