Logo - Feel The Words
JPS

Isaiah Chapter 64 (JPS)

minutes - words.
Isaiah Chapter 64 (JPS)
Tap a verse to highlight it

1 As when fire kindleth the brush-wood, and the fire causeth the waters to boil; to make Thy name known to Thine adversaries, that the nations might tremble at Thy presence,

2 When Thou didst tremendous things which we looked not for--Oh that Thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might quake at Thy presence!--

3 And whereof from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a G-d beside Thee, who worketh for him that waiteth for Him.

4 Thou didst take away him that joyfully worked righteousness, those that remembered Thee in Thy ways--behold, Thou wast wroth, and we sinned--upon them have we stayed of old, that we might be saved.

5 And we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

6 And there is none that calleth upon Thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee; for Thou hast hid Thy face from us, and hast consumed us by means of our iniquities.

7 But now, O HaShem, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter, and we all are the work of Thy hand.

8 Be not wroth very sore, O HaShem, neither remember iniquity for ever; behold, look, we beseech Thee, we are all Thy people.

9 Thy holy cities are become a wilderness, Zion is become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

10 Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised Thee, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant things are laid waste.

11 Wilt Thou refrain Thyself for these things, O HaShem? Wilt Thou hold Thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Isaiah 64 about?
It's a prayer pleading for God to 'rend the heavens' and come down dramatically as he has before, 'that the mountains might flow down at thy presence' (vv.1-3), before confessing that 'all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags' and that the nation's holy places lie in ruins (vv.6,10-11).
What does Isaiah 64:4 say no one has seen or heard?
It says 'since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him' - a line quoted at 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.
What does the potter image mean in Isaiah 64:8?
Isaiah 64:8 has the people calling God 'our father' and describing themselves as 'the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand' - an appeal to God's shaping authority even amid confessed sin.

Today's Verse

Yonder is the sea, great and wide, Wherein are things creeping innumerable, Both small and great beasts.

Psalms 104:25 | ASV

Verse Of The Day