Overflowing Grace

Ch.

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2 Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks, "Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have revolted against Me.

3 "An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master′s manger, [But] Israel does not know, My people do not understand."

4 Alas, sinful nation, People weighed down with iniquity, Offspring of evildoers, Sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the LORD, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have turned away from Him.

5 Where will you be stricken again, [As] you continue in [your] rebellion? The whole head is sick, And the whole heart is faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing sound in it, [Only] bruises, welts, and raw wounds, Not pressed out or bandaged, Nor softened with oil.

7 Your land is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire, Your fields-- strangers are devouring them in your presence; It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.

8 And the daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, Like a watchman′s hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.

9 Unless the LORD of hosts Had left us a few survivors, We would be like Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah.

11 "What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams, And the fat of fed cattle. And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.

12 "When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?

13 "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.

14 "I hate your new moon [festivals] and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me. I am weary of bearing [them].

15 "So when you spread out your hands [in prayer], I will hide My eyes from you, Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.

16 "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,

17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless; Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.

18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

19 "If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land;

20 "But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword." Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

21 How the faithful city has become a harlot, She [who] was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers.

22 Your silver has become dross, Your drink diluted with water.

23 Your rulers are rebels, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe, And chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, Nor does the widow′s plea come before them.

24 Therefore the Lord God of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel declares, "Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries, And avenge Myself on My foes.

25 "I will also turn My hand against you, And will smelt away your dross as with lye, And will remove all your alloy.

26 "Then I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the city of righteousness, A faithful city."

27 Zion will be redeemed with justice, And her repentant ones with righteousness.

28 But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together, And those who forsake the Lord will come to an end.

29 Surely, you will be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, And you will be embarrassed at the gardens which you have chosen.

30 For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades away, Or as a garden that has no water.

31 And the strong man will become tinder, His work also a spark. Thus they shall both burn together, And there will be none to quench [them].

Isa. 1:3

"An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master′s manger, [But] Israel does not know, My people do not understand." [NASB]

My Translation

[my translatio]

Greek

ἔγνω βοῦς τὸν κτησάμενον καὶ ὄνος τὴν φάτνην τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ Ισραηλ δέ με οὐκ ἔγνω καὶ ὁ λαός με οὐ συνῆκεν

Hebrew

יָדַ֥ע שׁוֹר֙ קֹנֵ֔הוּ וַֽחֲמ֖וֹר אֵב֣וּס בְּעָלָ֑יו יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔ע עַמִּ֖י לֹ֥א הִתְבּוֹנָֽן

Comments

Even Dumb Animals Know Who Feeds and Cares For Them --

Even an ox recognizes its owner. Even a donkey realizes that his food and sustenance come from his master

They are wiser than Israel, who doesn’t understand that all the good they experience comes from God

And in not understanding this, they have rejected God and gone out on their own.

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NOTE: The truth is, we have all acted like this at some time or another. We look at the world and think that it will satisfy us and make us happy. But the world is run by the spirits of darkness. It looks good, but there is no substance in it. It will never make you happy and content.

(by William Bell - - May 22, 2025, 7:34 p.m.

They Don't Understand --

Many people today have forgotten God. They think that religion is outdated, that it is something to help weak people cope with the trials of life. They mock it as being a "crutch".

They think that they are wise and strong, that believing in God is something only weak people do. Even when their life is falling apart, they don't understand why their life has not turned out as they wanted or expected. They thought that they had a good plan, but when life does not turn out the way they expected, and they feel lost and alone, they don't understand why everything is upside down.

They fail to understand that there are spiritual forces at work in this world. We all grew up following the dark forces of death in this world. Paul tells us that before we surrendered to Jesus, we were led about by the spirit of this world and were slaves to it, being deceived by their lies and empty promises of happiness. If we believe and trust Jesus we can be filled with the Holy Spirit and follow the living God. These are the only two options.

Ephesians 2:1-5

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

(by William Bell - - May 27, 2025, 11:36 a.m.

NASB: New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org