Isaiah 57:16
New International Version
I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry, for then they would faint away because of me— the very people I have created.

New Living Translation
For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always be angry. If I were, all people would pass away— all the souls I have made.

English Standard Version
For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.

Berean Standard Bible
For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me, with the breath of those I have made.

King James Bible
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

New King James Version
For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made.

New American Standard Bible
“For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before Me, And the breath of those whom I have made.

NASB 1995
“For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before Me, And the breath of those whom I have made.

NASB 1977
“For I will not contend forever, Neither will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before Me, And the breath of those whom I have made.

Legacy Standard Bible
For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before Me, And the breath of those whom I have made.

Amplified Bible
“For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For [if I did stay angry] the spirit [of man] would grow weak before Me, And the breath of those whom I have created.

Christian Standard Bible
For I will not accuse you forever, and I will not always be angry; for then the spirit would grow weak before me, even the breath, which I have made.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For I will not accuse you forever, and I will not always be angry; for then the spirit would grow weak before Me, even the breath of man, which I have made.

American Standard Version
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made.

Contemporary English Version
My people, I won't stay angry and keep on accusing you. After all, I am your Creator. I don't want you to give up in complete despair.

English Revised Version
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will not accuse you forever. I will not be angry with you forever. Otherwise, the spirits, the lives of those I've made, would grow faint in my presence.

Good News Translation
I gave my people life, and I will not continue to accuse them or be angry with them forever.

International Standard Version
For I won't accuse forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the human spirit would grow faint before me— even the souls that I have created.

Majority Standard Bible
For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me, with the breath of those I have made.

NET Bible
For I will not be hostile forever or perpetually angry, for then man's spirit would grow faint before me, the life-giving breath I created.

New Heart English Bible
For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls who I have made.

Webster's Bible Translation
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit would fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

World English Bible
For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls whom I have made.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For I do not strive for all time, nor am I angry forever, "" For the spirit is feeble before Me, "" And the souls I have made.

Young's Literal Translation
For, not to the age do I strive, nor for ever am I wroth, For the spirit from before Me is feeble, And the souls I have made.

Smith's Literal Translation
For not forever will I contend, and not to everlasting will I be angry: for the spirit will faint from before me, and the lives I made.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be angry unto the end: because the spirit shall go forth from my face, end breathings I will make.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For I will not contend unceasingly, and I will not be angry to the end. For I will exhale my breath, and the Spirit will go forth from my face.

New American Bible
For I will not accuse forever, nor always be angry; For without me their spirit fails, the life breath that I have given.

New Revised Standard Version
For I will not continually accuse, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirits would grow faint before me, even the souls that I have made.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit proceeds from before me, and the breath, I have made it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because I do not harbor ill will to eternity and I am not angry to eternity, because The Spirit from before me goes forth and the breath I have made
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For I will not contend for ever, Neither will I be always wroth; For the spirit that enwrappeth itself is from Me, And the souls which I have made.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I will not take vengeance on you for ever, neither will I be always angry with you: for my Spirit shall go forth from me, and I have created all breath.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Healing for the Repentant
15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite. 16For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me, with the breath of those I have made. 17I was enraged by his sinful greed, so I struck him and hid My face in anger; yet he kept turning back to the desires of his heart.…

Cross References
Psalm 103:9
He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever.

Genesis 6:3
So the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years.”

Psalm 78:38-39
And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath. / He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.

Micah 7:18
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?

Jeremiah 3:12
Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘Return, O faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will no longer look on you with anger, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will not be angry forever.

Lamentations 3:31-33
For the Lord will not cast us off forever. / Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion. / For He does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men.

Job 34:14-15
If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath, / all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

Psalm 85:5
Will You be angry with us forever? Will You draw out Your anger to all generations?

Psalm 30:5
For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 103:14
For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

James 5:11
See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, / who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Hebrews 12:9
Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?


