Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:


God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor – instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.


Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years – even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity – even if he were to live forever – I would say, “A stillborn child is better off than he is!”


Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness,


though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man –


if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!


All of man’s labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach – yet his appetite is never satisfied!


So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?


It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile – like chasing the wind.


Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.


The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?


For no one knows what is best for a person during his life – during the few days of his fleeting life – for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.


A good reputation is better than precious perfume; likewise, the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.


It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.


Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart.


The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.


It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools.


For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is useless.


Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool; likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart.


The end of a matter is better than its beginning; likewise, patience is better than pride.


Do not let yourself be quickly provoked, for anger resides in the lap of fools.


Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?” for it is not wise to ask that.


Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.


For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.


Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent?


In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.


During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.


So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.


Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time.


It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.


Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.


For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins.


Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say; otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you.


For you know in your own heart that you also have cursed others many times.


I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, “I am determined to comprehend this” – but it was beyond my grasp.


Whatever has happened is beyond human understanding; it is far deeper than anyone can fathom.


I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.


I discovered this: More bitter than death is the kind of woman who is like a hunter’s snare; her heart is like a hunter’s net and her hands are like prison chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is captured by her.


The Teacher says: I discovered this while trying to discover the scheme of things, item by item.


What I have continually sought, I have not found; I have found only one upright man among a thousand, but I have not found one upright woman among all of them.


This alone have I discovered: God made humankind upright, but they have sought many evil schemes.


Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.


Obey the king’s command, because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him.


Do not rush out of the king’s presence in haste – do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he can do whatever he pleases.


Surely the king’s authority is absolute; no one can say to him, “What are you doing?”


Whoever obeys his command will not experience harm, and a wise person knows the proper time and procedure.


For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, for the oppression of the king is severe upon his victim.


Surely no one knows the future, and no one can tell another person what will happen.


Just as no one has power over the wind to restrain it, so no one has power over the day of his death. Just as no one can be discharged during the battle, so wickedness cannot rescue the wicked.


While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this: Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.


Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple, and as they left the holy temple, they boasted in the city that they had done so. This also is an enigma.


When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime, the human heart is encouraged to do evil.


Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time, yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people – for they stand in fear before him.


But it will not go well with the wicked, nor will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God.


Here is another enigma that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. I said, “This also is an enigma.”


So I recommend the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life. So joy will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.


When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth – even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night –


then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.


So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated – no one knows what lies ahead.


Everyone shares the same fate – the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the ceremonially clean and unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. What happens to the good person, also happens to the sinner; what happens to those who make vows, also happens to those who are afraid to make vows.


This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives – then they die.


But whoever is among the living has hope; a live dog is better than a dead lion.


For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward – and even the memory of them disappears.


What they loved, as well as what they hated and envied, perished long ago, and they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth.


Go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, because God has already approved your works.


Let your clothes always be white, and do not spare precious ointment on your head.


Enjoy life with your beloved wife during all the days of your fleeting life that God has given you on earth during all your fleeting days; for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work on earth.


Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.


Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge – for time and chance may overcome them all.


Surely, no one knows his appointed time! Like fish that are caught in a deadly net, and like birds that are caught in a snare – just like them, all people are ensnared at an unfortunate time that falls upon them suddenly.


This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:


There was once a small city with a few men in it, and a mighty king attacked it, besieging it and building strong siege works against it.


However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man.


So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.


The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among fools.


Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.


One dead fly makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.


A wise person’s good sense protects him, but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.


Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.


If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.


I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes.


Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.


I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves.


One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.


One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them.


If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.


If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble.


The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.


At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness,


yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future?


The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.


Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning!


Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time – with self-control and not in drunkenness.


Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.


Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.


Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words.


Send your grain overseas, for after many days you will get a return.


Divide your merchandise among seven or even eight investments, for you do not know what calamity may happen on earth.


If the clouds are full of rain, they will empty themselves on the earth, and whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, the tree will lie wherever it falls.


He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who observes the clouds will not reap.


Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones form in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.


Sow your seed in the morning, and do not stop working until the evening; for you do not know which activity will succeed – whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally.


Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for a person to see the sun.


