The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Isaiah 23

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

Isaiah chapter 23 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in; from the land…” — the complete text of all 18 verses is below, free to read online.

1The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in; from the land of Kittim it is revealed to them.

2Be still, ye inhabitants of the coast-land; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.

3And on great waters the seed of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue; and she was the mart of nations.

4Be thou ashamed, O Zidon; for the sea hath spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying: 'I have not travailed, nor brought forth, neither have I reared young men, nor brought up virgins.'

5When the report cometh to Egypt, they shall be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

6Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the coast-land.

7Is this your joyous city, whose feet in antiquity, in ancient days, carried her afar off to sojourn?

8Who hath devised this against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?

9HaShem of hosts hath devised it, to pollute the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

10Overflow thy land as the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish! there is no girdle any more.

11He hath stretched out His hand over the sea, He hath shaken the kingdoms; HaShem hath given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds thereof;

12And He said: 'Thou shalt no more rejoice.' O thou oppressed virgin daughter of Zidon, arise, pass over to Kittim; even there shalt thou have no rest.

13Behold, the land of the Chaldeans--this is the people that was not, when Asshur founded it for shipmen--they set up their towers, they overthrew the palaces thereof; it is made a ruin.

14Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is laid waste.

15And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king; after the end of seventy years it shall fare with Tyre as in the song of the harlot:

16Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot long forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.

17And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that HaShem will remember Tyre, and she shall return to her hire, and shall have commerce with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

18And her gain and her hire shall be holiness to HaShem; it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her gain shall be for them that dwell before HaShem, to eat their fill, and for stately clothing.

18 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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