Treasury of Scripture

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

I will not

Psalm 78:38,39
But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath…

Psalm 85:5
Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

Psalm 103:9-16
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever…

the souls

Isaiah 42:5
Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

Numbers 16:22
And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

Job 34:14,15
If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; …

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Always Angry Breath Contend Created End Fail Faint Forever Grow Itself Life Proceeds Punishment Souls Spirit Wroth
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Always Angry Breath Contend Created End Fail Faint Forever Grow Itself Life Proceeds Punishment Souls Spirit Wroth
Isaiah 57
1. The blessed death of the righteous
3. God reproves the People for their idolatry
13. He gives promises of mercy to the penitent














For I will not accuse you forever
The Hebrew word for "accuse" here is "רִיב" (rîb), which can also mean to contend or strive. This word suggests a legal or judicial context, where God is seen as a judge who brings charges against His people. The phrase indicates God's merciful nature, emphasizing that His judgment is not eternal. In the broader biblical narrative, this reflects God's covenantal faithfulness and His desire for restoration rather than perpetual condemnation. Historically, this would have been a comforting assurance to the Israelites, who often faced divine discipline due to their disobedience.

nor will I always be angry
The Hebrew word for "angry" is "קָצַף" (qāṣap), which conveys a sense of intense displeasure or wrath. This phrase highlights God's patience and willingness to forgive. In the context of the Old Testament, God's anger is often depicted as a response to sin and idolatry. However, this passage reassures believers that His anger is not unending. Theologically, it underscores the balance between God's justice and His mercy, a theme that runs throughout Scripture.

for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me
The "spirit of man" refers to the human soul or life force, derived from the Hebrew word "רוּחַ" (rûaḥ), which can mean spirit, wind, or breath. This phrase suggests that God's perpetual anger would lead to the weakening or exhaustion of humanity. It reflects God's understanding of human frailty and His compassion towards His creation. Theologically, it speaks to God's sustaining power and His desire to uphold rather than crush the human spirit.

with the breath of those I have made
The word "breath" here is also "רוּחַ" (rûaḥ), emphasizing the life-giving aspect of God's creation. This phrase reminds us that all life originates from God, who is the Creator of all. The reference to "those I have made" underscores God's intimate involvement in creation, highlighting His role as the divine potter who shapes and sustains life. In a broader biblical context, it points to the inherent value and dignity of human life, as each person is crafted by God's hand.

(16) I will not contend for ever . . .--The words come as a message of comfort to the penitent who is still bearing the chastisement of his sins. The time during which God "contends" with him as an accuser and a judge has its limits. Were it not so. the souls which he had made would be utterly consumed, and His purpose in creation would be frustrated. The words seem like an echo of Genesis 6:3; Genesis 8:21. (Comp. Psalm 103:9-10).

Verse 16. - I will not contend for ever. God "will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger for ever" (Psalm 103:9). If he were "extreme to mark what is done amiss," none could abide it (Psalm 130:3). He remits somewhat, therefore, from the claims of strict justice, and is content to take lower ground. Were it otherwise, man's spirit should fail before him. Man, i.e., would be utterly unable to justify himself, and would faint and fade away before the Divine fury. The souls which God has made would, one and all, perish. He, however, has not made them for this purpose, but that they should live (Deuteronomy 30:19; Ezekiel 18:31); and has therefore devised for them a way of salvation (see Isaiah 53:5-10).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I will not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

accuse you forever,
אָרִ֔יב (’ā·rîḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7378: To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defend

nor will I
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

always
לָנֶ֖צַח (lā·ne·ṣaḥ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5331: Eminence, enduring, everlastingness, perpetuity

be angry;
אֶקְּצ֑וֹף (’eq·qə·ṣō·wp̄)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7107: To crack off, burst out in rage

for
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

then the spirit [of man]
ר֙וּחַ֙ (rū·aḥ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

would grow weak
יַֽעֲט֔וֹף (ya·‘ă·ṭō·wp̄)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5848: To shroud, clothe, to languish

before Me,
מִלְּפָנַ֣י (mil·lə·p̄ā·nay)
Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face

with the breath
וּנְשָׁמ֖וֹת (ū·nə·šā·mō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5397: A puff, wind, angry, vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect, an animal

of those
אֲנִ֥י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

I have made.
עָשִֽׂיתִי׃ (‘ā·śî·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 57:16 For I will not contend forever neither (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 57:15
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