So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many – all that is about to come is obscure.


Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.


Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.


So remember your Creator in the days of your youth – before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;


before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear after the rain;


when those who keep watch over the house begin to tremble, and the virile men begin to stoop over, and the grinders begin to cease because they grow few, and those who look through the windows grow dim,


and the doors along the street are shut; when the sound of the grinding mill grows low, and one is awakened by the sound of a bird, and all their songs grow faint,


and they are afraid of heights and the dangers in the street; the almond blossoms grow white, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry shrivels up – because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about in the streets –


before the silver cord is removed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the well, or the water wheel is broken at the cistern –


and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it.


“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher, “All of these things are futile!”


Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs.


The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings.


The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd.


Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body.


Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.


For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.


Solomon’s Most Excellent Love Song.


Oh, how I wish you would kiss me passionately! For your lovemaking is more delightful than wine.


The fragrance of your colognes is delightful; your name is like the finest perfume. No wonder the young women adore you!


Draw me after you; let us hurry! May the king bring me into his bedroom chambers! We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. The Beloved to Her Lover: How rightly the young women adore you!


I am dark but lovely, O maidens of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Qedar, lovely like the tent curtains of Salmah.


Do not stare at me because I am dark, for the sun has burned my skin. My brothers were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards. Alas, my own vineyard I could not keep!


Tell me, O you whom my heart loves, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest your sheep during the midday heat? Tell me lest I wander around beside the flocks of your companions!


If you do not know, O most beautiful of women, simply follow the tracks of my flock, and pasture your little lambs beside the tents of the shepherds.


O my beloved, you are like a mare among Pharaoh’s stallions.


Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments; your neck is lovely with strings of jewels.


We will make for you gold ornaments studded with silver.


While the king was at his banqueting table, my nard gave forth its fragrance.


My beloved is like a fragrant pouch of myrrh spending the night between my breasts.


My beloved is like a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-Gedi.


Oh, how beautiful you are, my beloved! Oh, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves!


Oh, how handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how delightful you are! The lush foliage is our canopied bed;


the cedars are the beams of our bedroom chamber; the pines are the rafters of our bedroom.


I am a meadow flower from Sharon, a lily from the valleys.


Like a lily among the thorns, so is my darling among the maidens.


Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.


He brought me into the banquet hall, and he looked at me lovingly.


Sustain me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. The Double Refrain: Embracing and Adjuration


His left hand caresses my head, and his right hand stimulates me.


I adjure you, O maidens of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the young does of the open fields: Do not awaken or arouse love until it pleases!


Listen! My lover is approaching! Look! Here he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills!


My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the window, peering through the lattice.


My lover spoke to me, saying: “Arise, my darling; My beautiful one, come away with me!


Look! The winter has passed, the winter rains are over and gone.


The pomegranates have appeared in the land, the time for pruning and singing has come; the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.


The fig tree has budded, the vines have blossomed and give off their fragrance. Arise, come away my darling; my beautiful one, come away with me!”


O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountain crags, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.


Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes, that ruin the vineyards – for our vineyard is in bloom.


My lover is mine and I am his; he grazes among the lilies.


Until the dawn arrives and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved – be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountain gorges.


All night long on my bed I longed for my lover. I longed for him but he never appeared.


“I will arise and look all around throughout the town, and throughout the streets and squares; I will search for my beloved.” I searched for him but I did not find him.


The night watchmen found me – the ones who guard the city walls. “Have you seen my beloved?”


Scarcely had I passed them by when I found my beloved! I held onto him tightly and would not let him go until I brought him to my mother’s house, to the bedroom chamber of the one who conceived me.


I admonish you, O maidens of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the young does of the open fields: “Do not awake or arouse love until it pleases!”


Who is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke, like a fragrant billow of myrrh and frankincense, every kind of fragrant powder of the traveling merchants?


Look! It is Solomon’s portable couch! It is surrounded by sixty warriors, some of Israel’s mightiest warriors.


All of them are skilled with a sword, well-trained in the art of warfare. Each has his sword at his side, to guard against the terrors of the night.


King Solomon made a sedan chair for himself of wood imported from Lebanon.


