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The NET Bible®

Isaiah 47:12

Persist in trusting your amulets and your many incantations, which you have faithfully recited since your youth! Maybe you will be successful— maybe you will scare away disaster.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Idolatry;   Sorcery;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Babylon;   Divination;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Babylon;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Enchantments;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Divination;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Incantations;   Isaiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Election;   Magic, Divination, and Sorcery;   Micah, Book of;   Righteousness;   Servant of the Lord;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Sorcery;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Divination;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Zion;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Enchantments;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Enchantment;   Magic;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Magic;   Superstition;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So take your stand with your spellsand your many sorceries,which you have wearied yourself with from your youth.Perhaps you will be able to succeed;perhaps you will inspire terror!
Hebrew Names Version
Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth; if so be you shall be able to profit, if so be you may prevail.
King James Version
Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
English Standard Version
Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror.
New American Standard Bible
"Persist now in your spells And in your many sorceries With which you have labored from your youth; Perhaps you will be able to benefit, Perhaps you may cause trembling.
New Century Version
"Keep on using your tricks and doing all your magic that you have used since you were young. Maybe they will help you; maybe you will be able to scare someone.
Amplified Bible
"Persist, then, [Babylon] in your enchantments And your many sorceries With which you have labored from your youth; Perhaps you will be able to profit [from them], Perhaps you may prevail and cause trembling.
World English Bible
Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth; if so be you shall be able to profit, if so be you may prevail.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Stand now among thine inchanters, and in the multitude of thy southsaiers (with whome thou hast wearied thy selfe from thy youth) if so be thou maist haue profit, or if so be thou maist haue strength.
Legacy Standard Bible
"Stand fast now in your spellsAnd in your many sorceriesWith which you have labored from your youth;Perhaps you will be able to profit;Perhaps you may cause trembling.
Berean Standard Bible
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!
Contemporary English Version
Keep using your magic powers and your charms as you have always done. Maybe—just maybe— you will frighten somebody!
Complete Jewish Bible
So for now, keep on with your powerful spells and your many occult practices; from childhood you have been working at them; maybe they will do you some good, maybe you will inspire terror!
Darby Translation
Stand now with thine enchantments and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to turn them to profit, if so be thou mayest cause terror.
Easy-to-Read Version
You worked hard all your life learning magic and spells. So start using that magic. Maybe those spells will help you. Maybe you will be able to frighten someone.
George Lamsa Translation
Stand now with your magicians and with the multitude of your sorceries in which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to profit, perhaps you may strengthen yourself.
Good News Translation
Keep all your magic spells and charms; you have used them since you were young. Perhaps they will be of some help to you; perhaps you can frighten your enemies.
Lexham English Bible
Stand, now, in your enchantments, and in your many sorceries with which you have labored from your youth. Perhaps you may be able to benefit; perhaps you may scare away.
Literal Translation
Stand now among your spells, and with your many sorceries, in which you have wearied yourself since your youth. Perhaps you will be able to profit; perhaps you may cause quaking.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now go to thy coniurers, and to the multitude of thy witches, (whom thou hast bene acquanted withal from thi youth) yf they maye helpe the, or strengthe the.
American Standard Version
Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast labored from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
Bible in Basic English
Go on now with your secret arts, and all your wonder-working, to which you have given yourself up from your earliest days; it may be that they will be of profit to you, or by them you may put fear into your attackers.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
King James Version (1611)
Stand now with thine inchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profite, if so be thou mayest preuaile.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Nowe go to thy coniurers, and to the multitude of thy witches with whom thou hast weeryed thy selfe from thy youth, if thei may helpe thee or strength thee.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the abundance of thy sorcery, which thou hast learned from thy youth; if thou canst be profited.
English Revised Version
Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Stonde thou with thin enchauntours, and with the multitude of thi witchis, in whiche thou trauelidist fro thi yongthe; if in hap thei profiten ony thing to thee, ether if thou maist be maad the strongere.
Update Bible Version
Stand now with your magic words, and with the multitude of your witchcraft, wherein you have labored from your youth; perhaps you shall be able to profit, perhaps you may prevail.
Webster's Bible Translation
Stand now with thy enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, in which thou hast labored from thy youth; if thou shalt be able to profit, if thou mayest prevail.
New King James Version
"Stand now with your enchantments And the multitude of your sorceries, In which you have labored from your youth-- Perhaps you will be able to profit, Perhaps you will prevail.
New Living Translation
"Now use your magical charms! Use the spells you have worked at all these years! Maybe they will do you some good. Maybe they can make someone afraid of you.
New Life Bible
"Keep on with your sinful secret ways and all your witchcraft that you have used since you were young. It might be that you will get something from it. Maybe you can cause fear.
New Revised Standard
Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed, perhaps you may inspire terror.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Take thy stand, I pray thee, With thy spells. And with the throng of thine incantations wherein thou hast wearied thyself from thy youth, - Peradventure thou mayest be able to profit Peradventure thou mayest strike me with terror.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Stand now with thy enchanters, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, in which thou hast laboured from thy youth, if so be it may profit thee any thing, or if thou mayst become stronger.
Revised Standard Version
Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed, perhaps you may inspire terror.
Young's Literal Translation
Stand, I pray thee, in thy charms, And in the multitude of thy sorceries, In which thou hast laboured from thy youth, It may be thou art able to profit, It may be thou dost terrify!
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Stand fast now in your spells And in your many sorceries With which you have labored from your youth; Perhaps you will be able to profit, Perhaps you may cause trembling.

