Isaiah 63:4

For I looked forward to the day of vengeance, and then payback time arrived. ¹ 

For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come.

"For the day of vengeance was in My heart, And My year of redemption has come.

For the time has come for me to avenge my people, to ransom them from their oppressors.

I was set on vengeance. The time for redemption had arrived.

For the day of punishment is in my heart, and the year for the payment of the price for my people has come.

For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year for my redeeming work had come.

For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come.

For I looked forward to the day of vengeance, and then payback time arrived. ¹ 

¹ tn Heb “for the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my revenge came.” The term גְּאוּלַי (gÿ’ulai) is sometimes translated here “my redemption,” for the verbal root גאל often means “deliver, buy back.” A גֹּאֵל (go’el, “kinsman-redeemer”) was responsible for protecting the extended family’s interests, often by redeeming property that had been sold outside the family. However, the responsibilities of a גֹּאֵל extended beyond financial concerns. He was also responsible for avenging the shed blood of a family member (see Num 35:19-27; Deut 19:6-12). In Isa 63:4, where vengeance is a prominent theme (note the previous line), it is probably this function of the family protector that is in view. The Lord pictures himself as a blood avenger who waits for the day of vengeance to arrive and then springs into action.