Its posts were made of silver; its back was made of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple wool; its interior was inlaid with leather by the maidens of Jerusalem.


Come out, O maidens of Zion, and gaze upon King Solomon! He is wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on his wedding day, on the most joyous day of his life!


Oh, you are beautiful, my darling! Oh, you are beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are like doves. Your hair is like a flock of female goats descending from Mount Gilead.


Your teeth are like a flock of newly-shorn sheep coming up from the washing place; each of them has a twin, and not one of them is missing.


Your lips are like a scarlet thread; your mouth is lovely. Your forehead behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate.


Your neck is like the tower of David built with courses of stones; one thousand shields are hung on it – all shields of valiant warriors.


Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of the gazelle grazing among the lilies.


Until the dawn arrives and the shadows flee, I will go up to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.


You are altogether beautiful, my darling! There is no blemish in you!


Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon. Descend from the crest of Amana, from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon, from the lions’ dens and the mountain haunts of the leopards.


You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride! You have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.


How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine; the fragrance of your perfume is better than any spice!


Your lips drip sweetness like the honeycomb, my bride, honey and milk are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.


You are a locked garden, my sister, my bride; you are an enclosed spring, a sealed-up fountain.


Your shoots are a royal garden full of pomegranates with choice fruits: henna with nard,


nard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon with every kind of spice, myrrh and aloes with all the finest spices.


You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water flowing down from Lebanon.


Awake, O north wind; come, O south wind! Blow on my garden so that its fragrant spices may send out their sweet smell. May my beloved come into his garden and eat its delightful fruit!


I have entered my garden, O my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my balsam spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk! Eat, friends, and drink! Drink freely, O lovers!


I was asleep, but my mind was dreaming. Listen! My lover is knocking at the door! “Open for me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one! My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”


“I have already taken off my robe – must I put it on again? I have already washed my feet – must I soil them again?”


My lover thrust his hand through the hole, and my feelings were stirred for him.


I arose to open for my beloved; my hands dripped with myrrh – my fingers flowed with myrrh on the handles of the lock.


I opened for my beloved, but my lover had already turned and gone away. I fell into despair when he departed. I looked for him but did not find him; I called him but he did not answer me.


The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. They beat me, they bruised me; they took away my cloak, those watchmen on the walls!


O maidens of Jerusalem, I command you – If you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him that I am lovesick!


Why is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful of women? Why is your beloved better than others, that you would command us in this manner?


My beloved is dazzling and ruddy; he stands out in comparison to all other men.


His head is like the most pure gold. His hair is curly – black like a raven.


His eyes are like doves by streams of water, washed in milk, mounted like jewels.


His cheeks are like garden beds full of balsam trees yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with drops of myrrh.


His arms are like rods of gold set with chrysolite. His abdomen is like polished ivory inlaid with sapphires.


His legs are like pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars.


His mouth is very sweet; he is totally desirable. This is my beloved! This is my companion, O maidens of Jerusalem!


Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your beloved turned? Tell us, that we may seek him with you.


My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the flowerbeds of balsam spices, to graze in the gardens, and to gather lilies.


I am my lover’s and my lover is mine; he grazes among the lilies.


My darling, you are as beautiful as Tirzah, as lovely as Jerusalem, as awe-inspiring as bannered armies!


Turn your eyes away from me – they overwhelm me! Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead.


Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin; not one of them is missing.


Like a slice of pomegranate is your forehead behind your veil.


There may be sixty queens, and eighty concubines, and young women without number.


But she is unique! My dove, my perfect one! She is the special daughter of her mother, she is the favorite of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and complimented her; the queens and concubines praised her:


“Who is this who appears like the dawn? Beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awe-inspiring as the stars in procession?”


I went down to the orchard of walnut trees, to look for the blossoms of the valley, to see if the vines had budded or if the pomegranates were in bloom.


I was beside myself with joy! There please give me your myrrh, O daughter of my princely people.


Turn, turn, O Perfect One! Turn, turn, that I may stare at you! Why do you gaze upon the Perfect One like the dance of the Mahanaim?


How beautiful are your sandaled feet, O nobleman’s daughter! The curves of your thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a master craftsman.


