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Isaiah 47:11

Judgment

9 These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells.

10 You were secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray; you told yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’

But disaster will come upon you; you will not know how to charm it away. A calamity will befall you that you will be unable to ward off. Devastation will happen to you suddenly and unexpectedly.

12 So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror!

13 You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you— your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate.

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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
But disaster will come upon you; you will not know how to charm it away. A calamity will befall you that you will be unable to ward off. Devastation will happen to you suddenly and unexpectedly.
KJV
Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.
WEB
Therefore disaster will come on you. You won’t know when it dawns. Mischief will fall on you. You won’t be able to put it away. Desolation will come on you suddenly, which you don’t understand.
ASV
Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know the dawning thereof: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it away: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou knowest not.
DARBY
But evil shall come upon thee thou shalt not know from whence it riseth; and mischief shall fall upon thee, which thou shalt not be able to ward off; and desolation that thou suspectest not shall come upon thee suddenly.
BLB
And evil will come upon you, [and] you will not know its dawning; and disaster will fall upon you; you will not be able to wipe it away—and it will come upon you suddenly, devastation [that] you do not know!
ÅB
Så skal det da komme over deg en ulykke som du ikke kan mane bort, og en ødeleggelse skal ramme deg, som du ikke skal makte å avvende ved noe sonoffer, og en undergang som du ikke vet om, skal komme brått over deg.
OTB
Men ulykke vil komme over deg, og du vil ikke vite hvordan du skal sjarmere den bort. Ulykke vil falle over deg som du ikke kan avverge; ødeleggelse du ikke kan forutse vil komme over deg plutselig.
B1930
Så skal det da komme over dig en ulykke som du ikke kan mane bort, og en ødeleggelse skal ramme dig, som du ikke skal makte å avvende ved noget sonoffer, og en undergang som du ikke vet om, skal komme brått over dig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:3

    While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

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  • Revelation 18:9–10

    Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.

    Read in context

  • Nehemiah 4:11

    And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”

    Read in context

  • Revelation 3:3

    Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 51:39–42

    While they are flushed with heat, I will serve them a feast, and I will make them drunk so that they may revel; then they will fall asleep forever and never wake up, declares the LORD.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 50:22

    Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:

    Read in context

  • Exodus 12:29–30

    Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock.

    Read in context

  • Daniel 5:25–30

    Now this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.

    Read in context