Isaiah 55:7

KJV1611 – Modern English

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

יַעֲזֹב רָשָׁע דַּרְכּוֹ וְאִישׁ אָוֶן מַחְשְׁבֹתָיו וְיָשֹׁב אֶל־יְהוָה וִירַחֲמֵהוּ וְאֶל־אֱלֹהֵינוּ כִּי־יַרְבֶּה לִסְלוֹחַ

Transliteration

Yaʿăzōḇ rāšāʿ darkô and-ʾîš ʾāwen maḥšĕḇōṯāyw and-yāšōḇ to-YHWH and-yĕraḥămēhû and-to-ʾĕlōhênû because-yarbeh to-sĕlôaḥ

Grammar Details

• *Yaʿăzōḇ*: verb, qal jussive, 3rd person masculine singular - let him forsake
• *rāšāʿ*: adjective, masculine singular - wicked man
• *darkô*: noun, feminine singular construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his way
• *ʾîš*: noun, masculine singular construct - man of
• *ʾāwen*: noun, masculine singular - iniquity/wickedness
• *maḥšĕḇōṯāyw*: noun, feminine plural construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his thoughts
• *yāšōḇ*: verb, qal jussive, 3rd person masculine singular - let him return
• *YHWH*: proper noun - Yahweh/the LORD
• *yĕraḥămēhû*: verb, piel imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - he will have mercy on him
• *ʾĕlōhênû*: noun, masculine plural construct with 1st person common plural suffix - our God
• *yarbeh*: verb, hifil imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he will multiply/increase
• *sĕlôaḥ*: verb, qal infinitive construct - to forgive

Word Meanings

• *Yaʿăzōḇ*: let him forsake/abandon/leave
• *rāšāʿ*: wicked person/criminal/guilty one
• *ʾāwen*: iniquity/wickedness/evil/trouble
• *maḥšĕḇōṯāyw*: his thoughts/plans/intentions
• *yāšōḇ*: let him return/turn back/repent
• *yĕraḥămēhû*: he will have mercy on him/compassion on him
• *yarbeh*: he will abundantly/multiply/increase
• *sĕlôaḥ*: to forgive/pardon

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the LORD, so that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  let the wicked{H7563} forsake{H5800} his way,{H1870} and the unrighteous{H205} man{H376} his thoughts;{H4284} and let him return{H7725} unto Jehovah,{H3068} and he will have mercy{H7355} upon him; and to our God,{H430} for he will abundantly{H7235} pardon.{H5545}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Let the wicked{H7563} forsake{H5800}{(H8799)} his way{H1870}, and the unrighteous{H205} man{H376} his thoughts{H4284}: and let him return{H7725}{(H8799)} unto the LORD{H3068}, and he will have mercy{H7355}{(H8762)} upon him; and to our God{H430}, for he will abundantly{H7235}{(H8686)} pardon{H5545}{(H8800)}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Let the vngodly man forsake his wayes, ad the vnrightuous his ymaginacios, & turne agayne vnto the LORDE, so shal he be merciful vnto him: and to oure God, for he is redy to forgeue.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Let the wicked forsake his wayes, and the vnrighteous his owne imaginations, and returne vnto the Lord, and he wil haue mercy vpon him: and to our God, for hee is very ready to forgiue.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Let the vngodly man forsake his owne wayes, and the vnrighteous his owne imaginations, and turne agayne vnto the Lorde, so shall he be mercifull vnto hym: and to our God, for he is very redy to forgeue.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Forsake doth the wicked his way, And the man of iniquity his thoughts, And he returneth to Jehovah, and He pitieth him, And unto our God for He multiplieth to pardon.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Let the sinner give up his way, and the evil-doer his purpose: and let him come back to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for there is full forgiveness with him.

• World English Bible (2000)

  let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle and sinful people their plans. They should return to the LORD, and he will show mercy to them, and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.

Referenced Verses

• Jas 4:8-9 : 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.
• 2 Chr 7:14 : 14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
• Prov 28:13 : 13 He who covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
• Isa 43:25 : 25 I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
• Isa 44:22 : 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, like a cloud, your sins: return to me; for I have redeemed you.
• Ps 66:18 : 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
• Ezek 18:21-23 : 21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all My statutes, and do what is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he has committed shall not be mentioned to him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord GOD, and not that he should return from his ways and live?
• Ezek 18:27-32 : 27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does what is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28 Because he considers and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 29 Yet says the house of Israel, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal.’ O house of Israel, are not My ways equal? Are not your ways unequal? 30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby you have transgressed; and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says the Lord GOD: therefore turn yourselves, and live.
• Ezek 33:14-16 : 14 Again, when I say to the wicked, You shall surely die; if he turns from his sin, and does that which is lawful and right; 15 If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, walks in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. 16 None of his sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him: he has done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
• Luke 15:10 : 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
• Gen 6:5 : 5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
• 1 Tim 1:15-16 : 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all patience as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
• 1 Cor 6:9-9 : 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
• Eph 1:6-8 : 6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; 8 Which He has lavished on us in all wisdom and understanding;
• Luke 15:24 : 24 For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.
• Acts 3:19 : 19 Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
• Acts 8:21-22 : 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
• Acts 26:20 : 20 But showed first to those of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works fitting for repentance.
• Matt 15:18-19 : 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart; and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
• Matt 23:25-26 : 25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
• Mark 7:21 : 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
• Mark 7:23 : 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.
• Luke 7:47 : 47 Therefore I say to you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.
• Luke 11:39-40 : 39 And the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. 40 Fools, did not he who made the outside make the inside also?
• Hos 14:1-2 : 1 O Israel, return to the LORD your God; for you have fallen by your iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say to him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so we will offer the sacrifice of our lips.
• Jonah 3:10 : 10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented of the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.
• Zech 8:17 : 17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, says the LORD.
• Matt 9:13 : 13 But go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice: for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.
• Ezek 33:11 : 11 Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
• Isa 1:16-18 : 16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
• Isa 32:7 : 7 The schemes of the miser are evil: he devises wicked plans to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks what is right.
• Isa 40:2 : 2 Speak kindly to Jerusalem and cry out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, for she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
• Isa 54:10 : 10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, says the LORD that has mercy on you.
• Isa 59:7 : 7 Their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; devastation and destruction are in their paths.
• Jer 3:3 : 3 Therefore, the showers have been withheld, and there has been no latter rain; and you had a harlot's forehead, you refused to be ashamed.
• Jer 3:12-13 : 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, backsliding Israel, says the LORD; and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, says the LORD, and I will not keep anger forever. 13 Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the LORD your God, and have scattered your ways to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed my voice, says the LORD.
• Jer 4:14 : 14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your vain thoughts lodge within you?
• Jer 8:4-6 : 4 Moreover you shall say to them, Thus says the LORD; Shall they fall and not rise? Shall he turn away and not return? 5 Why then has this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return. 6 I listened and heard, but they did not speak rightly: no man repented of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? Everyone turned to his own course, like a horse charging into battle.
• Ezek 3:18-19 : 18 When I say to the wicked, You shall surely die; and you do not give him warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.
• Exod 34:6-7 : 6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in goodness and truth," 7 "Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and by no means clearing the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."
• Num 14:18-19 : 18 The LORD is longsuffering and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation. 19 Pardon, I beseech you, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your mercy, and as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
• Ps 51:1 : 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
• Ps 130:7 : 7 Let Israel hope in the LORD, for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is abundant redemption.
• Jas 1:15 : 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin: and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
• Rom 5:16-21 : 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as through one offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more: 21 So that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.