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The Enlarged Tent of Zion

Isaiah 54

The barren woman is told to rejoice, for her children will be more than those of the married woman, and she is instructed to enlarge her tent to make room for her offspring among the nations. The Lord promises an everlasting covenant of peace, likened to his oath after Noah's flood, and describes a city rebuilt with precious stones whose children are taught by God.

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
1
ThomsonREJOICE thou barren, who bearest not—break forth with shouts of joy, thou who sufferest not the pangs of childbirth; for many more are the children of the desolate than of her who hath a husband. For the Lord said,
BrentonRejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that dost not travail: for more are the children of the desolate than of her that has a husband: for the Lord has said,
GreekΕὐφράνθητι στεῖρα ἡ οὐ τίκτουσα, ῥῆξον καὶ βόησον ἡ οὐκ ὠδίνουσα, ὅτι πολλὰ τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐρήμου, μᾶλλον ἢ τῆς ἐχούσης τὸν ἄνδρα· εἶπε γὰρ Κύριος,
KJVSing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
JPSSing, O barren, thou that didst not bear, Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail; For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
2
ThomsonEnlarge the place of thy tent and thy curtains; make firm; spare not; lengthen thy cords and make thy stakes strong.
BrentonEnlarge the place of thy tent, and of thy curtains: fix the pins, spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy pins;
Greekπλάτυνον τὸν τόπον τῆς σκηνῆς σου, καὶ τῶν αὐλαιῶν σου, πῆξον, μὴ φείσῃ, μάκρυνον τὰ σχοινίσματά σου, καὶ τοὺς πασσάλους σου κατίσχυσον,
KJVEnlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
JPSEnlarge the place of thy tent, And let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations, spare not; Lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.
3
ThomsonExtend still farther to the right and left. And thy seed shall inherit nations and thou shalt inhabit wasted cities.
Brentonspread forth thy tent yet to the right and the left: for thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and thou shalt make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Greekἔτι εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ καὶ τὰ ἀριστερὰ ἐκπέτασον· καὶ τὸ σπέρμα σου ἔθνη κληρονομήσει, καὶ πόλεις ἠρημωμένας κατοικιεῖς.
KJVFor thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
JPSFor thou shalt spread abroad on the right hand and on the left; And thy seed shall possess the nations, And make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4
ThomsonBe not terrified because thou hast been exposed to shame; nor blush because thou hast been reproached. For thou shalt forget the shame of ancient times, and the reproach of thy widowhood thou shalt remember no more.
BrentonFear not, because thou hast been put to shame, neither be confounded, because thou wast reproached: for thou shalt forget thy former shame, and shalt no more at all remember the reproach of thy widowhood.
GreekΜὴ φοβοῦ, ὅτι κατῃσχύνθης, μηδὲ ἐντραπῇς, ὅτι ὠνειδίσθης, ὅτι αἰσχύνην αἰώνιον ἐπιλήσῃ, καὶ ὄνειδος τῆς χηρείας σου οὐ μὴ μνησθήσῃ ἔτι.
KJVFear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
JPSFear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed. Neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to shame; For thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, And the reproach of thy widowhood shalt thou remember no more.
5
ThomsonFor the Lord Who is thy maker, Whose name is the Lord of Hosts—even He Who delivered thee, shall be called the God of Israel, in the whole earth.
BrentonFor it is the Lord that made thee; the Lord of hosts is his name: and he that delivered thee, he is the God of Israel, and shall be called so by the whole earth.
GreekὍτι Κύριος ὁ ποιῶν σε, Κύριος σαβαὼθ ὄνομα αὐτῷ· καὶ ὁ ῥυσάμενός σε, αὐτὸς Θεὸς Ἰσραὴλ, πάσῃ τῇ γῇ κληθήσεται.
KJVFor thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
JPSFor thy Maker is thy husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And the Holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer, The God of the whole earth shall He be called.