Your navel is a round mixing bowl – may it never lack mixed wine! Your belly is a mound of wheat, encircled by lilies.


Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle.


Your neck is like a tower made of ivory. Your eyes are the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon overlooking Damascus.


Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel. The locks of your hair are like royal tapestries – the king is held captive in its tresses!


How beautiful you are! How lovely, O love, with your delights!


Your stature is like a palm tree, and your breasts are like clusters of grapes.


I want to climb the palm tree, and take hold of its fruit stalks. May your breasts be like the clusters of grapes, and may the fragrance of your breath be like apricots!


May your mouth be like the best wine, flowing smoothly for my beloved, gliding gently over our lips as we sleep together.


I am my beloved’s, and he desires me!


Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside; let us spend the night in the villages.


Let us rise early to go to the vineyards, to see if the vines have budded, to see if their blossoms have opened, if the pomegranates are in bloom – there I will give you my love.


The mandrakes send out their fragrance; over our door is every delicacy, both new and old, which I have stored up for you, my lover.


Oh, how I wish you were my little brother, nursing at my mother’s breasts; if I saw you outside, I could kiss you – surely no one would despise me!


I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house, the one who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.


His left hand caresses my head, and his right hand stimulates me.


I admonish you, O maidens of Jerusalem: “Do not arouse or awaken love until it pleases!”


Who is this coming up from the desert, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I aroused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who bore you was in labor of childbirth.


Set me like a cylinder seal over your heart, like a signet on your arm. For love is as strong as death, passion is as unrelenting as Sheol. Its flames burst forth, it is a blazing flame.


Surging waters cannot quench love; floodwaters cannot overflow it. If someone were to offer all his possessions to buy love, the offer would be utterly despised.


We have a little sister, and as yet she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?


If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will barricade her with boards of cedar.


I was a wall, and my breasts were like fortress towers. Then I found favor in his eyes.


Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-Hamon; he leased out the vineyard to those who maintained it. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.


My vineyard, which belongs to me, is at my disposal alone. The thousand shekels belong to you, O Solomon, and two hundred shekels belong to those who maintain it for its fruit.


O you who stay in the gardens, my companions are listening attentively for your voice; let me be the one to hear it!


Make haste, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.


Here is the message about Judah and Jerusalem that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah reigned over Judah.


Listen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth! For the Lord speaks: “I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against me!


An ox recognizes its owner, a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; but Israel does not recognize me, my people do not understand.”


The sinful nation is as good as dead, the people weighed down by evil deeds. They are offspring who do wrong, children who do wicked things. They have abandoned the Lord, and rejected the Holy One of Israel. They are alienated from him.


Why do you insist on being battered? Why do you continue to rebel? Your head has a massive wound, your whole body is weak.


From the soles of your feet to your head, there is no spot that is unharmed. There are only bruises, cuts, and open wounds. They have not been cleansed or bandaged, nor have they been treated with olive oil.


Your land is devastated, your cities burned with fire. Right before your eyes your crops are being destroyed by foreign invaders. They leave behind devastation and destruction.


Daughter Zion is left isolated, like a hut in a vineyard, or a shelter in a cucumber field; she is a besieged city.


If the Lord who commands armies had not left us a few survivors, we would have quickly become like Sodom, we would have become like Gomorrah.


Listen to the Lord’s word, you leaders of Sodom! Pay attention to our God’s rebuke, people of Gomorrah!


“Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am stuffed with burnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want.


When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this – animals trampling on my courtyards?


Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!


I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying.


When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way; when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood.


Wash! Cleanse yourselves! Remove your sinful deeds from my sight. Stop sinning!


Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!


Come, let’s consider your options,” says the Lord. “Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become white like wool.


If you have a willing attitude and obey, then you will again eat the good crops of the land.


But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.


How tragic that the once-faithful city has become a prostitute! She was once a center of justice, fairness resided in her, but now only murderers.


Your silver has become scum, your beer is diluted with water.


Your officials are rebels, they associate with thieves. All of them love bribery, and look for payoffs. They do not take up the cause of the orphan, or defend the rights of the widow.


