Parallel Verses

Amplified


“I have not spoken in secret,
In a corner of a land of darkness;
I did not say to the descendants of Jacob,
‘Seek Me in vain [with no benefit for yourselves].’
I, the Lord, speak righteousness [the truth—trustworthy, a straightforward correlation between deeds and words],
Declaring things that are upright.

New American Standard Bible

I have not spoken in secret,
In some dark land;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
Seek Me in a waste place’;
I, the Lord, speak righteousness,
Declaring things that are upright.

King James Version

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Holman Bible

I have not spoken in secret,
somewhere in a land of darkness.
I did not say to the descendants of Jacob:
Seek Me in a wasteland.
I, Yahweh, speak truthfully;
I say what is right.

International Standard Version

I didn't speak in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I didn't say to Jacob's descendants, "Seek me in chaos.' I, the LORD, speak truth, declaring what is right.

A Conservative Version

I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I did not say to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. I, LORD, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.

American Standard Version

I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I, Jehovah, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Bible in Basic English

I have not given my word in secret, in a place in the underworld; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, Go into a waste land to make request of me: I the Lord say what is true, my word is righteousness.

Darby Translation

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek me in vain: I am Jehovah, speaking righteousness, declaring things which are right.

Julia Smith Translation

I spake not in secret in a dark place of the earth: I said not to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I Jehovah speak justice, announcing straightnesses.

King James 2000

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the descendants of Jacob, Seek me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Lexham Expanded Bible

I have spoken not in secrecy, in a place, a land, of darkness, I have not said to the descendants of Jacob, 'Seek me {in vain}!' I, Yahweh, [am] speaking righteousness, declaring uprightness.

Modern King James verseion

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth. I did not say to the seed of Jacob, Seek me in vain. I Jehovah speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

I have not spoken secretly, neither in dark places of the earth. It is not for naught, that I said unto the seed of Jacob, "Seek me." I am the LORD which, when I speak, declareth the thing that is righteous and true.

NET Bible

I have not spoken in secret, in some hidden place. I did not tell Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain!' I am the Lord, the one who speaks honestly, who makes reliable announcements.

New Heart English Bible

I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek me in vain.' I, the LORD, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.

The Emphasized Bible

Not in secret, have I spoken In a place of the earth that is dark, - I have not said unto the seed of Jacob, In a waste, seek ye me, - I, am Yahweh, Speaking the thing that is right, Declaring the things that are just.

Webster

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I have not said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

World English Bible

I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn't say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek me in vain.' I, Yahweh, speak righteousness. I declare things that are right.

Youngs Literal Translation

Not in secret have I spoken, in a dark place of the earth, I have not said to the seed of Jacob, In vain seek ye Me, I am Jehovah, speaking righteousness, Declaring uprightness.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
I have not spoken
דּבר 
Dabar 
Usage: 1142

in a dark
חשׁך 
Choshek 
Usage: 78

מקמה מקומה מקם מקום 
Maqowm 
Usage: 401

of the earth
ארץ 
'erets 
Usage: 2504

not unto the seed
זרע 
Zera` 
Usage: 229

of Jacob
יעקב 
Ya`aqob 
Usage: 349

ye me in vain
תּהוּ 
Tohuw 
Usage: 20

I the Lord

Usage: 0

דּבר 
Dabar 
Usage: 1142

נגד 
Nagad 
Usage: 370

Context Readings

The Lord Of Creation And History

18 For the Lord, who created the heavens (He is God, who formed the earth and made it; He established it and did not create it to be a wasteland, but formed it to be inhabited) says this,

“I am the Lord, and there is no one else.
19 
“I have not spoken in secret,
In a corner of a land of darkness;
I did not say to the descendants of Jacob,
‘Seek Me in vain [with no benefit for yourselves].’
I, the Lord, speak righteousness [the truth—trustworthy, a straightforward correlation between deeds and words],
Declaring things that are upright.
20
“Assemble yourselves and come;
Come together, you survivors of the nations!
They are ignorant,
Who carry around their wooden idols [in religious processions or into battle]
And keep on praying to a god that cannot save them.



