And .... more and more

15-EZR/08.usfm

@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ Of the descendants of David, Hattush,
 \v 32 So we entered Jerusalem and stayed there for three days.
 
 \s5
-\v 33 Then on the fourth day the silver, gold, and objects were weighed out in our God's house into the hand of Meremoth son of Uriah the priest and with him were Eleazar son of Phinehas, Jozabad son of Jeshua, and Noadiah son of Binnui the Levite.
+\v 33 Then on the fourth day the silver, gold, and objects were weighed out in our God's house into the hand of Meremoth son of Uriah the priest, and with him were Eleazar son of Phinehas, Jozabad son of Jeshua, and Noadiah son of Binnui the Levite.
 \v 34 The number and weight of everything was determined. All the weight was written down at that time.
 
 \s5

21-ECC/01.usfm

@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@
 \q1 Whatever exists has already existed for a long time,
 \q2 during ages which came long before us.
 \q1
-\v 11 No one seems to remember the things that happened in ancient times.
-\q2 And the things that happened much later
+\v 11 No one seems to remember the things that happened in ancient times,
+\q2 and the things that happened much later
 \q2 and that will happen in the future
 \q1 will not likely be remembered either."
 

21-ECC/02.usfm

@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
 \v 18 I hated all my accomplishments for which I had worked under the sun because I must leave them behind to the man who comes after me.
 
 \s5
-\v 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over everything under the sun that my work and wisdom have built. This also is vapor.
+\v 19 For who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over everything under the sun that my work and wisdom have built. This also is vapor.
 \v 20 Therefore my heart began to despair over all the work under the sun that I did.
 
 \s5

21-ECC/03.usfm

@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 \f + \ft Instead of \fqa God makes human beings seek hidden things \fqb , other modern versions interpret this line in different ways. \f*
 
 \s5
-\v 16 And I have seen that under the sun wickedness exists where there should be justice, and in place of righteousness wickedness is often found.
+\v 16 I have seen the wickedness that is under the sun, where there should be justice, and in place of righteousness, wickedness was there.
 \v 17 I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked at the right time for every matter and every deed."
 
 \s5

21-ECC/04.usfm

@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ f
 \q2 However, sorrow follows the one who is alone when he falls
 \q2 if there is no one to lift him up.
 \q1
-\v 11 And if two lie down together, they can be warm,
+\v 11 If two lie down together, they can be warm,
 \q2 but how can one be warm alone?
 
 \s5

21-ECC/05.usfm

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 \q2 so let your words be few.
 \q1
 \v 3 If you have too many things to do and worry about, you will probably have bad dreams.
-\q2 And the more words you speak, the more foolish things you will probably say .
+\q2 The more words you speak, the more foolish things you will probably say .
 
 \s5
 \v 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to do it, for God has no pleasure in fools. Do what you vow you will do.

23-ISA/02.usfm

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 \p
 \v 1 The things that Isaiah son of Amoz perceived in a vision, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
 \q1
-\v 2 And it will be in the last days, 
+\v 2 It will be in the last days 
 \q1 that the mountain of Yahweh's house 
 \q1 will be established as the highest of the mountains, 
 \q1 and it will be raised up above the hills,

23-ISA/08.usfm

@@ -41,8 +41,11 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 14 He will become a sanctuary; but he will be a stone of striking, and a rock of stumbling—
-\q1 for both the houses of Israel. And he will be a trap and a snare to the people of Jerusalem.
+\v 14 He will become a sanctuary; 
+\q1 but he will be a stone of striking, and a rock of stumbling—
+\q2 for both the houses of Israel, 
+\q2 and he will be a trap and a snare 
+\q2 to the people of Jerusalem.
 \q1
 \v 15 Many will stumble over it and fall and be broken, and be ensnared and captured.
 

23-ISA/13.usfm

@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ of the proud and will bring down the arrogance of the ruthless.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 19 And Babylon, the most admired of kingdoms, the splendor of Chaldean pride,
+\v 19 Then Babylon, the most admired of kingdoms, the splendor of Chaldean pride,
 \q1 will be overthrown by God like Sodom and
 Gomorrah.
 \q1

23-ISA/17.usfm

@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ rushing of mighty waters!
 \q1 but God will rebuke them. They will flee far away
 \q1 and will be chased as the dead weeds on the mountains before the wind, and like weeds whirling before a storm.
 \q1
-\v 14 In the evening, see, terror! And before the morning they will be gone;
-\q1 this is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who rob us.
+\v 14 In the evening, see, terror! Before the morning they will be gone!
+\q1 This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who rob us.
 
