A Reign of Righteousness
Isaiah 32
Isaiah foresees a king who will reign in righteousness with princes who govern justly, in contrast to the folly of fools and the false security of complacent, careless women. He describes a coming desolation of the land followed by lasting peace and fruitfulness once the Spirit is poured out from on high.
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
ThomsonFOR behold, a righteous king shall reign and chiefs shall rule with justice.
BrentonFor, behold, a righteous king shall reign, and princes shall govern with judgment.
GreekἸδοὺ γὰρ βασιλεὺς δίκαιος βασιλεύσει, καὶ ἄρχοντες μετὰ κρίσεως ἄρξουσι.
KJVBehold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
JPSBehold, a king shall reign in righteousness, And as for princes, they shall rule in justice.
2
ThomsonAnd this man will be one who hideth his words, and he will be hid as from a rolling flood. And he will be seen on Sion like a glorious stream in a thirsty land.
BrentonAnd a man shall hide his words, and be hidden, as from rushing water, and shall appear in Sion as a rushing river, glorious in a thirsty land.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὁ ἄνθρωπος κρύπτων τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ, καὶ κρυβήσεται, ὡς ἀφʼ ὕδατος φερομένου· καὶ φανήσεται ἐν Σειὼν ὡς ποταμὸς φερόμενος ἔνδοξος ἐν γῇ διψώσῃ.
KJVAnd a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
JPS—
3
ThomsonAnd they shall no more put confidence in men; but shall apply their ears to hear.
BrentonAnd they shall no more trust in men, but they shall incline their ears to hear.
GreekΚαὶ οὐκέτι ἔσονται πεποιθότες ἐπʼ ἀνθρώποις, ἀλλὰ τὰ ὦτα ἀκούειν δώσουσι.
KJVAnd the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.
JPSAnd the eyes of them that see shall not be closed, And the ears of them that hear shall attend.
4
ThomsonAnd the heart of the weak will listen attentively; and trifling tongues will soon learn to speak peace.
BrentonAnd the heart of the weak ones shall attend to hear, and the stammering tongues shall soon learn to speak peace.
GreekΚαὶ ἡ καρδία τῶν ἀσθενούντων προσέξει τῷ ἀκούειν, καὶ αἱ γλῶσσαι αἱ ψελλίζουσαι ταχὺ μαθήσονται λαλεῖν εἰρήνην.
KJV—
JPS—
5
ThomsonAnd they will no more order the fool to govern, nor shall thy servants any more command silence.
BrentonAnd they shall no more at all tell a fool to rule, and thy servants shall no more at all say, Be silent.
GreekΚαὶ οὐκέτι μὴ εἴπωσι τῷ μωρῷ ἄρχειν, καὶ οὐκέτι μὴ εἴπωσιν οἱ ὑπηρέται σου, σίγα.
KJV—
JPS—
6
ThomsonFor the fool will speak foolishly, and his heart will devise vain things; that he may commit iniquity, and utter error before the Lord in order to scatter hungry souls: and the thirsty souls he will send away empty.
BrentonFor the fool shall speak foolish words, and his heart shall meditate vanities, and to perform lawless deeds and to speak error against the Lord, to scatter hungry souls, and he will cause the thirsty souls to be empty.
GreekὉ γὰρ μωρὸς μωρὰ λαλήσει, καὶ ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ μάταια νοήσει, τοῦ συντελεῖν ἄνομα, καὶ λαλεῖν πρὸς Κύριον πλάνησιν, τοῦ διασπεῖραι ψυχὰς πεινώσας, καὶ τὰς ψυχὰς τὰς διψώσας κενὰς ποιήσει.
KJVFor the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
JPSFor the vile person will speak villainy, And his heart will work iniquity, To practise ungodliness, and to utter wickedness against the LORD, To make empty the soul of the hungry, And to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
7
ThomsonFor the counsel of the wicked will devise unlawful devices to destroy the poor with unjust pleas; and to baffle the pleas of the poor in judgment.
BrentonFor the counsel of the wicked will devise iniquity, to destroy the poor with unjust words, and ruin the cause of the poor in judgment.
GreekἩ γὰρ βουλὴ τῶν πονηρῶν ἄνομα βουλεύσεται, καταφθεῖραι ταπεινοὺς ἐν λόγοις ἀδίκοις, καὶ διασκεδάσαι λόγους ταπεινῶν ἐν κρίσει.
KJVThe instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.
JPSThe instruments also of the churl are evil; He deviseth wicked devices To destroy the poor with lying words, And the needy when he speaketh right.
8
ThomsonBut the pious have counselled with understanding; and their counsel shall be established.
BrentonBut the godly have devised wise measures, and this counsel shall stand.
GreekΟἱ δὲ εὐσεβεῖς συνετὰ ἐβουλεύσαντο, καὶ αὕτη ἡ βουλὴ μενεῖ.
KJV—
JPS—
9
ThomsonArise, ye rich women, and hear my voice, hearken to my words ye daughters of hope!
BrentonRise up, ye rich women, and hear my voice; ye confident daughters, hearken to my words.
GreekΓυναῖκες πλούσιαι ἀνάστητε, καὶ ἀκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς μου· θυγατέρες ἐν ἐλπίδι εἰσακούσατε λόγους μου.
KJVRise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.
JPSRise up, ye women that are at ease, and hear my voice; Ye confident daughters, give ear unto my speech.
10
Thomsonmake mention of a day of a year in sorrow, with hope. The vintage is destroyed; it hath failed! must it never come again any more?
BrentonRemember for a full year in pain, yet with hope: the vintage has been cut off, it has ceased, it shall by no means come again.
GreekἩμέρας ἐνιαυτοῦ μνείαν ποιήσασθε ἐν ὀδύνῃ μετʼ ἐλπίδος· ἀνήλωται ὁ τρυγητὸς, πέπαυται, οὐκέτι μὴ ἔλθῃ.
KJV—
JPSAfter a year and days shall ye be troubled, ye confident women; For the vintage shall fail, the ingathering shall not come.
11
ThomsonBe confounded; be grieved, ye confident women! strip, make yourselves bare; gird your loins
BrentonBe amazed, be pained, ye confident ones: strip you, bare yourselves, gird your loins;
GreekἜκστητε, λυπήθητε αἱ πεποιθυῖαι, ἐκδύσασθε, γυμναὶ γένεσθε, περιζώσασθε τὰς ὀσφῦας,
KJVTremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.
JPSTremble, ye women that are at ease; Be troubled, ye confident ones; Strip you, and make you bare, And gird sackcloth upon your loins,
12
Thomsonand beat your breasts for the lovely field—for the fruitful vine.
Brentonand beat on your breasts, because of the pleasant field, and the fruit of the vine.
Greekκαὶ ἐπὶ τῶν μαστῶν κόπτεσθε, ἀπὸ ἀγροῦ ἐπιθυμήματος, καὶ ἀμπέλου γεννήματος.
KJVThey shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.
JPSSmiting upon the breasts For the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine;
13
ThomsonIn this land of my people shall spring up the thorn and the briar, and joy shall be taken from every dwelling.
BrentonAs for the land of my people, the thorn and grass shall come upon it, and joy shall be removed from every house.
GreekἩ γῆ τοῦ λαοῦ μου, ἄκανθα καὶ χόρτος ἀναβήσεται, καὶ ἐκ πάσης οἰκίας εὐφροσύνη ἀρθήσεται.
KJVUpon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:
JPSFor the land of my people Whereon thorns and briers come up; Yea, for all the houses of joy And the joyous city.
