The Word Brings Salvation (Isaiah 65:1–16)
1 RV Brethren, my heart’s desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved. BSB BSB: Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.
2 RV For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. BSB BSB: For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
3 RV For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. BSB BSB: Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
4 RV For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth. BSB BSB: For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 RV For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby. BSB BSB: For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”
6 RV But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:) BSB BSB: But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down)
7 RV or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.) BSB BSB: or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
8 RV But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: BSB BSB: But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
9 RV because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: BSB BSB: that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 RV for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. BSB BSB: For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.
11 RV For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame. BSB BSB: It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
12 RV For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him: BSB BSB: For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,
14 RV How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? BSB BSB: How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?
15 RV and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things! BSB BSB: And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
16 RV But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? BSB BSB: But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
17 RV So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. BSB BSB: Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
18 RV But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world. BSB BSB: But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
19 RV But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you. BSB BSB: I ask instead, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says: “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation without understanding.”
20 RV And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me. BSB BSB: And Isaiah boldly says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”
21 RV But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. BSB BSB: But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.