Tyre Judged and Restored

Isaiah 23

This chapter delivers a message concerning Tyre and Sidon, declaring the collapse of Phoenician trade and maritime pride under the Lord's judgment. It foretells that after seventy years Tyre will be restored to her former state, with her future trade and gain consecrated to the Lord.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonRAISE the mournful cry, O ships of Carthage! for Tyre is destroyed and there are no arrivals from the land of the Kitians. She is carried away captive.

BrentonThe Word concerning Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Carthage; for she has perished, and men no longer arrive from the land of the Citians: she is led captive.

GreekὈλολύξατε, πλοῖα Καρχηδόνος, ὅτι ἀπώλετο, καὶ οὐκέτι ἔρχονται ἐκ γῆς Κιτιαίων, ἦκται αἰχμάλωτος.

KJVThe 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.

JPSThe 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 Kittim it is revealed to them.

Thomson—

BrentonTo whom are the dwellers in the island become like, the merchants of Phœnice, passing over the sea

GreekΤίνι ὅμοιοι γεγόνασιν οἱ ἐνοικοῦντες ἐν τῇ νήσῳ, μετάβολοι Φοινίκης, διαπερῶντες τὴν θάλασσαν

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

JPSBe still, ye inhabitants of the coast-land; Thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.

Thomson—

Brentonin great waters, a generation of merchants? as when the harvest is gathered in, so are these traders with the nations.

Greekἐν ὕδατι πολλῷ, σπέρμα μετάβολων; ὡς ἀμητοῦ εἰσφερομένου, οἱ μεταβόλοι τῶν ἐθνῶν.

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

JPSAnd on great waters the seed of Shihor, The harvest of the Nile, was her revenue; And she was the mart of nations.

ThomsonBe ashamed, O Sidon, said the sea—even the strength of the sea said: I did not travail nor did I bring her forth; nor did I nourish her youths, nor educate her virgins;

BrentonBe ashamed, O Sidon: the sea has said, yea, the strength of the sea has said, I have not travailed, nor brought forth, nor have I brought up young men, nor reared virgins.

Greekαἰσχύνθητι Σιδὼν, εἶπεν ἡ θάλασσα· ἡ δὲ ἰσχὺς τῆς θαλάσσης εἶπεν, οὐκ ὤδινον, οὐδὲ ἔτεκον, οὐδὲ ἐξέθρεψα νεανίσκους, οὐδὲ ὕψωσα παρθένους.

KJVBe 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.

JPSBe thou ashamed, O Zidon; for the sea hath spoken, The stronghold of the sea, saying: ‘I have not travailed, nor brought forth, Neither have I reared young men, nor brought up virgins.’

Thomsonyet when the news shall reach Egypt, sorrow for Tyre will take hold on them.

BrentonMoreover when it shall be heard in Egypt, sorrow shall seize them for Tyre.

GreekὍταν δὲ ἀκουστὸν γένηται Αἰγύπτῳ, λήμψεται αὐτοὺς ὀδύνη περὶ Τύρου.

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

JPSWhen the report cometh to Egypt, They shall be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

Thomson—

BrentonDepart ye to Carthage; howl, ye that dwell in this island.

GreekἈπέλθατε εἰς Καρχηδόνα, ὀλολύξατε οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν τῇ νήσῳ ταύτῃ.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonWas not this your pride from the beginning, before she was given up?

GreekΟὐχ αὕτη ἦν ὑμῶν ἡ ὕβρις ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, πρινὴ παραδοθῆναι αὐτήν;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWho hath taken this counsel against the Tyrians? Is she inferior? Or hath she not power? Her merchants are glorious chiefs of the earth.

BrentonWho has devised this counsel against Tyre? Is she inferior? or has she no strength? her merchants were the glorious princes of the earth.

GreekΤίς ταῦτα ἐβούλευσεν ἐπὶ Τύρον; μὴ ἥσσων ἐστίν, ἢ οὐκ ἰσχύει; οἱ ἔμποροι αὐτῆς ἔνδοξοι ἄρχοντες τῆς γῆς.

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

JPSWho hath devised this against Tyre, the crowning city, Whose merchants are princes, Whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?

ThomsonThe Lord of Hosts hath determined to destroy all the haughtiness of the glorious; and to bring to contempt everything renowned on the earth.

BrentonThe Lord of hosts has purposed to bring down all the pride of the glorious ones, and to disgrace every glorious thing on the earth.

GreekΚύριος σαβαὼθ ἐβουλεύσατο παραλῦσαι πᾶσαν τὴν ὕβριν τῶν ἐνδόξων, καὶ ἀτιμάσαι πᾶν ἔνδοξον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

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

JPSThe LORD of hosts hath devised it, To pollute the pride of all glory, To bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

ThomsonWork thy land: for ships no more arrive from Carthage,

BrentonTill thy land; for ships no more come out of Carthage.

GreekἘργάζου τὴν γῆν σου, καὶ γὰρ πλοῖα οὐκέτι ἔρχεται ἐκ Καρχηδόνος.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonnor is thy hand which vexed kings, any more powerful by sea. The Lord of Hosts hath given a command, concerning Chanaan, to destroy its power:

BrentonAnd thy hand prevails no more by sea, which troubled kings: the Lord of hosts has given a command concerning Chanaan, to destroy the strength thereof.

