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Isaiah 18:5
ESV For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he cuts off the shoots with pruning hooks, and the spreading branches he lops off and clears away.
NIV For, before the harvest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the shoots with pruning knives, and cut down and take away the spreading branches.
NASB For before the harvest, as soon as the bud blossoms And the flower becomes a ripening grape, He will cut off the shoots with pruning knives, And remove and tear away the spreading branches.
CSB For before the harvest, when the blossoming is over and the blossom becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the shoots with a pruning knife, and tear away and remove the branches.
NLT Even before you begin your attack, while your plans are ripening like grapes, the Lord will cut off your new growth with pruning shears. He will snip off and discard your spreading branches.
KJV For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.

What does Isaiah 18:5 mean?

That God waits to act does not mean God will never act. Nor does it mean He is not paying attention. Isaiah has called for the nations of the world to look for God's signal and to listen for His trumpet. The nations are desperate for a response to the threat of the Assyrian Empire. Isaiah seems to assure everyone that God will act to end that danger when the time is right (Isaiah 18:3–4).

Isaiah now depicts the Lord as a gardener who waits for the perfect moment to prune unfruitful grape vines. He will clear the empty branches that keep the fruitful ones from flourishing. The timing of the pruning is important. It must come before the harvest, but after the blossoms when the flowers become grapes. Before that moment, it is too soon to prune. Afterwards, it will be too late. God is never too early or too late. Faced with evil and injustice, it can feel as if God is taking too long. But His timing is perfect, and His justice is greater than what we can imagine (Proverbs 20:22; Galatians 4:4; Titus 1:2–3).
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