6
ThomsonThe Lord hath not called thee as a wife forsaken and disconsolate; nor as a wife that hath been hated from her youth. Thy God hath said,
BrentonThe Lord has not called thee as a deserted and faint-hearted woman, nor as a woman hated from her youth, saith thy God.
GreekΟὐχ ὡς γυναῖκα καταλελειμμένην καὶ ὀλιγόψυχον κέκληκέ σε ὁ Κύριος, οὐδʼ ὡς γυναῖκα ἐκ νεότητος μεμισημένην, εἶπεν ὁ Θεός σου.
KJVFor the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
JPSFor the LORD hath called thee As a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit; And a wife of youth, can she be rejected? Saith thy God.
7
ThomsonI left thee for a little while; but with great mercy I will compassionate thee:
BrentonFor a little while I left thee: but with great mercy will I have compassion upon thee.
GreekΧρόνον μικρὸν κατέλιπόν σε, καὶ μετʼ ἐλέους μεγάλου ἐλεήσω σε.
KJV—
JPSFor a small moment have I forsaken thee; But with great compassion will I gather thee.
8
Thomsonin brief wrath I turned away My face from thee; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on thee. The Lord Who delivered thee hath said,
BrentonIn a little wrath I turned away my face from thee; but with everlasting mercy will I have compassion upon thee, saith the Lord that delivers thee.
GreekἘν θυμῷ μικρῷ ἀπέστρεψα τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἀπὸ σοῦ, καὶ ἐν ἐλέει αἰωνίῳ ἐλεήσω σε, εἶπεν ὁ ῥυσάμενός σε Κύριος·
KJVIn a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
JPSIn a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; But with everlasting kindness will I have compassion on thee, Saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
9
ThomsonFrom the flood which was in Noah’s time this is My purpose—as I solemnly promised him at that time that I would no more be angry with the earth on thine account, nor in rebuking thee overturn the mountains,
BrentonFrom the time of the water of Noe this is my purpose: as I sware to him at that time, saying of the earth, I will no more be wroth with thee, neither when thou art threatened,
GreekἈπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ ἐπὶ Νῶε τοῦτό μοι ἐστί· καθότι ὤμοσα αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ χρόνῳ ἐκείνῳ, τῇ γῇ μὴ θυμωθήσεσθαι ἐπὶ σοὶ ἔτι, μηδὲ ἐν ἀπειλῇ σου τὰ ὄρη μεταστήσεσθαι,
KJVFor this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
JPSFor this is as the waters of Noah unto Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
10
Thomsonand that thy hills should no more be moved; so My kindness for thee shall not fail, nor shall the covenant of thy peace ever be changed: for he said for thee, Be appeased, O Lord.
Brentonshall the mountains depart, nor shall thy hills be removed: so neither shall my mercy fail thee, nor shall the covenant of thy peace be at all removed: for the Lord who is gracious to thee has spoken it.
Greekοὐδʼ οἱ βουνοί σου μετακινηθήσονται· οὕτως οὐδὲ τὸ παρʼ ἐμοῦ σοι ἔλεος ἐκλείψει, οὐδὲ ἡ διαθήκη τῆς εἰρήνης σου οὐ μὴ μεταστῇ· εἶπε γὰρ ἵλεώς σοι Κύριε.
KJVFor the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
JPSFor the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall My covenant of peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath compassion on thee.
11
ThomsonO thou afflicted and storm-beaten! art thou not comforted? Behold I am preparing for thee carbuncles for thy building-stones, and the sapphire for thy foundations;
BrentonAfflicted and outcast thou hast not been comforted: behold, I will prepare carbuncle for thy stones, and sapphire for thy foundations;
GreekΤαπεινὴ καὶ ἀκατάστατος οὐ παρεκλήθης· ἰδοὺ, ἐγὼ ἑτοιμάζω σοι ἄνθρακα τὸν λίθον σου, καὶ τὰ θεμέλιά σου σάπφειρον,
KJVO thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
JPSO thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will set thy stones in fair colours, And lay thy foundations with sapphires.
12
Thomsonand for thy battlements I will lay jasper; and crystal, for thy gates; and for thy circumambient walls, precious stones:
Brentonand I will make thy buttresses jasper, and thy gates crystal, and thy border precious stones.
Greekκαὶ θήσω τὰς ἐπάλξεις σου ἴασπιν, καὶ τὰς πύλας σου λίθους κρυστάλλου, καὶ τὸν περίβολόν σου λίθους ἐκλεκτούς·
KJVAnd I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
JPSAnd I will make thy pinnacles of rubies, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy border of precious stones.
13
Thomsoneven thy sons, all instructed of God; and thy children in great prosperity.
BrentonAnd I will cause all thy sons to be taught of God, and thy children to be in great peace.
Greekκαὶ πάντας τοὺς υἱοὺς σου διδακτοὺς Θεοῦ, καὶ ἐν πολλῇ εἰρήνῃ τὰ τέκνα σου.
KJVAnd all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
JPSAnd all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
14
ThomsonAnd with righteousness thou shalt be rebuilded. Abstain from injustice and thou shalt not be affrighted; and as for terror, it shall not approach thee.
BrentonAnd thou shalt be built in righteousness: abstain from injustice, and thou shalt not fear; and trembling shall not come nigh thee.
GreekΚαὶ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ οἰκοδομηθήσῃ· ἀπέχου ἀπὸ ἀδίκου, καὶ οὐ φοβηθήσῃ, καὶ τρόμος οὐκ ἐγγιεῖ σοι.
KJVIn righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
JPSIn righteousness shalt thou be established; be thou far from oppression, for thou shalt not fear, And from ruin, for it shall not come near thee.
15
ThomsonBehold proselytes shall come to thee for My sake; and they shall sojourn with thee and fly to thee.
BrentonBehold, strangers shall come to thee by me, and shall sojourn with thee, and shall run to thee for refuge.
GreekἸδοὺ προσήλυτοι προσελεύσονταί σοι διʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ παροικήσουσί σοι, καὶ ἐπὶ σὲ καταφεύξονται.
KJV—
JPS—
16
ThomsonBehold I have created thee, not like a coppersmith blowing coals and using a tool for the work. But I have created thee not for destruction.
BrentonBehold, I have created thee, not as the coppersmith blowing coals, and bringing out a vessel fit for work; but I have created thee, not for ruin, that I should destroy thee.
GreekἸδοὺ ἐγὼ ἔκτισά σε, οὐχ ὡς χαλκεὺς φυσῶν ἄνθρακας, καὶ ἐκφέρων σκεῦος εἰς ἔργον· ἐγὼ δὲ ἔκτισά σε, οὐκ εἰς ἀπώλειαν φθεῖραι.
KJVBehold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
JPSBehold, I have created the smith That bloweth the fire of coals, And bringeth forth a weapon for his work; And I have created the waster to destroy.
17
ThomsonPerish every weapon formed against thee! I will not prosper it. Though every voice should rise up against thee for judgment, thou shalt overcome them all and in the trial they shall be condemned. There is an inheritance for them who serve the Lord, therefore you are to be just for Me, saith the Lord.
BrentonI will not suffer any weapon formed against thee to prosper; and every voice that shall rise up against thee for judgment, thou shalt vanquish them all; and thine adversaries shall be condemned thereby. There is an inheritance to them that serve the Lord, and ye shall be righteous before me, saith the Lord.
GreekΠᾶν σκεῦος σκευαστὸν ἐπὶ σὲ, οὐκ εὐοδώσω· καὶ πᾶσα φωνὴ ἀναστήσεται ἐπὶ σὲ εἰς κρίσιν, πάντας αὐτοὺς ἡττήσεις, οἱ δὲ ἔνοχοί σου ἔσονται ἐν αὐτῇ. Ἔστι κληρονομία τοῖς θεραπεύουσι Κύριον· καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔσεσθέ μοι δίκαιοι, λέγει Κύριος.
KJVNo weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
JPSNo weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their due reward from Me, saith the LORD.