Therefore, the sovereign Lord who commands armies, the powerful ruler of Israel, says this: “Ah, I will seek vengeance against my adversaries, I will take revenge against my enemies.


I will attack you; I will purify your metal with flux. I will remove all your slag.


I will reestablish honest judges as in former times, wise advisers as in earlier days. Then you will be called, ‘The Just City, Faithful Town.’”


Zion will be freed by justice, and her returnees by righteousness.


All rebellious sinners will be shattered, those who abandon the Lord will perish.


Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees you find so desirable; you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards where you choose to worship.


For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither, like an orchard that is unwatered.


The powerful will be like a thread of yarn, their deeds like a spark; both will burn together, and no one will put out the fire.


Here is the message about Judah and Jerusalem that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz.


In the future the mountain of the Lord’s temple will endure as the most important of mountains, and will be the most prominent of hills. All the nations will stream to it,


many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the temple of the God of Jacob, so he can teach us his requirements, and we can follow his standards.” For Zion will be the center for moral instruction; the Lord will issue edicts from Jerusalem.


He will judge disputes between nations; he will settle cases for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will no longer train for war.


O descendants of Jacob, come, let us walk in the Lord’s guiding light.


Indeed, O Lord, you have abandoned your people, the descendants of Jacob. For diviners from the east are everywhere; they consult omen readers like the Philistines do. Plenty of foreigners are around.


Their land is full of gold and silver; there is no end to their wealth. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots.


Their land is full of worthless idols; they worship the product of their own hands, what their own fingers have fashioned.


Men bow down to them in homage, they lie flat on the ground in worship. Don’t spare them!


Go up into the rocky cliffs, hide in the ground. Get away from the dreadful judgment of the Lord, from his royal splendor!


Proud men will be brought low, arrogant men will be humiliated; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.


Indeed, the Lord who commands armies has planned a day of judgment, for all the high and mighty, for all who are proud – they will be humiliated;


for all the cedars of Lebanon, that are so high and mighty, for all the oaks of Bashan;


for all the tall mountains, for all the high hills,


for every high tower, for every fortified wall,


for all the large ships, for all the impressive ships.


Proud men will be humiliated, arrogant men will be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.


The worthless idols will be completely eliminated.


They will go into caves in the rocky cliffs and into holes in the ground, trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth.


At that time men will throw their silver and gold idols, which they made for themselves to worship, into the caves where rodents and bats live,


so they themselves can go into the crevices of the rocky cliffs and the openings under the rocky overhangs, trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth.


Stop trusting in human beings, whose life’s breath is in their nostrils. For why should they be given special consideration?


Look, the sovereign Lord who commands armies is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah every source of security, including all the food and water,


the mighty men and warriors, judges and prophets, omen readers and leaders,


captains of groups of fifty, the respected citizens, advisers and those skilled in magical arts, and those who know incantations.


The Lord says, “I will make youths their officials; malicious young men will rule over them.


The people will treat each other harshly; men will oppose each other; neighbors will fight. Youths will proudly defy the elderly and riffraff will challenge those who were once respected.


Indeed, a man will grab his brother right in his father’s house and say, ‘You own a coat – you be our leader! This heap of ruins will be under your control.’


At that time the brother will shout, ‘I am no doctor, I have no food or coat in my house; don’t make me a leader of the people!’”


Jerusalem certainly stumbles, Judah falls, for their words and their actions offend the Lord; they rebel against his royal authority.


The look on their faces testifies to their guilt; like the people of Sodom they openly boast of their sin. Too bad for them! For they bring disaster on themselves.


Tell the innocent it will go well with them, for they will be rewarded for what they have done.


Too bad for the wicked sinners! For they will get exactly what they deserve.


Oppressors treat my people cruelly; creditors rule over them. My people’s leaders mislead them; they give you confusing directions.


The Lord takes his position to judge; he stands up to pass sentence on his people.


The Lord comes to pronounce judgment on the leaders of his people and their officials. He says, “It is you who have ruined the vineyard! You have stashed in your houses what you have stolen from the poor.


Why do you crush my people and grind the faces of the poor?” The sovereign Lord who commands armies has spoken.


