Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 20. Woe unto them that speak good of evil, and evil of good; which put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for sour.

Vers. 20. Woe vnto them that speake good of euill, and euill of good; which put darkenes for light, and light for darkenes; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for sowre.

Although many restrain this sentence to Judges, yet if we observe the words a little more narrowly, it shall be easy to gather from the whole context, that this is a general sentence. For having before cried out against those who could not endure any admonitions, he still goes on with the same reprehension. Now it appears that such kind of people have always some pretence or other wherewithal to deceive themselves. And therefore they never cease to make replies as oft as their vices are set before them: but he expressly reproves the shameless impudency of those who of set purpose endeavoured to overthrow all difference between good and evil. And the letter Lamed placed before these two words evil, and good, shows the sense to be thus; namely, those that make evil of good, and of good evil: that is to say, who by craftiness full of vanity cover, excuse, and disguise wicked matters, minding by their subtleties to change the nature of every thing: but on the contrary by lies and slanders they overthrow that which is good. For whosoever hath the fear of God, he is withheld by conscience and shamefastness from excusing his sins, or enterprising to condemn ⟨p. 59⟩that which is just and right. But they who are void of this fear, are also impudent to commend vices, and make no bones of it at all to condemn virtues, the which in whomsoever it be, is an evident sign of desperate wickedness.

ALthough many restraine this sentence to Iudges, yet if we obserue the words a little more narowly, it shall be easie to gather from the whole context, that this is a generall sentence. For hauing before cried out against those who could not endure any admonitions, he still goes on with the same reprehension. Now it appeares that such kind of people haue alwayes some pretence or other wherewithall to deceiue themselues. And therefore they neuer cease to make replies as oft as their vices are set before them: but he expresly reproues the shamelesse impudencie of those who of set purpose endeuored to ouerthrow all difference betweene good and euill. And the letter Lamed placed before these two words euill, and good, shewes the sence to be thus; namely, those that make euill of good, and of good euill: that is to say, who by craftinesse full of vanitie couer, excuse, and disguise wicked matters, minding by their subtilties to change the nature of euery thing: but on the contrary by lyes and slanders they ouerthrow that which is good. For whosoeuer hath the feare of God, he is withheld by conscience and shamefastnes from excusing his sinnes, or enterprising to condemne