KJV ORIGINAL
The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
The sinners in Zion are terrified; fear has overwhelmed the hypocrites. Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can survive the eternal flames?
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is describing how people who have been living in sin and pretending to be righteous are now terrified when they realize they must face God's holy judgment.
📚 Historical Context
Isaiah is prophesying during a time when Jerusalem (Zion) faced threats from Assyrian invasion, but he's also speaking about God's ultimate judgment. Many people in Jerusalem were outwardly religious but inwardly corrupt, living hypocritical lives while thinking they were safe because they lived in God's holy city.
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