 
 

23-ISA/23.usfm

@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@
 \q1 who travels over the sea, has filled you.
 \f + \ft Some ancient and modern versions have \fqa Be silent, you inhabitants of the coast; the merchants of Sidon, who travel over the sea, have filled you \fqb or \fqa Be silent, you inhabitants of the coast and you merchants of Sidon, whom those who travel over the sea have filled \fqb . \f*
 \q1
-\v 3 And on great waters was the grain of Shihor,
-\q1 the harvest of the Nile, her produce; you were the commerce of nations.
+\v 3 Upon the great waters was the grain of Shihor,
+\q1 the harvest of the Nile was her produce; 
+\q2 and it became the commerce of the nations.
 
 \s5
 \v 4 Be ashamed, Sidon; for the sea has spoken, the mighty one of the sea. He says,

23-ISA/30.usfm

@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
 \b
 \q1
 \v 23 He will give the rain for your seed when you sow the ground,
-\q1 and bread with abundance from the ground. And the crops will be abundant.
+\q1 and bread with abundance from the ground, and the crops will be abundant.
 \q1 In that day your cattle will graze in broad pastures.
 \q1
 \v 24 The oxen and the donkeys, who plow the ground, will eat seasoned feed
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 31 For at the voice of Yahweh, Assyria will be shattered; he will strike them with a staff.
 \q1
-\v 32 And every stroke of the appointed rod that Yahweh will lay on them
+\v 32 Every stroke of the appointed rod that Yahweh will lay on them
 \q1 will be accompanied with the music of tambourines and harps as he battles and fights with them.
 
 \s5

23-ISA/31.usfm

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 \q1 But they are not concerned about the Holy One of Israel, nor do they seek Yahweh!
 \q1
 \v 2 Yet he is wise, and he will bring disaster and will not retract his words.
-\q1 And he will arise against the evil house and against the helpers of those who commit sin.
+\q1 He will arise against the evil house and against the helpers of those who commit sin.
 
 \s5
 \q1

23-ISA/37.usfm

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ sackcloth, to Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet.
 \q1 "The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and laughs you to scorn;
 \q1 the daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head at you.
 \q1
-\v 23 Whom have you defied and insulted? And against whom have you exalted your voice
+\v 23 Whom have you defied and insulted? Against whom have you exalted your voice
 \q1 and lifted up your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel.
 
 \s5

23-ISA/38.usfm

@@ -3,15 +3,15 @@
 \p
 \v 1 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the point of dying. So Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, came to him, and said to him, "Yahweh says, 'Set your house in order; for you will die, not live.'"
 \v 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh.
-\v 3 He said, "Please, Yahweh, call to mind how I have faithfully walked before you with my whole heart, and how I have done what was good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept loudly.
+\v 3 He said, "Please, Yahweh, call to mind how I have faithfully walked before you with my whole heart, and how I have done what was good in your sight." Then Hezekiah wept loudly.
 
 \s5
 \v 4 Then the word of Yahweh came to Isaiah, saying,
 \v 5 "Go and say to Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what Yahweh, the God of David your ancestor, says: I have heard your prayer, and I have seen your tears. See, I am about to add fifteen years to your life.
-\v 6 And I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.
+\v 6 Then I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.
 
 \s5
-\v 7 And this will be the sign to you from me, Yahweh, that I will do what I have spoken:
+\v 7 This will be the sign to you from me, Yahweh, that I will do what I have spoken:
 \v 8 Look, I will cause the shadow on the stairs of Ahaz to go back ten steps.'" So the shadow went back ten steps of the stairs on which it had advanced.
 
 \s5

23-ISA/41.usfm

@@ -109,8 +109,7 @@ water, and the dry land into springs of water.
 \v 25 I have raised up one from the north, and he comes; from the sun's rising I summon him who calls on my name,
 \q1 and he will trample the rulers like mud, like a potter who is treading on the clay.
 \q1
-\v 26 Who announced this from the beginning, that we might know? And before time, that we may say,
-"He is right"?
+\v 26 Who announced this from the beginning, that we might know? Before this time, that we may say, "He is right"?
 \q1 Indeed none of them decreed it, yes, none heard you say anything.
 
 

23-ISA/45.usfm

@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 21 Come close and declare it to me, bring the evidence! Let them conspire together.
 \q1 Who has shown this from long ago? Who announced it?
-\q1 Was it not I, Yahweh? And there is no God except me, a just God and a Savior; there is no one
+\q1 Was it not I, Yahweh? There is no God except me, a just God and a Savior; there is no one
 besides me.
 
