John Calvin on Isaiah 48:22

22. There is no peace, saith Jehovah to the wicked. These words, “saith the Lord,” are included by some commentators in a parenthesis; but we view them as having this connection with what goes before, that the Lord denies to wicked men that “peace” of which they are unworthy. Our author means that, instead of reading the words thus, “There is no peace to the wicked, saith Jehovah,” he prefers to read them, “Jehovah saith to the wicked, There is no peace.” — Ed. And this is expressly added, that hypocrites might not, according to their custom, cherish false confidence in these promises; for he declares that the promises do not belong to them, in order to shut them out altogether from the hope of salvation. But Isaiah appears also to have had his eye on something else; for, since the greater part of the people, under the influence of impiety, rejected this blessing, many weak and feeble persons might hesitate and might be terrified by the opinion of the multitude; “These words relate to those Jews who, being obstinately devoted to idolatry, and having settled down in Babylon, chose to remain there rather than to return to their native country and the religious worship of Jehovah. He declares, therefore, that such persons shall not have the happiness that is promised to those who shall return to their native habitations.” — Rosenmuller. as in our own day we see feeble consciences disturbed, when they see the greater part of men despise the doctrine of salvation. Beholding many persons placed in danger, he tums away their minds from such a temptation, that they may not be troubled by the multitude of wicked and unbelieving men, who reject the grace of God and this prosperous condition, but that, without paying any regard to those men, they may embrace and enjoy this benefit.

A TRANSLATION OF

CALVIN’S VERSION OF

THE PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH.

CHAPTERS 33—48

CHAPTER 33

1 Wo to thee that spoilest, And was not spoiled; Who dealest wickedly, And they dealt not wickedly with thee! When thou shalt have ceased to spoil, Thou shalt be spoiled; When thou shalt have ceased to deal wickedly, They shall deal wickedly with thee.

2 O Jehovah, have pity upon us; We have hoped in thee; Be thou, who hast been their arm in the morning, Our salvation also in the time of trouble.

3 At the voice of the tumult the people fled; At thy exaltation the nations were dispersed.

4 And your prey shall be gathered by your gathering of cater-pillars, Advancing thither, according to the running of locusts.

5 Jehovah is exalted, who dwelleth on high; He hath filled Zion with judgment And righteousness.

6 And the stability of thy times shall be Strength, salvation, wisdom, And knowledge; The fear of Jehovah is his treasure.

7 Behold, their messengers shall cry without; The ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

8 The roads are deserted, The traveler hath ceased; He hath violated the treaty, He hath despised the cities, He hath paid no regard to any man.

9 The earth hath mourned And languished; Lebanon is ashamed And hewn down; Sharon hath been made like a wilderness; Bashan And Carmel have been shaken.

10 Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; Now will I be exalted; Now will I lift up myself.

11 Ye shall conceive chaff; Ye shall bring forth stubble; The fire of your breath shall devour you.

12 And the peoples shall be the burnings of lime; Or, Burnt lime. As thorns cut up shall they be burnt in the fire.

13 Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; Ye that are near, acknowledge my power.

14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; Terror hath seized the hypocrites. Or, The wicked. Which of us Or, Who instead of us? shall dwell with devouring fire? Which of us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

15 He who walketh in righteousnesses And speaketh what is right; Who despiseth the gain from violence And calumny; Who shaketh his hands from accepting a bribe; Who stoppeth his ear, that he may not hear blood; Who shutteth his eyes, that he may not see evil.

16 He shall dwell in high places; Fortifications of rocks shall be his refuge; Bread shall be given to him, And his waters (shall be) sure.

17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty; They shall behold the land (that is) very far off.

18 Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the weigher? Where is he who singleth out the principal houses?

19 The fierce people thou shalt not see, The people of a confused lip, so that thou canst not understand; Of a stammering tongue, so that thou canst not comprehend.

20 Look at Zion, the city of our solemnities; Or, Of our assemblies. Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a peaceful habitation, A tent which shall not be carried away, The stakes of which shall never be removed, And of which none of the ropes shall be broken:

21 Thus, Or, For if. shall the mighty Jehovah there be to us, A place of streams, of broad rivers, Through which there shall not pass a ship with oars, And through which a splendid ship shall not pass.

22 For Jehovah is our Judge; Jehovah is our Lawgiver; Jehovah is our King; He himself will save us.

23 Thy cords were loosed, So that they did not fasten their mast, Nor spread the sail; Then was the prey of much spoil divided; The lame also seized the prey.

24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick; The people that dwell in it have been freed from iniquity.

CHAPTER 34

1 Draw near, ye nations, to hear; And ye peoples, hearken. Let the earth hear, And its fullness; The world, And all its productions.

2 For the indignation of Jehovah is on all nations, And his fury on all their army; He hath destroyed them; He hath delivered them to slaughter.

3 Their slain shall be east out; And from their carcasses shall come up their stench; And the mountains shall melt on account of their blood.

4 And all the armies of heaven shall fade away, And shall be rolled up as a scroll. The heavens And all t