The Lord says, “The women of Zion are proud. They walk with their heads high and flirt with their eyes. They skip along and the jewelry on their ankles jingles.


So the sovereign master will afflict the foreheads of Zion’s women with skin diseases, the Lord will make the front of their heads bald.”


At that time the sovereign master will remove their beautiful ankle jewelry, neck ornaments, crescent shaped ornaments,


earrings, bracelets, veils,


headdresses, ankle ornaments, sashes, sachets, amulets,


rings, nose rings,


festive dresses, robes, shawls, purses,


garments, vests, head coverings, and gowns.


A putrid stench will replace the smell of spices, a rope will replace a belt, baldness will replace braided locks of hair, a sackcloth garment will replace a fine robe, and a prisoner’s brand will replace beauty.


Your men will fall by the sword, your strong men will die in battle.


Her gates will mourn and lament; deprived of her people, she will sit on the ground.


Seven women will grab hold of one man at that time. They will say, “We will provide our own food, we will provide our own clothes; but let us belong to you – take away our shame!”


At that time the crops given by the Lord will bring admiration and honor; the produce of the land will be a source of pride and delight to those who remain in Israel.


Those remaining in Zion, those left in Jerusalem, will be called “holy,” all in Jerusalem who are destined to live.


At that time the sovereign master will wash the excrement from Zion’s women, he will rinse the bloodstains from Jerusalem’s midst, as he comes to judge and to bring devastation.


Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over its convocations a cloud and smoke by day and a bright flame of fire by night; indeed a canopy will accompany the Lord’s glorious presence.


By day it will be a shelter to provide shade from the heat, as well as safety and protection from the heavy downpour.


I will sing to my love – a song to my lover about his vineyard. My love had a vineyard on a fertile hill.


He built a hedge around it, removed its stones, and planted a vine. He built a tower in the middle of it, and constructed a winepress. He waited for it to produce edible grapes, but it produced sour ones instead.


So now, residents of Jerusalem, people of Judah, you decide between me and my vineyard!


What more can I do for my vineyard beyond what I have already done? When I waited for it to produce edible grapes, why did it produce sour ones instead?


Now I will inform you what I am about to do to my vineyard: I will remove its hedge and turn it into pasture, I will break its wall and allow animals to graze there.


I will make it a wasteland; no one will prune its vines or hoe its ground, and thorns and briers will grow there. I will order the clouds not to drop any rain on it.


Indeed Israel is the vineyard of the Lord who commands armies, the people of Judah are the cultivated place in which he took delight. He waited for justice, but look what he got – disobedience! He waited for fairness, but look what he got – cries for help!


Those who accumulate houses are as good as dead, those who also accumulate landed property until there is no land left, and you are the only landowners remaining within the land.


The Lord who commands armies told me this: “Many houses will certainly become desolate, large, impressive houses will have no one living in them.


Indeed, a large vineyard will produce just a few gallons, and enough seed to yield several bushels will produce less than a bushel.”


Those who get up early to drink beer are as good as dead, those who keep drinking long after dark until they are intoxicated with wine.


They have stringed instruments, tambourines, flutes, and wine at their parties. So they do not recognize what the Lord is doing, they do not perceive what he is bringing about.


Therefore my people will be deported because of their lack of understanding. Their leaders will have nothing to eat, their masses will have nothing to drink.


So Death will open up its throat, and open wide its mouth; Zion’s dignitaries and masses will descend into it, including those who revel and celebrate within her.


Men will be humiliated, they will be brought low; the proud will be brought low.


The Lord who commands armies will be exalted when he punishes, the sovereign God’s authority will be recognized when he judges.


Lambs will graze as if in their pastures, amid the ruins the rich sojourners will graze.


Those who pull evil along using cords of emptiness are as good as dead, who pull sin as with cart ropes.


They say, “Let him hurry, let him act quickly, so we can see; let the plan of the Holy One of Israel take shape and come to pass, then we will know it!”


Those who call evil good and good evil are as good as dead, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter.


Those who think they are wise are as good as dead, those who think they possess understanding.


Those who are champions at drinking wine are as good as dead, who display great courage when mixing strong drinks.


