1And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
2Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
3Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
4And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
5Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
6Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
📖 Chapter study
Summary
A short, joyful song of thanksgiving: the people praise God because, even after his anger, he comforted them and became their salvation. It is an invitation to draw water 'with joy out of the wells of salvation' and to proclaim God's deeds among the nations.
Explanation
This chapter serves as a closing hymn for the first major section of the book of Isaiah (chapters 1-12), which blends judgment and hope. The phrase 'draw water with joy out of the wells of salvation' may refer to an ancient Jewish ritual of drawing water during the Feast of Tabernacles, celebrating God's provision. It is one of the shortest passages in the book, yet also one of the most used in hymns and liturgies of praise today. The practical application is that after recognizing our wrongs and going through correction, the healthy response is genuine gratitude, not mere relief.
Fun facts
- This song has a structure similar to the 'Song of the Sea' in Exodus 15, sung by Moses and the people after crossing the Red Sea — another moment of praise after deliverance from a great threat.
- The phrase 'great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee' uses one of Isaiah's favorite titles for God, repeated more than two dozen times throughout the whole book.