The Siege of Ariel
Isaiah 29
The Lord announces distress for Jerusalem, called Ariel, comparing the people's spiritual blindness to a sealed book no one can read and their worship to lip service without the heart. He promises that the deaf will hear, the blind will see, and the humble and poor will rejoice in the Lord.
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
1
ThomsonHOLD consultation; exalt vain comfort. Ah, city Ariel, against which David fought! collect provisions year after year; eat; for you shall eat with Moab;
BrentonAlas for the city Ariel, which David besieged. Gather ye fruits year by year; eat ye, for ye shall eat with Moab.
GreekΟὐαὶ Ἀριὴλ πόλις, ἣν ἐπολέμησε Δαυείδ· συναγάγετε γενήματα ἐνιαυτὸν ἐπὶ ἐνιαυτὸν, φάγεσθε, φάγεσθε γὰρ σὺν Μωάβ,
KJVWoe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.
JPSAh, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David encamped! Add ye year to year, Let the feasts come round!
2
Thomsonfor I will bring distress upon Ariel, and her strength and her riches shall be for Me.
BrentonFor I will grievously afflict Ariel: and her strength and her wealth shall be mine.
Greekἐκθλίψω γὰρ Ἀριήλ· καὶ ἔσται αὐτῆς ἡ ἰσχὺς καὶ ὁ πλοῦτος ἐμοί.
KJV—
JPS—
3
Thomson—
BrentonAnd I will compass thee about like David, and will raise a mound about thee, and set up towers round thee.
GreekΚαὶ κυκλώσω ὡς Δαυὶδ ἐπὶ σὲ, καὶ βαλῶ περὶ σὲ χάρακα, καὶ θήσω περὶ σὲ πύργους,
KJVAnd I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.
JPSAnd I will encamp against thee round about, And will lay siege against thee with a mound, And I will raise siege works against thee.
4
ThomsonBut when thy words shall be brought down to the ground; and shall be as if they sounded out of the earth; and thy voice on the ground shall be feeble;
BrentonAnd thy words shall be brought down to the earth, and thy words shall sink down to the earth, and thy voice shall be as they that speak out of the earth, and thy voice shall be lowered to the ground.
Greekκαὶ ταπεινωθήσονται εἰς τὴν γῆν οἱ λόγοι σου, καὶ εἰς τὴν γῆν οἱ λόγοι σου δύσονται· καὶ ἔσονται ὡς οἱ φωνοῦντες ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἡ φωνή σου, καὶ πρὸς τὸ ἔδαφος ἡ φωνή σου ἀσθενήσει.
KJVAnd thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
JPSAnd brought down thou shalt speak out of the ground, And thy speech shall be low out of the dust; And thy voice shall be as of a ghost out of the ground, And thy speech shall chirp out of the dust.
5
Thomsonthen shall the riches of the wicked be as the dust of a wheel, and the multitude of thine oppressors as chaff blown away: and this shall be as in a moment, suddenly.
BrentonBut the wealth of the ungodly shall be as dust from a wheel, and the multitude of them that oppress thee as flying chaff, and it shall be suddenly as a moment,
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὡς κονιορτὸς ἀπὸ τροχοῦ ὁ πλοῦτος τῶν ἀσεβῶν, καὶ ὡς χνοῦς φερόμενος τὸ πλῆθος τῶν καταδυναστευόντων σε, καὶ ἔσται ὡς στιγμὴ παραχρῆμα
KJVMoreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
JPSBut the multitude of thy foes shall be like small dust, And the multitude of the terrible ones as chaff that passeth away; Yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly—
6
ThomsonFor from the Lord of Hosts there will be a visitation—a hurricane and a devouring flame of fire, with thunder and an earthquake and a mighty noise;
Brentonfrom the Lord of hosts: for there shall be a visitation with thunder, and earthquake, and a loud noise, a rushing tempest, and devouring flame of fire.
Greekπαρὰ Κυρίου σαβαώθ· ἐπισκοπὴ γὰρ ἔσται μετὰ βροντῆς καὶ σεισμοῦ καὶ φωνὴς μεγάλης, καταιγὶς φερομένη, καὶ φλὸξ πυρὸς κατεσθίουσα.
KJVThou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.
JPSThere shall be a visitation from the LORD of hosts With thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, With whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.
