ISAIAH 33: 1 – 9 [BIBLE VERSE OF THE WEEK ~ SUNDAY DECEMBER 14, 2014 TO SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014]

A Prayer in Deep Distress

33 Woe to you who plunder, though you have not been plundered;
And you who deal treacherously, though they have not dealt treacherously with you!
When you cease plundering,
You will be plundered;
When you make an end of dealing treacherously,
They will deal treacherously with you.

² O Lord, be gracious to us;
We have waited for You.
Be their^[a] arm every morning,
Our salvation also in the time of trouble.
³ At the noise of the tumult the people shall flee;
When You lift Yourself up, the nations shall be scattered;
⁴ And Your plunder shall be gathered
Like the gathering of the caterpillar;
As the running to and fro of locusts,
He shall run upon them.

⁵ The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high;
He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
⁶ Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,
And the strength of salvation;
The fear of the Lord is His treasure.

⁷ Surely their valiant ones shall cry outside,
The ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.
⁸ The highways lie waste,
The traveling man ceases.
He has broken the covenant,
He has despised the cities,^[b]
He regards no man.
⁹ The earth mourns and languishes,
Lebanon is shamed and shriveled;
Sharon is like a wilderness,
And Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.