The Word Brings Salvation (Isaiah 65:1–16)
1 WBS Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they may be saved. BSB BSB: Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.
2 WBS For I bear them testimony that they have a zeal of 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 WBS For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted 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 WBS For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. BSB BSB: For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 WBS For Moses describeth the righteousness which is by the law, That the man who doeth these things shall live by them. BSB BSB: For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”
6 WBS But the righteousness which is by faith speaketh on this wise, 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 WBS Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring Christ again from the dead.) BSB BSB: or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
8 WBS But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even 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 WBS That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath 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 WBS For with the heart man believeth to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. BSB BSB: For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.
11 WBS For the scripture saith, whoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. BSB BSB: It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
12 WBS For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all, is rich to 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 WBS How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of 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 WBS And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and 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 WBS But they have not all obeyed the gospel. 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 WBS So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. BSB BSB: Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
18 WBS But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words to 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 WBS But I say, Did not Israel know? First, Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will 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 WBS But Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found by them that sought me not; I was made manifest to them that asked not for 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 WBS But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands to 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.”