Isaiah 23

1 The message concerning Tyre. Wail, ships of Carthage, because Tyre has perished and ships no longer arrive from the land of Kittim. She has been taken captive.

2 Who have the island’s inhabitants become like—the merchants of Phoenicia crossing the sea

3 on great waters, a generation of traders? As at harvest time, so these traders deal with the nations.

4 ‘Be ashamed, Sidon,’ the sea has said, and the strength of the sea has said, ‘I have not been in labor or given birth; I have not raised young men or brought up young women.’

5 When news of this reaches Egypt, anguish will seize them because of Tyre.

6 Cross over to Carthage; wail, you who live on this island.

7 Was this not your pride from the beginning, before she was handed over?

8 Who planned this against Tyre? Is she inferior, or does she have no strength? Her merchants were the earth’s glorious rulers.

9 The Lord of armies has planned to bring down all the pride of the glorious and disgrace everything glorious on earth.

10 Work your land, because ships no longer leave Carthage.

11 Your hand, which troubled kings, no longer has power at sea. The Lord of armies gave a command concerning Canaan, to destroy its strength.

12 People will say, ‘You will no longer insult and injure the daughter of Sidon.’ Even if you cross over to Kittim, you will find no rest there.

13 If you go to the land of the Chaldeans, it too has been devastated by the Assyrians. You will find no rest there either, because its wall has fallen.

14 Wail, ships of Carthage, because your fortress has been destroyed.

15 On that day Tyre will be abandoned for seventy years, the length of one king’s or one man’s life. After seventy years Tyre will become like the song of a prostitute.

16 Take a harp and wander through the cities, forgotten prostitute. Play the harp well and sing many songs so people will remember you.

17 After the seventy years, God will turn toward Tyre. She will be restored to her former state and become a marketplace for all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.

18 Her trade and profit will be holy to the Lord. It will not be stored up for her people, but will supply food, drink, and abundance for those who live before the Lord, as a contribution and a memorial before him.