The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth [it] to heart: and merciful men [are] taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come]. Ver. 1. _The righteous perisheth._] So the world deemeth, but not rightly, for "the righteous hath hope in his death," when "the wi... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, [each one] walking [in] his uprightness. Ver. 2. _He shall enter into peace,_] _i.e., _ Into heaven, where the righteous - however looked upon as lost Isa 57:1 - shall have "life and peace," Rom 8:6 joy and bliss, Matthew 25:21 _; _ Mat 25:2... [ Continue Reading ]
But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. Ver. 3. _But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress._] Here "Esaias is very bold," as the apostle saith of him in another case, Rom 10:20 and maketh it appear that he was none of those dumb dogs he had rate... [ Continue Reading ]
Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, [and] draw out the tongue? [are] ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, Ver. 4. _Against whom do ye sport yourselves?_] You that are the wits, the merry Greeks of the times, that, instead of "trembling at God's... [ Continue Reading ]
Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks? Ver. 5. _Inflaming yourselves with idols._] That it might appear that there was good cause of so much sharpness, and that he did them no wrong. He painteth them out in their co... [ Continue Reading ]
Among the smooth [stones] of the stream [is] thy portion; they, they [are] thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these? Ver. 6. _Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion._] _Pars et sors tua._ A poor porti... [ Continue Reading ]
Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice. Ver. 7. _Upon a lofty and high mountain._] In all places hast thou poured out thy whoredoms, setting thy sin "upon the cliff of the rock," as it were sunning, so shameless art thou grown. _ Thy b... [ Continue Reading ]
Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered [thyself to another] than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee [a covenant] with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest [it]. Ver. 8. _Behind the doors also, and the post... [ Continue Reading ]
And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase [thyself even] unto hell. Ver. 9. _And thou wentest to the king._] The King of Assyria, who styled himself the Great King, to whom Ahaz both sent and went. 2 Kings 16... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; [yet] saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved. Ver. 10. _Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way._] Great pains thou hast taken to small purpose, and yet thou thinkest and hopest, b... [ Continue Reading ]
And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid [it] to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not? Ver. 11. _And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared?_] _q.d., _ Not me surely, as thou oughtst; but thy fellow c... [ Continue Reading ]
I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee. Ver. 12. _I will declare thy righteousness,_] _i.e., _ Thine unrighteousness, by an irony; _a_ or, Thy righteousness _secundum dici, non secundum esse,_ thine hypocrisy. _ For they shall not profit thee._] Nay, they s... [ Continue Reading ]
When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take [them]: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain; Ver. 13. _When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee._] "Thy companies"; Heb., Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people._ Ver. 14. _And they shall say._] Or, And it shall be said. This is further added, for the comfort of those that trusted in God, that they shall have a smooth and clear passage home. This... [ Continue Reading ]
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Ver. 15. _For thus saith the high an... [ Continue Reading ]
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls [which] I have made. Ver. 16. _For I will not contend for ever._] It soon repenteth the Lord concerning his servants. _Et pro magno peccato parum supplicii satis est patti._ _a_ See... [ Continue Reading ]
For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. Ver. 17. _For the iniquity of his covetousness._] Or, Of his concupiscence, the sin of his nature. But covetousness is a wickedness with a witness, the "root o... [ Continue Reading ]
I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. Ver. 18. _I have seen his ways._] His ways of covetousness, crossness, &c. I could be as cross as he for the heart of him, Psa 18:26 but _ I will heal him,_] _q.d., _ I see these frowa... [ Continue Reading ]
_I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to [him that is] far off, and to [him that is] near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him._ Ver. 19. _I create the fruit of the lips,_] _i.e., _ I speak peace to my people by the mouths of my faithful ministers, applying and setting home the promises; an... [ Continue Reading ]
But the wicked [are] like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. Ver. 20. _But the wicked are like the troubled sea._] Whose surges are not more lofty than muddy. The sea is of itself unquiet and troublesome, much more when tossed with winds and tempests; so wick... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah 57:21 [There is] no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Ver. 21. _There is no peace._] A truce there may be for a time, and a seeming peace; but it is _pax infida, pax incerta,_ _a_ peace, no peace. The sea may seem sometimes still, but it is never so; no more are the wicked. And this is twi... [ Continue Reading ]