7
Thomsonand the wealth of all the nations which encamped against Ariel, and all they who are warring against Jerusalem, and all who have been assembled against her, and those distressing her, shall be like one dreaming dreams by night:
BrentonAnd the wealth of all the nations together, as many as have fought against Ariel, and all they that war against Jerusalem, and all who are gathered against her, and they that distress her, shall be as one that dreams in sleep by night.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὡς ἐνυπνιαζόμενος καθʼ ὕπνους νυκτὸς, ὁ πλοῦτος ἁπάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὅσοι ἐπεστράτευσαν ἐπὶ Ἀριὴλ, καὶ πάντες οἱ στρατευόμενοι ἐπὶ Ἰερουσαλὴμ, καὶ πάντες οἱ συνηγμένοι ἐπʼ αὐτὴν, καὶ οἱ θλίβοντες αὐτήν.
KJVAnd the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.
JPSAnd the multitude of all the nations that war against Ariel, Even all that war against her, and the bulwarks about her, and they that distress her, Shall be as a dream, a vision of the night.
8
Thomsonand like men who in sleep are eating and drinking, but when they awake the dream is vain: even as a thirsty man dreameth that he drinketh, and when he waketh he is still athirst, his soul having trusted in a shadow: so shall be the wealth of all the nations, who have warred against mount Sion.
BrentonAnd as men drink and eat in sleep, and when they have arisen, the dream is vain: and as a thirsty man dreams as if he drank, and having arisen is still thirsty, and his soul has desired in vain: so shall be the wealth of all the nations, as many as have fought against the mount Sion.
GreekΚαὶ ὡς οἱ ἐν τῷ ὕπνῳ πίνοντες καὶ ἔσθοντες, καὶ ἐξαναστάντων, μάταιον τὸ ἐνύπνιον· καὶ ὃν τρόπον ἐνυπνιάζεται ὁ διψῶν ὡς ὁ πίνων, καὶ ἐξαναστὰς ἔτι διψᾷ, ἡ δὲ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ εἰς κενὸν ἤλπισεν· οὕτως ἔσται ὁ πλοῦτος τῶν ἐθνῶν πάντων, ὅσοι ἐπεστράτευσαν ἐπὶ τὸ ὄρος Σιών.
KJVIt shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
JPSAnd it shall be as when a hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth, But he awaketh, and his soul is empty; Or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh, But he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite— So shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
9
ThomsonBe sunk in dejection and stand astonished; be drunk and reel, not with wine nor strong drink;
BrentonFaint ye, and be amazed, and be overpowered, not with strong drink nor with wine.
GreekἘκλύθητε καὶ ἔκστητε, καὶ κραιπαλήσατε οὐκ ἀπὸ σίκερα οὐδὲ ἀπὸ οἴνου.
KJVStay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
JPSStupefy yourselves, and be stupid! Blind yourselves, and be blind! Ye that are drunken, but not with wine, That stagger, but not with strong drink.
10
Thomsonfor the Lord hath drenched you with a spirit of stupefaction, and will close up the eyes of them and of their prophets and their rulers. As for your seers of hidden things,
BrentonFor the Lord has made you to drink a spirit of deep sleep; and he shall close their eyes, and the eyes of their prophets and of their rulers, who see secret things.
Greekὅτι πεπότικεν ὑμᾶς Κύριος πνεύματι κατανύξεως, καὶ καμμύσει τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν, καὶ τῶν προφητῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ τῶν ἀρχόντων αὐτῶν, οἱ ὁρῶντες τὰ κρυπτά.
KJVFor the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
JPSFor the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, And hath closed your eyes; The prophets, and your heads, the seers, hath He covered.
11
Thomsonall these prophesies will be to you like the words of a book which is sealed: which when they give to a man skilled in letters, saying, Read this: He will say, I cannot read it, for it is sealed.
BrentonAnd all these things shall be to you as the words of this sealed book, which if they shall give to a learned man, saying, Read this, he shall then say, I cannot read it, for it is sealed.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὑμῖν τὰ ῥήματα πάντα ταῦτα, ὡς οἱ λόγοι τοῦ βιβλίου τοῦ ἐσφραγισμένου τσύτου, ὃ ἐὰν δῶσιν αὐτὸ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐπισταμένῳ γράμματα, λέγοντες, ἀνάγνωθι ταῦτα· καὶ ἐρεῖ, οὐ δύναμαι ἀναγνῶναι, ἐσφράγισται γάρ.
