Deuteronomy 28:67
65 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
68 And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- In the morning you will say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and in the evening you will say, ‘If only it were morning!’—because of the dread in your hearts of the terrifying sights you will see.
- KJV
- In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
- WEB
- In the morning you will say, “I wish it were evening!” and at evening you will say, “I wish it were morning!” for the fear of your heart which you will fear, and for the sights which your eyes will see.
- ASV
- In the morning thou shalt say, Would it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would it were morning! for the fear of thy heart which thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
- DARBY
- In the morning thou shalt say, Would that it were even! and in the evening thou shalt say, Would that it were morning! through the fright of thy heart wherewith thou shalt be in terror, and through the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
- BLB
- In the morning you shall say, ‘Would that evening be granted!’ And at the evening you shall say, ‘Would that morning be granted!’ Because of the dread of your heart that you dread, and because of the sight of your eyes that you see.
- ÅB
- Om morgenen skal du si: Var det bare kveld! og om kvelden skal du si: Var det bare morgen! - for den angst du kjenner i ditt hjerte, og for det syn du ser med dine øyne.
- OTB
- Om morgenen vil du si, “Bare det var kveld!” og om kvelden, “Bare det var morgen!”—på grunn av den terror som vil gripe ditt hjerte og de synene dine øyne vil være vitne til.
- B1930
- Om morgenen skal du si: Var det bare aften! og om aftenen skal du si: Var det bare morgen! - for den angst du kjenner i ditt hjerte, og for det syn du ser med dine øine.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 28:34
So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
Read in contextJob 7:3–4
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
Read in contextRevelation 9:6
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
Read in context