The Burden of Damascus

Isaiah 17

Isaiah pronounces judgment against Damascus, foretelling that it will be reduced to ruin and pastureland while the glory of Jacob likewise fails, leaving only a small gleaning as after a harvest. In that day, he says, people will cease trusting in idols and the works of their own hands and will instead look to the Holy One of Israel, though the chapter also warns of a multitude of raging nations that will be driven away like chaff before the wind.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonBEHOLD, Damascus shall be removed from among cities, and shall be for desolation—

BrentonThe Word against Damascus. Behold, Damascus shall be taken away from among cities, and shall become a ruin;

GreekἸδοὺ Δαμασκὸς ἀρθήσεται ἀπὸ πόλεων, καὶ ἔσται εἰς πτῶσιν,

KJVThe burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

JPSThe burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, And it shall be a ruinous heap.

Thomsonleft for ever for the folding of flocks, and for a resting place where none will scare them.

Brentonabandoned for ever, to be a fold and resting-place for flocks, and there shall be none to go after them.

Greekκαταλελειμμένη εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, εἰς κοίτην ποιμνίων καὶ ἀνάπαυσιν, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ διώκων.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAnd it shall no more be a fortress for Ephraim to flee to; nor shall there be again a regal government in Damascus—ever hereafter, of the Syrians. For thou art not better than the children of Israel—than that which was their glory. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts:

BrentonAnd she shall no longer be a strong place for Ephraim to flee to, and there shall no longer be a kingdom in Damascus, or a remnant of Syrians; for thou art no better than the children of Israel, even than their glory; thus saith the Lord of hosts.

GreekΚαὶ οὐκέτι ἔσται ὀχυρὰ τοῦ καταφυγεῖν Ἐφραίμ· καὶ οὐκέτι βασιλεία ἐν Δαμασκῷ, καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν τῶν Σύρων οὐ γὰρ σὺ βελτίων εἶ τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, τῆς δόξης αὐτῶν· τάδε λέγει Κύριος σαβαώθ.

KJVThe fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

JPSThe fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus; and the remnant of Aram shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

Thomsonthere shall be in that day a diminution of the glory of Jacob; and the fatness of his glory shall be shaken;

BrentonThere shall be in that day a failure of the glory of Jacob, and the riches of his glory shall be shaken.

GreekἜσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἔκλειψις δόξης Ἰακὼβ, καὶ τὰ πίονα τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ σεισθήσεται.

KJVAnd in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

JPSAnd it shall come to pass in that day, That the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, And the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

Thomsonand it shall be as when one gathereth the standing harvest and reapeth the ears of stalks; nay, it shall be as when one gathereth stalks in a sterile vale,

BrentonAnd it shall be as if one should gather standing corn, and reap the grain of the ears; and it shall be as if one should gather ears in a rich valley;

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὃν τρόπον ἐάν τις συναγάγῃ ἀμητὸν ἑστηκότα, καὶ σπέρμα σταχύων ἀμήσῃ· καὶ ἔσται ὃν τρόπον ἐάν τις συναγάγῃ στάχυν ἐν φάραγγι στερεᾷ.

KJVAnd it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.

JPSAnd it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the standing corn, And reapeth the ears with his arm; Yea, it shall be as when one gleaneth ears In the valley of Rephaim.

Thomsonstill a stalk may be left in it; or like the unripe berries of an olive tree, two or three may be left on the topmost bough, or four or five among the branches.

Brentonand as if there should be left stubble therein, or as it were the berries of an olive tree, two or three on the topmost bough, or as if four or five should be left on their branches; thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel.

GreekΚαὶ καταλειφθῇ ἐν αὐτῇ καλάμη, ἢ ὡς ῥῶγες ἐλαίας δύο ἢ τρεῖς ἐπʼ ἄκρου μετεώρου, ἢ τέσσαρες ἢ πέντε ἀπὶ τῶν κλάδων αὐτῶν καταλειφθῇ· τὰδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσραήλ.

KJVYet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.

JPSYet there shall be left therein gleanings, As at the beating of an olive-tree, Two or three berries In the top of the uppermost bough, Four or five in the branches of the fruitful tree, Saith the LORD, the God of Israel.

ThomsonIn that day let man trust in his Maker, and his eyes look to the Holy One of Israel;

BrentonIn that day a man shall trust in him that made him, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

GreekΤῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ πεποιθὼς ἔσται ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐπὶ τῷ ποιήσαντι αὐτὸν, οἱ δὲ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν ἅγιον τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἐμβλέψονται,

KJVAt that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

JPSIn that day shall a man regard his Maker, And his eyes shall look to the Holy One of Israel.

Thomsonand let him no more put confidence in altars, nor in the works of their hands which their fingers have made, nor look to the groves nor to their abominations.

BrentonAnd they shall not at all trust in their altars, nor in the works of their hands, which their fingers made; and they shall not look to the trees, nor to their abominations.

