Isaiah 23 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

A Message about Tyre

Isa 23:1This message came to me concerning Tyre:
Weep, O ships of Tarshish,
for the harbor and houses of Tyre are gone!
The rumors you heard in Cyprus[fn]
are all true.

Isa 23:2

Isa 23:2Mourn in silence, you people of the coast
and you merchants of Sidon.
Your traders crossed the sea,

Isa 23:3

Isa 23:3sailing over deep waters.
They brought you grain from Egypt[fn]
and harvests from along the Nile.
You were the marketplace of the world.

Isa 23:4

Isa 23:4But now you are put to shame, city of Sidon,
for Tyre, the fortress of the sea, says,
“Now I am childless;
I have no sons or daughters.”

Isa 23:5

Isa 23:5When Egypt hears the news about Tyre,
there will be great sorrow.

Isa 23:6

Isa 23:6Send word now to Tarshish!
Wail, you people who live in distant lands!

Isa 23:7

Isa 23:7Is this silent ruin all that is left of your once joyous city?
What a long history was yours!
Think of all the colonists you sent to distant places.

Isa 23:8

Isa 23:8Who has brought this disaster on Tyre,
that great creator of kingdoms?
Her traders were all princes,
her merchants were nobles.

Isa 23:9

Isa 23:9The LORD of Heaven’s Armies has done it
to destroy your pride
and bring low all earth’s nobility.

Isa 23:10

Isa 23:10Come, people of Tarshish,
sweep over the land like the flooding Nile,
for Tyre is defenseless.[fn]

Isa 23:11

Isa 23:11The LORD held out his hand over the sea
and shook the kingdoms of the earth.
He has spoken out against Phoenicia,[fn]
ordering that her fortresses be destroyed.

Isa 23:12

Isa 23:12He says, “Never again will you rejoice,
O daughter of Sidon, for you have been crushed.
Even if you flee to Cyprus,
you will find no rest.”

Isa 23:13

Isa 23:13Look at the land of Babylonia[fn]—
the people of that land are gone!
The Assyrians have handed Babylon over
to the wild animals of the desert.
They have built siege ramps against its walls,
torn down its palaces,
and turned it to a heap of rubble.

Isa 23:14

Isa 23:14Wail, O ships of Tarshish,
for your harbor is destroyed!

Isa 23:15

Isa 23:15For seventy years, the length of a king’s life, Tyre will be forgotten. But then the city will come back to life as in the song about the prostitute:

Isa 23:16

Isa 23:16Take a harp and walk the streets,
you forgotten harlot.
Make sweet melody and sing your songs
so you will be remembered again.

Isa 23:17

Isa 23:17Yes, after seventy years the LORD will revive Tyre. But she will be no different than she was before. She will again be a prostitute to all kingdoms around the world.

Isa 23:18

Isa 23:18But in the end her profits will be given to the LORD. Her wealth will not be hoarded but will provide good food and fine clothing for the LORD’s priests.