KJVAnd the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
JPSAnd the vision of all this is become unto you as the words of a writing that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying: ‘Read this, I pray thee’; and he saith: ‘I cannot, for it is sealed’;
12
ThomsonAnd should the book be put in the hands of an illiterate man, and they say to him, Read that, he will say, I do not know letters.
BrentonAnd this book shall be given into the hands of a man that is unlearned, and one shall say to him, Read this; and he shall say, I am not learned.
Greekκαὶ δοθήσεται τὸ βιβλίον τοῦτο εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπου μὴ ἐπισταμένου γράμματα, καὶ ἐρεῖ αὐτῷ, ἀνάγνωθι τοῦτο· καὶ ἐρεῖ, οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι γράμματα.
KJVAnd the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
JPSand the writing is delivered to him that is not learned, saying: ‘Read this, I pray thee’; and he saith: ‘I am not learned.’
13
ThomsonThe Lord hath indeed said: This people draw near to Me with their mouth; and with their lips they honour Me; but their heart is far from Me: and in vain do they worship Me, teaching the commands and doctrines of men:
BrentonAnd the Lord has said, This people draw nigh to me with their mouth, and they honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: but in vain do they worship me, teaching the commandments and doctrines of men.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος, ἐγγίζει μοι ὁ λαὸς οὗτος ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν τοῖς χείλεσιν αὐτῶν τιμῶσί με, ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν πόῤῥω ἀπέχει ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ· μάτην δὲ σέβονταί με, διδάσκοντες ἐντάλματα ἀνθρώπων καὶ διδασκαλίας.
KJVWherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
JPSAnd the Lord said: Forasmuch as this people draw near, and with their mouth and with their lips do honour Me, But have removed their heart far from Me, And their fear of Me is a commandment of men learned by rote;
14
Thomsontherefore, behold, I will proceed to the removal of this people and I will remove them; and destroy the wisdom of the wise, and darken the understanding of the prudent.
BrentonTherefore behold I will proceed to remove this people, and I will remove them: and I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will hide the understanding of the prudent.
GreekΔιατοῦτο ἰδοὺ προσθήσω τοῦ μεταθεῖναι τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον, καὶ μεταθήσω αὐτούς, καὶ ἀπολῶ τὴν σοφίαν τῶν σοφῶν, καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν τῶν συνετῶν κρύψω.
KJVTherefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
JPSTherefore, behold, I will again do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the prudence of their prudent men shall be hid.
15
ThomsonAlas! for them, who deeply form a design, but not by the Lord. Alas! for them, who form designs in secret, that their works may be in darkness; and who will say, Who hath seen us, and who can find out us, or what we do?
BrentonWoe to them that deepen their counsel, and not by the Lord. Woe to them that take secret counsel, and whose works are in darkness, and they say, Who has seen us? and who shall know us, or what we do?
GreekΟὐαὶ οἱ βαθέως βουλὴν ποιοῦντες, καὶ οὐ διὰ Κυπίυο· οὐαὶ οἱ ἐν κρυφῇ βουλὴν ποιοῦντες, καὶ ἔσται ἐν σκότει τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν· καὶ ἐροῦσι, τίς ἑόρακεν ἡμᾶς; καὶ τίς ἡμᾶς γνώσεται, ἢ ἃ ἡμεῖς ποιοῦμεν;
KJVWoe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
JPSWoe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say: ‘Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?’
16
ThomsonAre not you to be considered as the potter’s clay? Shall the thing formed say to the former of it, Thou hast not made me? Or shall the work say to the workman, Thou hast not made me wisely?
BrentonShall ye not be counted as clay of the potter? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Thou didst not form me? or the work to the maker, Thou hast not made me wisely?
GreekΟὐχ ὡς πηλὸς τοῦ κεραμέως λογισθήσεσθε; μὴ ἐρεῖ τὸ πλάσμα τῷ πλάσαντι αὐτό, οὐ σύ με ἔπλασας; ἢ τὸ ποίημα τῷ ποιήσαντι, οὐ συνετῶς με ἐποίησας;
KJVSurely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
JPSO your perversity! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay; that the thing made should say of him that made it: ‘He made me not’; Or the thing framed say of him that framed it: ‘He hath no understanding?’
17
ThomsonIs it not a little while, ere Lebanon shall be changed to a likeness of mount Carmel, and Carmel be accounted a forest?
BrentonIs it not yet a little while, and Libanus shall be changed as the mountain of Chermel, and Chermel shall be reckoned as a forest?