Contextual Overview

7 You said, ‘I will rule forever as permanent queen!' You did not think about these things; you did not consider how it would turn out. 8 So now, listen to this, O one who lives so lavishly, who lives securely, who says to herself, ‘I am unique! No one can compare to me! I will never have to live as a widow; I will never lose my children.' 9 Both of these will come upon you suddenly, in one day! You will lose your children and be widowed. You will be overwhelmed by these tragedies, despite your many incantations and your numerous amulets. 10 You were complacent in your evil deeds; you thought, ‘No one sees me.' Your self-professed wisdom and knowledge lead you astray, when you say, ‘I am unique! No one can compare to me!' 11 Disaster will overtake you; you will not know how to charm it away. Destruction will fall on you; you will not be able to appease it. Calamity will strike you suddenly, before you recognize it. 12 Persist in trusting your amulets and your many incantations, which you have faithfully recited since your youth! Maybe you will be successful— maybe you will scare away disaster. 13 You are tired out from listening to so much advice. Let them take their stand— the ones who see omens in the sky, who gaze at the stars, who make monthly predictions— let them rescue you from the disaster that is about to overtake you! 14 Look, they are like straw, which the fire burns up; they cannot rescue themselves from the heat of the flames. There are no coals to warm them, no firelight to enjoy. 15 They will disappoint you, those you have so faithfully dealt with since your youth. Each strays off in his own direction, leaving no one to rescue you."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Isaiah 47:9, Isaiah 47:10, Isaiah 8:19, Isaiah 19:3, Isaiah 44:25, Exodus 7:11, Exodus 8:7, Exodus 8:18, Exodus 8:19, Exodus 9:11, Jeremiah 2:28, Daniel 5:7-9, Nahum 3:4, Acts 13:8-12, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, Revelation 17:4-6

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:22 - as one Genesis 8:21 - the imagination Genesis 41:8 - the magicians of Egypt Numbers 22:6 - I wot Numbers 22:25 - crushed Balaam's Numbers 22:38 - have I Numbers 23:8 - General 1 Samuel 6:2 - called 2 Kings 17:17 - used Ecclesiastes 10:15 - labour Isaiah 2:6 - and are Jeremiah 10:2 - be Jeremiah 27:9 - dreamers Daniel 1:20 - the magicians Daniel 2:2 - General Daniel 2:27 - cannot Daniel 4:6 - to bring Daniel 4:18 - forasmuch Daniel 5:8 - but Daniel 5:15 - General Micah 3:7 - the seers Acts 19:19 - used Revelation 9:21 - their sorceries Revelation 22:15 - sorcerers

Cross-References

Genesis 45:11
I will provide you with food there because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise you would become poor—you, your household, and everyone who belongs to you."'
Genesis 47:1
Joseph went and told Pharaoh, "My father, my brothers, their flocks and herds, and all that they own have arrived from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen."
Genesis 47:4
Then they said to Pharaoh, "We have come to live as temporary residents in the land. There is no pasture for your servants' flocks because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. So now, please let your servants live in the land of Goshen."
Genesis 47:6
The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best region of the land. They may live in the land of Goshen. If you know of any highly capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock."
Genesis 47:10
Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.
Genesis 47:13
But there was no food in all the land because the famine was very severe; the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan wasted away because of the famine.
Genesis 47:21
Joseph made all the people slaves from one end of Egypt's border to the other end of it.
Genesis 47:24
When you gather in the crop, give one-fifth of it to Pharaoh, and the rest will be yours for seed for the fields and for you to eat, including those in your households and your little children."
Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you.
Ruth 4:15
He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She is better to you than seven sons!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries,.... An ironic expression, deriding those evil arts, bidding defiance to them, calling upon the masters of them to do their utmost by them:

wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; from the infancy of their state; as soon as their monarchy was founded, or they became a people, they were given to these practices, and were famous for them; and in which, no doubt, many among them were brought up from their youth; and to gain the knowledge of which they were at great labour and expense; and yet it was all in vain, and to no purpose:

if so be thou shall be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail; if skill in these things can be of any advantage to keep off the impending calamity, and fortify against the powerful enemy that will quickly surprise thee; try if by thine art thou canst foresee the danger, and prevent it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Stand now with thy enchantments - (See the notes at Isaiah 47:9). This is evidently sarcastic and ironical. It is a call on those who practiced the arts of magic to stand forth, and to show whether they were able to defend the city, and to save the nation.

Wherein thou hast labored - Or in practicing which thou hast been diligently employed.

From thy youth - From the very commencement of thy national existence. Babylon was always distinguished for these arts. Now was a time when their value was to be put to the test, and when it was to be seen whether they were able to save the nation.

If so be - Or perhaps or possibly, they may be able to profit thee - the language of irony. Perhaps by the aid of these arts you may be able to repel your foes.


 
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