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Bible / Isaias

Isaias 33

Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation

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.

2 O Lord, have mercy on us: for we have waited for thee: be thou our arm in the morning, and our salvation in the time of trouble.

3 At the voice of the angel the people fled, and at the lifting up thyself the nations are scattered.

4 And your spoils shall be gathered together as the locusts are gathered, as when the ditches are full of them.

5 The Lord is magnified, for he hath dwelt on high: he hath filled Sion with judgment and justice.

6 And there shall be faith in thy times: riches of salvation, wisdom and knowledge: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.

7 Behold they that see shall cry without, the angels of peace shall weep bitterly.

8 The ways are made desolate, no one passeth by the road, the covenant is made void, he hath rejected the cities, he hath not regarded the men.

9 The land hath mourned, and languished: Libanus is confounded, and become foul, and Saron is become as a desert: and Basan and Carmel are shaken.

10 Now will I rise up, saith the Lord: now will I be exalted, now will I lift up myself.

11 You shall conceive heat, you shall bring forth stubble: your breath as fire shall devour you.

12 And the people shall be as ashes after a fire, as a bundle of thorns they shall be burnt with fire.

13 Hear, you that are far off, what I have done, and you that are near know my strength.

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?

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.

16 He shall dwell on high, the fortifications of rocks shall be his highness: bread is given him, his waters are sure.

17 His eyes shall see the king in his beauty, they shall see the land far off.

18 Thy heart shall meditate fear: where is the learned? where is he that pondereth the words of the law? where is the teacher of little ones?

19 The shameless people thou shalt not see, the people of profound speech: so that thou canst not understand the eloquence of his tongue, in whom there is no wisdom.

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.

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.

22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king: he will save us.

23 Thy tacklings are loosed, and they shall be of no strength: thy mast shall be in such condition, that thou shalt not be able to spread the flag. Then shall the spoils of much prey be divided: the lame shall take the spoil.

24 Neither shall he that is near, say: I am feeble. The people that dwell therein, shall have their iniquity taken away from them.

This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church

Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text. The Catechism uses modern verse numbers, so these are listed by chapter.

  1. Isaias 33:13 in modern Bibles
    Read the Fathers
    • “The Lord saith in the prophet, "In the hearing of the ear they obeyed me." And again He saith, "By hearing, those shall hear who are afar off; they shall know what I have done.”

      Quoted in The Letter of Barnabas, Unknown author (early 2nd century), Chapter IX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “The people who are become depreciated, and there is no understanding in him who hears.”

      Quoted in Dialogue with Trypho, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 160), Chapter LXX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  2. Isaias 33:16 in modern Bibles
    Read the Fathers
    • “… and will break the brazen gates, and bruise in pieces the iron bars; and I will give thee the secret, hidden, invisible treasures, that they may know that I am the Lord God." And "He shall dwell in a lofty cave of the strong rock.”

      Quoted in The Letter of Barnabas, Unknown author (early 2nd century), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

    • “His water is sure; ye shall see the King in His glory, and your soul shall meditate on the fear of the Lord.”

      Quoted in The Letter of Barnabas, Unknown author (early 2nd century), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  3. Isaias 33:17 in modern Bibles
    Read the Fathers
    • “His water is sure; ye shall see the King in His glory, and your soul shall meditate on the fear of the Lord.”

      Quoted in The Letter of Barnabas, Unknown author (early 2nd century), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  4. Isaias 33:18 in modern Bibles
    Read the Fathers
    • “His water is sure; ye shall see the King in His glory, and your soul shall meditate on the fear of the Lord.”

      Quoted in The Letter of Barnabas, Unknown author (early 2nd century), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  5. Isaias 33:20 in modern Bibles
    Read the Fathers
    • “… them because He loves them, and will spare them: He will Himself set them free." And that He should Himself become very man, visible, when He should be the Word giving salvation, Isaiah again says: "Behold, city of Zion: thine eyes shall see our salvation.”

      Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1

  6. Isaias 33:24 in modern BiblesCCC 1502
    Read the Catechism
    • CCC 1502 “The man of the Old Testament lives his sickness in the presence of God. It is before God that he laments his…”

A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.