Cross References

Isaiah 48:16


“Come near to Me, listen to this:
From the beginning I have not spoken in secret,
From the time that it happened, I was there.
And now the Lord God has sent Me, and His [Holy] Spirit.”

2 Chronicles 15:2

and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him, as your soul’s first necessity], He will let you find Him; but if you abandon (turn away from) Him, He will abandon (turn away from) you.

Isaiah 63:1

Who is this who comes from Edom,
With crimson-stained garments from Bozrah [in Edom],
This One (the Messiah) who is majestic in His apparel,
Marching in the greatness of His might?
“It is I, [the One] who speaks in righteousness [proclaiming vindication], mighty to save.”

Numbers 23:19-20


“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken and will He not make it good and fulfill it?

Deuteronomy 29:29

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed and disclosed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may do all of the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14

“For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.

Deuteronomy 32:4


“The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness without iniquity (injustice),
Just and upright is He.

1 Chronicles 28:8

Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God so that you may possess the good land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons after you forever.

Ezra 8:22

For I was ashamed to request troops and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy along the way, because we had told the king, “The hand of our God is favorable toward all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who abandon (turn away from) Him.”

Psalm 9:10


And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You,
For You, O Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.

Psalm 12:6


The words and promises of the Lord are pure words,
Like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.

Psalm 19:7-10


The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul;
The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Psalm 24:6


This is the generation (description) of those who diligently seek Him and require Him as their greatest need,
Who seek Your face, even [as did] Jacob. Selah.

Psalm 69:13


But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable and opportune time;
O God, in the greatness of Your favor and in the abundance of Your lovingkindness,
Answer me with truth [that is, the faithfulness of Your salvation].

Psalm 69:32


The humble have seen it and are glad;
You who seek God [requiring Him as your greatest need], let your heart revive and live.

Psalm 111:7-8


The works of His hands are truth and [absolute] justice;
All His precepts are sure (established, reliable, trustworthy).

Psalm 119:137-138

Tsadhe.
Righteous are You, O Lord,
And upright are Your judgments.

Proverbs 1:21


She calls out at the head of the noisy streets [where large crowds gather];
At the entrance of the city gates she speaks her words:

Proverbs 8:1-4

Does not wisdom call,
And understanding lift up her voice?

Proverbs 8:6


“Listen, for I will speak excellent and noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.

Proverbs 15:8


The sacrifice of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight!

Proverbs 30:5


Every word of God is tested and refined [like silver];
He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.

Isaiah 1:15


“So when you spread out your hands [in prayer, pleading for My help],
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you offer many prayers,
I will not be listening.
Your hands are full of blood!

Isaiah 8:19

When the people [instead of trusting God] say to you, “Consult the mediums [who try to talk to the dead] and the soothsayers who chirp and whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Isaiah 43:9-10


All the nations have gathered together
So that the peoples may be assembled.
Who among them (the idolaters) can predict this [that Judah would return from captivity]
And proclaim to us the former events?
Let them provide their witnesses so that they may be justified,
Or let them hear and say [in acknowledgement], “It is the truth.”

Isaiah 45:23


“I have sworn [an oath] by Myself,
The word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness
And shall not return,
That to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear [allegiance].

Isaiah 55:6-7


Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.

Isaiah 58:1-3

“Cry aloud, do not hold back;
Lift up your voice like a trumpet,
And declare to My people their transgression
And to the house of Jacob their sins.

Jeremiah 29:13-14

Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Amos 5:4

For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel,

“Seek Me [search diligently for Me and regard Me as more essential than food] so that you may live.

Malachi 3:13-14

“Your words have been harsh against Me,” says the Lord. “But you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’

John 7:26

Look, He is speaking publicly, and they say nothing to Him! Is it possible that the rulers really know that this is the Christ?

John 7:28

Then Jesus called out as He taught in the temple, “You know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come on my own initiative [as self-appointed], but He who sent Me is true, and Him you do not know.

John 7:37-39

Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!

John 18:20

Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple [area], where all the Jews habitually congregate; and I said nothing in secret.

Acts 2:4-8

And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].

James 4:3

You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires.

Matthew 15:8-9


This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain