What does Isaias Chapter 33 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The account retains the chapter’s particular images, requests and conditions. The speaker’s claims and the edition’s interpretations remain attributed. Unstated motives and general guarantees are not supplied as source facts.

Chapter breakdown

Isaias 33 begins with a warning to the spoiler and despiser: when spoiling ends and despising wearies, the same treatment returns. A prayer asks for mercy, morning strength and salvation in trouble. People flee at the angel's voice, nations scatter, and spoils are gathered like locusts gathered in full ditches. The exalted Lord fills Sion with judgment and justice; faith, salvation, wisdom, knowledge and fear form its riches.

Those who see cry outside and peace messengers weep. Deserted roads, a void covenant, rejected cities and disregarded men accompany mourning land, foul Libanus, desert Saron and shaken Basan and Carmel. The Lord rises: heat is conceived, stubble brought forth and breath becomes consuming fire. Sinners and hypocrites in Sion fear devouring fire and everlasting burnings. Walking justly, speaking truth, refusing oppression and bribes, stopping ears against blood and eyes against evil describe the one dwelling high with rock security, bread and sure water.

The king is seen in beauty and the distant land considered. The heart meditates fear and asks about the learned, the one pondering law and the teacher of little ones. The shameless people with profound speech and no wisdom are no longer seen. Jerusalem appears as a rich, secure tent at solemnity, with broad streams admitting neither oared ship nor great galley. The Lord is judge, lawgiver and king. Loose tackle, an ineffective mast and inability to spread a flag precede abundant spoils shared even by the lame. The one nearby does not say he is feeble, and iniquity is taken away. These prophetic assurances are retained without turning them into a medical cure or inventing a broken mast and sail.

The story inside

Opening: The account retains the chapter’s particular images, requests and conditions. Development: The speaker’s claims and the edition’s interpretations remain attributed. Conclusion: Unstated motives and general guarantees are not supplied as source facts.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The account retains the chapter’s particular images, requests and conditions.
2
The speaker’s claims and the edition’s interpretations remain attributed.
3
Unstated motives and general guarantees are not supplied as source facts.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 81177–81182
33:1. Woe to thee that spoilest, shalt not thou thyself also be spoiled? and thou that despisest, shalt not thyself also be despised? when thou shalt have made an end of spoiling, thou shalt be spoiled: when being wearied thou shalt cease to despise, thou shalt be despised. That spoilest, etc.... This is particularly directed to Sennacherib.
Lines 81225–81235
33:14. The sinners in Sion are afraid, trembling hath seized upon the hypocrites. Which of you can dwell with devouring fire? which of you shall dwell with everlasting burnings? 33:15. He that walketh in justices, and speaketh truth, that casteth away avarice by oppression, and shaketh his hands from all bribes, that stoppeth his ears lest he hear blood, and shutteth his eyes that he may see no evil. 33:16. He shall dwell on high, the fortifications of rocks shall be his highness: bread is given him, his waters are sure.
Lines 81248–81262
33:20. Look upon Sion the city of our solemnity: thy eyes shall see Jerusalem, a rich habitation, a tabernacle that cannot be removed: neither shall the nails thereof be taken away for ever, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. 33:21. Because only there our Lord is magnificent: a place of rivers, very broad and spacious streams: no ship with oars shall pass by it, neither shall the great galley pass through it. Of rivers.... He speaks of the rivers of endless joys that flow from the throne of God to water the heavenly Jerusalem, where no enemy’s ship can come, etc. 33:22. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king: he will save us.