The Book of the Prophet Isaiah

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 63 -

Who is this, who arrives from Edom with dyed garments from Bozrah? This is the Handsome One in his robe, advancing by the fullness of his strength. It is I, the Speaker of Justice, and I am the Fighter for Salvation.(a)

So then, why is your garment red, and why are your vestments like the ones of those who tread the winepress?

I have trod the winepress alone. And among the nations, there is no man beside me. I have trampled on them in my fury, and I have tread them down in my wrath. And so, their blood has been sprinkled on my vestments, and I have stained all my garments.

For the day of vengeance is in my heart. The year of my redemption has arrived.

I gazed around, and there was no one to assist. I sought, and there was no one who would help. And so, my own arm has saved for me, and my own wrath itself has assisted me.

And I have trampled the peoples in my fury, and I have inebriated them with my indignation, and I have torn down their strength to the ground.

God’s Mercies Recalled

I will remember the compassion of the Lord, the praise of the Lord over all that the Lord has bestowed on us, and over the multitude of his good things for the house of Israel, which he has granted to them according to his leniency, and according to the multitude of his mercies.

And he said: “Yet truly, these are my people, sons who have not been disowned.” And he became their Savior.

Throughout all their tribulation, he was not troubled, for the Angel of his presence saved them. With his love, and by his leniency, he has redeemed them, and he has carried them and lifted them up, throughout all the days of the ages.

But they themselves provoked to wrath and afflicted his Holy Spirit, and he was turned to be for them like an enemy, and he himself went to war against them.

And he remembered the days of ancient times, the days of Moses and his people. Where is he who led them out of the sea, with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who placed his Holy Spirit in their midst?

He led Moses by the right hand, with the arm of his majesty. He split the waters before them, in order to make an everlasting name for himself.

He led them through the abyss, like a horse which does not stumble, in the desert.

Like an animal who descends to an open field, the Spirit of the Lord was their guide. Thus did you lead your people, in order to make a glorious name for yourself.

A Prayer for Mercy

(Jeremiah 14:19–22)

Gaze down from heaven, and behold from your holy habitation and from your glory. Where is your zeal, and your strength, the fullness of your heart and of your compassion? They have held themselves back from me.(b)

For you are our Father, and Abraham has not known us, and Israel has been ignorant of us. You are our Father, O Lord our Redeemer. Your name is beyond all ages.(c)

Why have you allowed us to stray from your ways, O Lord? Why have you hardened our heart, so that we do not fear you? Return, for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance.(d)

They have possessed your holy people as if it were nothing. Our enemies have trampled your sanctuary.

We have become as we were in the beginning, when you did not rule over us, and when we were not called by your name.

Footnotes

(a)63:1 Edom:Edom and Bosra (a strong city of Edom) are here taken in a mystical sense for the enemies of Christ and his church.(Challoner)

(b)63:15 They have held back, etc:This is spoken by the prophet in the person of the Jews at the time when, for their sins, they were given up to their enemies.(Challoner)

(c)63:16 Abraham has not known us, etc:That is, Abraham will not now acknowledge us for his children, by reason of our degeneracy; but you, O Lord, are our true father and our redeemer, and no other can be called our parent in comparison with you.(Challoner)

(d)63:17 Made us to err, etc. Hardened our heart, etc:The meaning is, that God in punishment of their great and manifold crimes, and their long abuse of his mercy and grace, had withdrawn his graces from them, and so given them up to error and hardness of heart.(Challoner)

Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? Who is this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”

Why is your clothing red, and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat?

“I have trodden the wine press alone. Of the peoples, no one was with me. Yes, I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath. Their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing.

For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come.

I looked, and there was no one to help; and I wondered that there was no one to uphold. Therefore my own arm brought salvation to me. My own wrath upheld me.

I trod down the peoples in my anger and made them drunk in my wrath. I poured their lifeblood out on the earth.”

God’s Mercies Recalled

I will tell of the loving kindnesses of the LORD and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has given to us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he has given to them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.

For he said, “Surely, they are my people, children who will not deal falsely;” so he became their Savior.

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his pity he redeemed them. He bore them, and carried them all the days of old.

But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. Therefore he turned and became their enemy, and he himself fought against them.

Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, “Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put his Holy Spirit among them?”

Who caused his glorious arm to be at Moses’ right hand? Who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

Who led them through the depths, like a horse in the wilderness, so that they didn’t stumble?

As the livestock that go down into the valley, the LORD’s Spirit caused them to rest. So you led your people to make yourself a glorious name.

A Prayer for Mercy

(Jeremiah 14:19–22)

Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory. Where are your zeal and your mighty acts? The yearning of your heart and your compassion is restrained toward me.

For you are our Father, though Abraham doesn’t know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, LORD, are our Father. Our Redeemer from everlasting is your name.

O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways, and harden our heart from your fear? Return for your servants’ sake, the tribes of your inheritance.

Your holy people possessed it but a little while. Our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary.

We have become like those over whom you never ruled, like those who were not called by your name.