GreekΟὐκέτι μικρὸν καὶ μετατεθήσεται ὁ Λίβανος, ὡς τὸ ὄρος τὸ Χέρμελ, καὶ τὸ Χέρμελ εἰς δρυμὸν λογισθήσεται;
KJVIs it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
JPSIs it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
18
ThomsonAnd in that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and they in darkness, even they in thick darkness—
BrentonAnd in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and they that are in darkness, and they that are in mist: the eyes of the blind shall see,
GreekΚαὶ ἀκούσονται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ κωφοὶ λόγους βιβλίου, καὶ οἱ ἐν τῷ σκότει, καὶ οἱ ἐν τῇ ὁμίχλῃ· ὀφθαλμοὶ τυφλῶν ὄψονται,
KJVAnd in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
JPSAnd in that day shall the deaf hear the words of a book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
19
Thomsonthe eyes even of the blind—shall see; and the distressed shall exult with joy because of the Lord; and the disconsolate among men shall be filled with joy.
Brentonand the poor shall rejoice with joy because of the Lord, and they that had no hope among men shall be filled with joy.
Greekκαὶ ἀγαλλιάσονται πτωχοὶ διὰ Κύριον ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ, καὶ οἱ ἀπηλπισμένοι τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐμπλησθήσονται εὐφροσύνης.
KJVThe meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
JPSThe humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the neediest among men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
20
Thomson—
BrentonThe lawless man has come to nought, and the proud man has perished, and they that transgress mischievously have been utterly destroyed:
GreekἘξέλιπεν ἄνομος, καὶ ἀπώλετο ὑπερήφανος, καὶ ἐξωλοθρεύθησαν οἱ ἀνομοῦντες ἐπὶ κακίᾳ,
KJV—
JPS—
21
Thomsonand who by reasoning cause men to err. But as for all them who reprove in the gates they will indeed lay a stumbling block, because of their having turned aside the righteous one for the unrighteous. Therefore,
Brentonand they that cause men to sin by a word: and men shall make all that reprove in the gates an offence, because they have unjustly turned aside the righteous.
Greekκαὶ οἱ ποιοῦντες ἁμαρτεῖν ἀνθρώπους ἐν λόγῳ· πάντας δὲ τοὺς ἐλέγχοντας ἐν πύλαις πρόσκομμα θήσουσιν, ὅτι ἐπλαγίασαν ἐπʼ ἀδίκοις δίκαιον.
KJV—
JPS—
22
Thomsonthus saith the Lord respecting the house of Jacob, whom He set apart from Abraham: Jacob will not be ashamed now, nor will he now change his countenance;
BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord concerning the house of Jacob, whom he set apart from Abraam, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall he now change countenance.
GreekΔιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰακώβ, ὃν ἀφώρισεν ἐξ Ἀβραὰμ, οὐ νῦν αἰσχυνθήσεται Ἰακώβ, οὐδὲ νῦν τὸ πρόσωπον μεταβαλεῖ.
KJVTherefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.
JPSTherefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall not now be ashamed, Neither shall his face now wax pale;
23
Thomsonbut when his children shall see My works, because of Me they will hallow My name. They will hallow the Holy One of Jacob, and tremble before the God of Israel.
BrentonBut when their children shall have seen my works, they shall sanctify my name for my sake, and they shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
GreekἈλλʼ ὅταν ἴδωσιν τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν τὰ ἔργα μου, διʼ ἐμὲ ἁγιάσουσι τὸ ὄνομά μου, καὶ ἁγιάσουσι τὸν ἅγιον Ἰακὼβ, καὶ τὸν Θεὸν τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ φοβηθήσονται.
KJVBut when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
JPSWhen he seeth his children, the work of My hands, in the midst of him, That they sanctify My name; yea, they shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, And shall stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24
ThomsonAnd they who have erred in spirit will gain knowledge, and the murmurers shall be taught obedience, and the trifling tongues will learn to speak peace.
BrentonAnd they that erred in spirit shall know understanding, and the murmurers shall learn obedience, and the stammering tongues shall learn to speak peace.
GreekΚαὶ γνώσονται οἱ πλανώμενοι τῷ πνεύματι σύνεσιν, οἱ δὲ γογγύζοντες μαθήσονται ὑπακούειν, καὶ αἱ γλῶσσαι αἱ ψελλίζουσαι μαθήσονται λαλεῖν εἰρήνην.
KJVThey also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
JPSThey also that err in spirit shall come to understanding, And they that murmur shall learn instruction.