Isaiah 10:14
12 So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes.
13 For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers.
My hand reached as into a nest to seize the wealth of the nations. Like one gathering abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth. No wing fluttered, no beak opened or chirped.’”
15 Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood!
16 Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts will send a wasting disease among Assyria’s stout warriors, and under his pomp will be kindled a fire like a burning flame.
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
- My hand reached as into a nest to seize the wealth of the nations. Like one gathering abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth. No wing fluttered, no beak opened or chirped.’”
- KJV
- And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
- WEB
- My hand has found the riches of the peoples like a nest, and like one gathers eggs that are abandoned, I have gathered all the earth. There was no one who moved their wing, or that opened their mouth, or chirped.”
- ASV
- and my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the peoples; and as one gathereth eggs that are forsaken, have I gathered all the earth: and there was none that moved the wing, or that opened the mouth, or chirped.
- DARBY
- and my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the peoples, and as one gathereth forsaken eggs, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or chirped.
- BLB
- And my hand has found the riches of the peoples as a nest; and as a gathering of forsaken eggs I have gathered all the earth; and there has not been one flapping a wing or opening [its] mouth and chirping.’”
- ÅB
- og min hånd grep etter folkenes gods som etter et fuglerede, og som en sanker forlatte egg, har jeg sanket alle land på jorden, og det var ingen som rørte en vinge eller åpnet sitt nebb og pep.
- OTB
- Min hånd nådde folkets rikdom som et rede, og som en samler forlatte egg, samlet jeg hele jorden; ikke en flakset med en vinge, åpnet sitt nebb eller kvitret."
- B1930
- og min hånd grep efter folkenes gods som efter et fuglerede, og som en sanker forlatte egg, har jeg sanket alle land på jorden, og det var ingen som rørte en vinge eller åpnet sitt nebb og pep.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 31:25
if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,
Read in contextProverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
Read in contextObadiah 1:4
Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.
Read in contextNahum 2:9–3:1
“Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing.
Read in contextJeremiah 49:16
The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, O occupiers of the mountain summit. Though you elevate your nest like the eagle, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.
Read in contextHabakkuk 2:5–11
and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.
Read in contextHosea 12:7–8
A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.
Read in contextIsaiah 5:8
Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field until no place is left and you live alone in the land.
Read in context