14
ThomsonO rich city! O houses wholly forsaken! They shall abandon city, riches, lovely houses; and until the age the villages shall be dens—the joy of wild asses, the pastures of flocks,
BrentonAs for the rich city, the houses are deserted; they shall abandon the wealth of the city, and the pleasant houses: and the villages shall be caves for ever, the joy of wild asses, shepherds' pastures;
GreekΠόλις πλουσία, οἶκοι ἐγκαταλελειμμένοι πλοῦτον πόλεως ἀφήσουσιν, οἴκους ἐπιθυμήματος· καὶ ἔσονται αἱ κῶμαι σπήλαια ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος, εὐφροσύνη ὄνων ἀγρίων, βοσκήματα ποιμένων,
KJVBecause the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;
JPSFor the palace shall be forsaken; The city with its stir shall be deserted; The mound and the tower shall be for dens for ever, A joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;
15
Thomsontill a spirit come on you from on high. Then will a desert become a Chermel and Chermel will be accounted a forest;
Brentonuntil the Spirit shall come upon you from on high, and Chermel shall be desert, and Chermel shall be counted for a forest.
Greekἕως ἂν ἔλθῃ ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς πνεῦμα ἀφʼ ὑψηλοῦ· καὶ ἔσται ἔρημος ὁ Χέρμελ, καὶ ὁ Χέρμελ εἰς δρυμὸν λογισθήσεται.
KJVUntil the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
JPSUntil the spirit be poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness become a fruitful field, And the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
16
Thomsonand judgment will make a lasting abode in the desert, and righteousness will dwell in Chermel.
BrentonThen judgment shall abide in the wilderness, and righteousness shall dwell in Carmel.
GreekΚαὶ ἀναπαύσεται ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ κρίμα, καὶ δικαιοσύνη ἐν τῷ Καρμήλῳ κατοικήσει.
KJVThen judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
JPSThen justice shall dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness shall abide in the fruitful field.
17
ThomsonAnd the works of righteousness shall be peace; and righteousness shall enjoy rest. As for them who have kept up their confidence till that age—
BrentonAnd the works of righteousness shall be peace; and righteousness shall ensure rest, and the righteous shall be confident for ever.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται τὰ ἔργα τῆς δικαιοσύνης, εἰρήνη· καὶ κρατήσει ἡ δικαιοσύνη ἀνάπαυσιν, καὶ πεποιθότες ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος.
KJVAnd the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
JPSAnd the work of righteousness shall be peace; And the effect of righteousness quietness and confidence for ever.
18
ThomsonHis people shall then inhabit a city of peace and dwell secure, and they shall enjoy rest with riches.
BrentonAnd his people shall inhabit a city of peace, and dwell in it in confidence, and they shall rest with wealth.
GreekΚαὶ κατοικήσει ὁ λαὸς αὐτοῦ ἐν πόλει εἰρήνης, καὶ ἐνοικήσει πεποιθὼς, καὶ ἀναπαύσονται μετὰ πλούτου.
KJV—
JPS—
19
ThomsonThough the hail descend, it shall not reach you: and they who dwell in the forest shall be secure as they in the plain.
BrentonAnd if the hail should come down, it shall not come upon you; and they that dwell in the forests shall be in confidence, as those in the plain country.
GreekἩ δὲ χάλαζα ἐὰν καταβῇ, οὐκ ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς ἥξει· καὶ ἔσονται οἱ ἐνοικοῦντες ἐν τοῖς δρυμοῖς πεποιθότες, ὡς οἱ ἐν τῷ πεδινῇ.
KJV—
JPS—
20
Thomson(c) Happy they who sow on every water where the ox and the ass treadeth!
BrentonBlessed are they that sow by every water, where the ox and ass tread.
GreekΜακάριοι οἱ σπείροντες ἐπὶ πᾶν ὕδωρ, οὗ βοῦς καὶ ὄνος πατεῖ.
KJVBlessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
JPSHappy are ye that sow beside all waters, That send forth freely the feet of the ox and the ass.