 \s5

23-ISA/46.usfm

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 5 To whom will you compare me? And whom do I resemble, so that we may be compared?
+\v 5 To whom will you compare me? Who do you think I resemble, so that we may be compared?
 \q1
 \v 6 People pour out gold from the bag and weigh silver on the scale.
 \q1 They hire a metalsmith, and he makes it into a god; they bow down and worship it.

23-ISA/48.usfm

@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ very deceitful, and that you have been a rebel from birth.
 \q1
 \v 16 Come near to me, listen to this:
 \q1 From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; when it happens, I am there."
-\q1 And now the Lord Yahweh has sent me, and his Spirit."
+\q1 Now the Lord Yahweh has sent me, and his Spirit."
 
 \s5
 \b

23-ISA/49.usfm

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 \c 49
 \b
 \q1
-\v 1 Listen to me, you coastlands! And give attention, you distant peoples.
+\v 1 Listen to me, you coastlands! Now give my your attention, you distant peoples.
 \q1 Yahweh has called me from birth by name, when my mother brought me into the world.
 \q1
 \v 2 He has made my mouth like a sharp sword; he hid me in the shadow of his hand;
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@
 \s5
 \b
 \q1
-\v 5 And now Yahweh has spoken, he who formed me from birth to be his servant,
-\q1 to restore Jacob again to himself, and that Israel would be gathered to him—
-\q1 for I am honored in the eyes of Yahweh, and my God has become my strength.
+\v 5 Now Yahweh has spoken—he who formed me from birth to be his servant,
+\q1 to restore Jacob again to himself, so that Israel would be gathered to him,
+\q1 for I am honored in the eyes of Yahweh, and my God has become my strength—
 \q1
-\v 6 He says, "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to reestablish the tribes of Jacob,
+\v 6 and he says, "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to reestablish the tribes of Jacob,
 \q1 and to restore the survivors of Israel. I will make you a light to the Gentiles,
 \q1 that you may be my salvation to the ends of the earth."
 
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
 \v 10 They will not be hungry or thirsty; nor will the heat or sun beat on them,
 \q1 for he who has mercy on them will lead them; he will guide them to springs of water.
 \q1
-\v 11 And I will make all my mountains into a road, and make my highways level."
+\v 11 Then I will make all my mountains into a road, and make my highways level."
 
 \s5
 \q1
@@ -119,9 +119,8 @@ faces to the earth and lick the dust of your feet;
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 26 And I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh; and they will get drunk on their own blood, as if
-it were wine;
-\q1 and all mankind will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
+\v 26 I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh; and they will get drunk on their own blood, as if it were wine.
+\q1 Then all mankind will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
 
 
 

23-ISA/50.usfm

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 1 This is what Yahweh says,
 \q1 "Where is the certificate of divorce with which I divorced your mother?
-\q1 And to which of my creditors did I sell you?
+\q1 To which of my creditors did I sell you?
 \q1 Look, you were sold because of your sins, and because of your rebellion, your mother was sent away.
 
 \s5

23-ISA/52.usfm

@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@
 \q1 he will be high and lifted up, and he will be exalted.
 \q1
 \v 14 As many were horrified at you—
-\q1 his appearance was so disfigured out of human appearance, so that the sight of him was far from anything human—
+\q1 his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man, and his form no longer looked like anything human.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 15 And so, my servant will sprinkle many nations and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
+\v 15 Even so, my servant will sprinkle many nations and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
 \q1 For that which they had not been told, they will see, and that which they had not heard, they will understand.
 
 

23-ISA/53.usfm

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 \c 53
 \b
 \q1
-\v 1 Who would have believed what we heard? And the arm of Yahweh, to whom has it been revealed?
+\v 1 Who has believed what they heard from us, and to whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed?
 \q1
 \v 2 For he grew up before Yahweh like a sapling, and like a sprout out of parched earth;
 \q1 he had no remarkable appearance or splendor; when we saw him, there was no beauty to attract us.

23-ISA/54.usfm

@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 13 And all your children will be taught by Yahweh;
+\v 13 Then all your children will be taught by Yahweh;
 \q1 and the peace of your children will be great.
 \q1
 \v 14 In righteousness I will reestablish you.

23-ISA/55.usfm

@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@
 \c 55
 \b
 \q1
-\v 1 "Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the water! And you who have no money,
-\q1 come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
+\v 1 "Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the water, 
+\q2 and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! 
+\q2 Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 2 Why do you weigh out silver for what is not bread? And labor for what does not satisfy?
+\v 2 Why do you weigh out silver for what is not bread, and why do you labor for what does not satisfy?
 \q1 Listen carefully to me and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness.
 
 \s5