GreekἩ δὲ χείρ σου οὐκέτι ἰσχύει κατὰ θάλασσαν, ἡ παροξύνουσα βασιλεῖς· Κύριος σαβαὼθ ἐνετείλατο περὶ Χαναὰν ἀπολέσαι αὐτῆς τὴν ἰσχύν.

KJVHe 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.

JPSHe hath stretched out His hand over the sea, He hath shaken the kingdoms; The LORD hath given commandment concerning Canaan, To destroy the strongholds thereof;

Thomsonand shall it be said, You must not proceed to insult and distress the daughter of Sidon? Nay though thou shouldst go to the Kitians; yet even there thou shalt not have rest.

BrentonAnd men shall say, Ye shall no longer at all continue to insult and injure the daughter of Sidon: and if thou depart to the Citians, neither there shalt thou have rest.

GreekΚαὶ ἐροῦσιν, οὐκέτι οὐ μὴ προστεθῆτε τοῦ ὑβρίζειν καὶ ἀδικεῖν τὴν θυγατέρα Σιδῶνος· καὶ ἐὰν ἀπέλθῃς εἰς Κιτιεῖς, οὐδὲ ἐκεῖ ἀνάπαυσις ἔσται σοι·

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd He said: ‘Thou shalt no more rejoice.’ O thou oppressed virgin daughter of Zidon, Arise, pass over to Kittim; Even there shalt thou have no rest.

ThomsonAway to the land of the Chaldeans, though it hath been wasted by the Assyrians; because its walls had fallen.

BrentonAnd if thou depart to the land of the Chaldeans, this also is laid waste by the Assyrians, for her wall is fallen.

GreekΚαὶ εἰς γῆν Χαλδαίων, καὶ αὕτη ἠρήμωται ἀπὸ τῶν Ἀσσυρίων, ὅτι ὁ τοῖχος αὐτῆς πέπτωκεν.

KJVBehold 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.

JPSBehold, the land of the Chaldeans—this is the people that was not, when Asshur founded it for shipmen—they set up their towers, they overthrew the palaces thereof; it is made a ruin.

ThomsonRaise the mournful cry, O ships of Carthage, because your stronghold is destroyed.

BrentonHowl, ye ships of Carthage: for your strong hold is destroyed.

GreekὈλολύξατε πλοῖα Καρχηδόνος, ὅτι ἀπόλωλε τὸ ὀχύρωμα ὑμῶν.

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

JPSHowl, ye ships of Tarshish, For your stronghold is laid waste.

ThomsonAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forsaken seventy years, according to the days of a king, according to the time of a man. And it shall come to pass after seventy years, that Tyre shall be as the song of a harlot.

BrentonAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be left seventy years, as the time of a king, as the time of a man: and it shall come to pass after seventy years, that Tyre shall be as the song of a harlot.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καταλειφθήσεται Τύρος ἔτη ἑβδομήκοντα, ὡς χρόνος βασιλέως, ὡς χρόνος ἀνθρώπου· καὶ ἔσται μετὰ ἑβδομήκοντα ἔτη, ἔσται Τύρος ὡς ᾆσμα πόρνης.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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 it shall fare with Tyre as in the song of the harlot:

ThomsonTake a kithara, stroll about, O city, O harlot long forgotten! Play skilfully; sing many songs, that thou mayst be remembered.

BrentonTake a harp, go about, O city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; play well on the harp, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.

GreekΛάβε κιθάραν, ῥέμβευσον πόλις πόρνη ἐπιλελησμένη, καλῶς κιθάρισον, πολλὰ ᾆσον, ἵνα σου μνεία γένηται.

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

JPSTake a harp, Go about the city, Thou harlot long forgotten; Make sweet melody, Sing many songs, That thou mayest be remembered.

ThomsonAnd it shall come to pass after seventy years, that God will take account of Tyre, and she shall be restored to her former state, and be a mart for all the kingdoms of the world; which are on the face of the earth.

BrentonAnd it shall come to pass after the seventy years, that God will visit Tyre, and she shall be again restored to her primitive state, and she shall be a mart for all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται μετὰ τὰ ἑβδομήκοντα ἔτη, ἐπισκοπὴν ποιήσει ὁ Θεὸς Τύρου, καὶ πάλιν ἀποκαταστήσεται εἰς τὸ ἀρχαῖον, καὶ ἔσται ἐμπόριον πάσαις ταῖς βασιλείαις τῆς οἰκουμένης ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τῆς γῆς.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will remember Tyre, and she shall return to her hire, and shall have commerce with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

ThomsonAnd her traffic and gain shall be holy to the Lord. All her gain shall not be treasured up for themselves, but for them who dwell before the Lord, that they may eat and drink and be filled, and for contributions to be kept in remembrance before the Lord.

BrentonAnd her trade and her gain shall be holiness to the Lord: it shall not be gathered for them, but for those that dwell before the Lord, even all her trade, to eat and drink and be filled, and for a covenant and a memorial before the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται αὐτῆς ἡ ἐμπορία καὶ ὁ μισθὸς ἅγιον Κυρίῳ· οὐκ αὐτοῖς συναχθήσεται, ἀλλὰ τοῖς κατοικοῦσιν ἔναντι Κυρίου, πᾶσα ἡ ἐμπορία αὐτῆς, φαγεῖν καὶ πιεῖν καὶ ἐμπλησθῆναι, καὶ εἰς συμβολὴν μνημόσυνον ἔναντι Κυρίου.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd her gain and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD; it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her gain shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat their fill, and for stately clothing.