They pronounce the guilty innocent for a payoff, they ignore the just cause of the innocent.


Therefore, as flaming fire devours straw, and dry grass disintegrates in the flames, so their root will rot, and their flower will blow away like dust. For they have rejected the law of the Lord who commands armies, they have spurned the commands of the Holy One of Israel.


So the Lord is furious with his people; he lifts his hand and strikes them. The mountains shake, and corpses lie like manure in the middle of the streets. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.


He lifts a signal flag for a distant nation, he whistles for it to come from the far regions of the earth. Look, they come quickly and swiftly.


None tire or stumble, they don’t stop to nap or sleep. They don’t loosen their belts, or unstrap their sandals to rest.


Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are prepared. The hooves of their horses are hard as flint, and their chariot wheels are like a windstorm.


Their roar is like a lion’s; they roar like young lions. They growl and seize their prey; they drag it away and no one can come to the rescue.


At that time they will growl over their prey, it will sound like sea waves crashing against rocks. One will look out over the land and see the darkness of disaster, clouds will turn the light into darkness.


In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the sovereign master seated on a high, elevated throne. The hem of his robe filled the temple.


Seraphs stood over him; each one had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and they used the remaining two to fly.


They called out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who commands armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!”


The sound of their voices shook the door frames, and the temple was filled with smoke.


I said, “Too bad for me! I am destroyed, for my lips are contaminated by sin, and I live among people whose lips are contaminated by sin. My eyes have seen the king, the Lord who commands armies.”


But then one of the seraphs flew toward me. In his hand was a hot coal he had taken from the altar with tongs.


He touched my mouth with it and said, “Look, this coal has touched your lips. Your evil is removed; your sin is forgiven.”


I heard the voice of the sovereign master say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” I answered, “Here I am, send me!”


He said, “Go and tell these people: ‘Listen continually, but don’t understand! Look continually, but don’t perceive!’


Make the hearts of these people calloused; make their ears deaf and their eyes blind! Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, their hearts might understand and they might repent and be healed.”


I replied, “How long, sovereign master?” He said, “Until cities are in ruins and unpopulated, and houses are uninhabited, and the land is ruined and devastated,


and the Lord has sent the people off to a distant place, and the very heart of the land is completely abandoned.


Even if only a tenth of the people remain in the land, it will again be destroyed, like one of the large sacred trees or an Asherah pole, when a sacred pillar on a high place is thrown down. That sacred pillar symbolizes the special chosen family.”


During the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel marched up to Jerusalem to do battle, but they were unable to prevail against it.


It was reported to the family of David, “Syria has allied with Ephraim.” They and their people were emotionally shaken, just as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.


So the Lord told Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-jashub and meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool which is located on the road to the field where they wash and dry cloth.


Tell him, ‘Make sure you stay calm! Don’t be afraid! Don’t be intimidated by these two stubs of smoking logs, or by the raging anger of Rezin, Syria, and the son of Remaliah.


Syria has plotted with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah to bring about your demise.


They say, “Let’s attack Judah, terrorize it, and conquer it. Then we’ll set up the son of Tabeel as its king.”


For this reason the sovereign master, the Lord, says: “It will not take place; it will not happen.


For Syria’s leader is Damascus, and the leader of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will no longer exist as a nation.


Ephraim’s leader is Samaria, and Samaria’s leader is the son of Remaliah. If your faith does not remain firm, then you will not remain secure.”


The Lord again spoke to Ahaz:


“Ask for a confirming sign from the Lord your God. You can even ask for something miraculous.”


But Ahaz responded, “I don’t want to ask; I don’t want to put the Lord to a test.”


So Isaiah replied, “Pay attention, family of David. Do you consider it too insignificant to try the patience of men? Is that why you are also trying the patience of my God?


For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.


He will eat sour milk and honey, which will help him know how to reject evil and choose what is right.


Here is why this will be so: Before the child knows how to reject evil and choose what is right, the land whose two kings you fear will be desolate.


The Lord will bring on you, your people, and your father’s family a time unlike any since Ephraim departed from Judah – the king of Assyria!”


At that time the Lord will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.