Greekκαὶ οὐ μὴ πεποιθότες ὦσιν ἐπὶ τοῖς βωμοῖς, οὐδὲ ἐπὶ τοῖς ἔργοις τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν, ἃ ἐποίησαν οἱ δάκτυλοι αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐκ ὄψονται τὰ δένδρα, οὐδὲ τὰ βδελύγματα αὐτῶν.

KJVAnd he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.

JPSAnd he shall not regard the altars, The work of his hands, Neither shall he look to that which his fingers have made, Either the Asherim, or the sun-images.

ThomsonIn that day thy cities shall be forsaken, as the Amorites and Evites forsook theirs because of the sons of Israel: and they shall become a desolation.

BrentonIn that day thy cities shall be deserted, as the Amorites and the Evæans deserted theirs, because of the children of Israel; and they shall be desolate.

GreekΤῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἔσονται αἱ πόλεις σου ἐγκαταλελειμμέναι, ὃν τρόπον κατέλιπον οἱ Ἀμοῤῥαῖοι καὶ οἱ Εὐαῖοι ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν νἱῶν Ἰσραήλ· καὶ ἔσονται ἔρημοι,

KJVIn that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation.

JPSIn that day shall his strong cities be as the forsaken places, which were forsaken from before the children of Israel, after the manner of woods and lofty forests; and it shall be a desolation.

ThomsonBecause thou hast forsaken God thy Saviour, and hast not been mindful of the Lord thy helper, therefore thou shalt plant a faithless plant and a faithless seed.

BrentonBecause thou hast forsaken God thy Saviour, and hast not been mindful of the Lord thy helper; therefore shalt thou plant a false plant, and a false seed.

Greekδιότι κατέλιπες τὸν Θεὸν τὸν σωτῆρά σου, καὶ Κυρίου τοῦ βοηθοῦ σου οὐκ ἐμνήσθης· διὰτοῦτο φυτεύσεις φύτευμα ἄπιστον, καὶ σπέρμα ἄπιστον.

KJVBecause thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:

JPSFor thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, And thou hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy stronghold; Therefore thou didst plant plants of pleasantness, And didst set it with slips of a stranger;

ThomsonOn the day thou plantest thou shalt be deceived. Though thou sowest in the morning, shall it bloom for harvest? or on the day when thou shalt take possession, shalt thou as the father of man take possession for thy sons?

BrentonIn the day wherein thou shalt plant thou shalt be deceived; but if thou sow in the morning, the seed shall spring up for a crop in the day wherein thou shalt obtain an inheritance, and as a man's father, thou shalt obtain an inheritance for thy sons.

GreekΤῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ᾗ ἂν φυτεύσῃς, πλανηθήσῃ· τὸ δὲ πρωῒ ἐὰν σπείρῃς, ἀνθήσει εἰς ἀμητὸν ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ κληρώσῃ, καὶ ὡς πατὴρ ἀνθρώπου κληρώσῃ τοῖς υἱοῖς σου.

KJVIn the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.

JPS—

ThomsonAlas! the multitude of many nations! Like the billowy sea so shall you be tossed, and the back of many nations shall sound like water.

BrentonWoe to the multitude of many nations, as the swelling sea, so shall ye be confounded; and the force of many nations shall sound like water;

GreekΟὐαὶ πλῆθος ἐθνῶν πολλῶν· ὡς θάλασσα κυμαίνουσα, οὕτω ταραχθήσεσθε· καὶ νῶτος ἐθνῶν πολλῶν, ὡς ὕδωρ ἠχήσει.

KJVWoe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

JPS—

Thomson—

Brentonmany nations like much water, as when much water rushes violently: and they shall drive him away, and pursue him afar, as the dust of chaff when men winnow before the wind, and as a storm whirling the dust of the wheel.

GreekὩς ὕδωρ πολὺ ἔθνη πολλὰ, ὡς ὕδατος πολλοῦ βίᾳ φερομένου· καὶ ἀποσκορακιεῖ αὐτὸν, καὶ πόῤῥω αὐτὸν διώξεται, ὡς χνοῦν ἀχύρου λικμώντων ἀπέναντι ἀνέμου, καὶ ὡς κονιορτὸν τροχοῦ καταιγὶς φέρουσα,

KJVThe nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

JPSThe nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters; But He shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, And shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, And like the whirling dust before the storm.

ThomsonFor He will repulse them with scorn, and pursue them to a great distance, like chaff before the wind when men winnow, or as a tempest driveth the dust of a wheel. Toward evening there will be grief; before morning they shall be no more. This is the portion of them who have plundered you; and this the inheritance of them, who have taken possession of you.

BrentonToward evening, and there shall be grief; before the morning, and he shall not be. This is the portion of them that spoiled you, and the inheritance to them that robbed you of your inheritance.

GreekΠρὸς ἑσπέραν καὶ ἔσται πένθος, πριν ἢ πρωῒ, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται· αὕτη ἡ μερὶς τῶν προνομευσάντων ὑμᾶς, καὶ κληρονομία τοῖς ὑμᾶς κληρονομήσασιν.

KJVAnd behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

JPSAt eventide behold terror; And before the morning they are not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, And the lot of them that rob us.