All of them will come and make their home in the ravines between the cliffs, and in the crevices of the cliffs, in all the thorn bushes, and in all the watering holes.


At that time the sovereign master will use a razor hired from the banks of the Euphrates River, the king of Assyria, to shave the head and the pubic hair; it will also shave off the beard.


At that time a man will keep alive a young cow from the herd and a couple of goats.


From the abundance of milk they produce, he will have sour milk for his meals. Indeed, everyone left in the heart of the land will eat sour milk and honey.


At that time every place where there had been a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels will be overrun with thorns and briers.


With bow and arrow men will hunt there, for the whole land will be covered with thorns and briers.


They will stay away from all the hills that were cultivated, for fear of the thorns and briers. Cattle will graze there and sheep will trample on them.


The Lord told me, “Take a large tablet and inscribe these words on it with an ordinary stylus: ‘Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.’


Then I will summon as my reliable witnesses Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.”


I then had sexual relations with the prophetess; she conceived and gave birth to a son. The Lord told me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz,


for before the child knows how to cry out, ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”


The Lord spoke to me again:


“These people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and melt in fear over Rezin and the son of Remaliah.


So look, the sovereign master is bringing up against them the turbulent and mighty waters of the Euphrates River – the king of Assyria and all his majestic power. It will reach flood stage and overflow its banks.


It will spill into Judah, flooding and engulfing, as it reaches to the necks of its victims. He will spread his wings out over your entire land, O Immanuel.”


You will be broken, O nations; you will be shattered! Pay attention, all you distant lands of the earth! Get ready for battle, and you will be shattered! Get ready for battle, and you will be shattered!


Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted! Issue your orders, but they will not be executed! For God is with us!


Indeed this is what the Lord told me. He took hold of me firmly and warned me not to act like these people:


“Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ every time these people say the word. Don’t be afraid of what scares them; don’t be terrified.


You must recognize the authority of the Lord who commands armies. He is the one you must respect; he is the one you must fear.


He will become a sanctuary, but a stone that makes a person trip, and a rock that makes one stumble – to the two houses of Israel. He will become a trap and a snare to the residents of Jerusalem.


Many will stumble over the stone and the rock, and will fall and be seriously injured, and will be ensnared and captured.”


Tie up the scroll as legal evidence, seal the official record of God’s instructions and give it to my followers.


I will wait patiently for the Lord, who has rejected the family of Jacob; I will wait for him.


Look, I and the sons whom the Lord has given me are reminders and object lessons in Israel, sent from the Lord who commands armies, who lives on Mount Zion.


They will say to you, “Seek oracles at the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, from the magicians who chirp and mutter incantations. Should people not seek oracles from their gods, by asking the dead about the destiny of the living?”


Then you must recall the Lord’s instructions and the prophetic testimony of what would happen. Certainly they say such things because their minds are spiritually darkened.


They will pass through the land destitute and starving. Their hunger will make them angry, and they will curse their king and their God as they look upward.


When one looks out over the land, he sees distress and darkness, gloom and anxiety, darkness and people forced from the land.


The gloom will be dispelled for those who were anxious. In earlier times he humiliated the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali; but now he brings honor to the way of the sea, the region beyond the Jordan, and Galilee of the nations.


The people walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness.


You have enlarged the nation; you give them great joy. They rejoice in your presence as harvesters rejoice; as warriors celebrate when they divide up the plunder.


For their oppressive yoke and the club that strikes their shoulders, the cudgel the oppressor uses on them, you have shattered, as in the day of Midian’s defeat.


Indeed every boot that marches and shakes the earth and every garment dragged through blood is used as fuel for the fire.


For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Extraordinary Strategist, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.


His dominion will be vast and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The Lord’s intense devotion to his people will accomplish this.


The sovereign master decreed judgment on Jacob, and it fell on Israel.


All the people were aware of it, the people of Ephraim and those living in Samaria. Yet with pride and an arrogant attitude, they said,


“The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with chiseled stone; the sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”


Then the Lord provoked their adversaries to attack them, he stirred up their enemies –


Syria from the east, and the Philistines from the west, they gobbled up Israelite territory. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.


The people did not return to the one who struck them, they did not seek reconciliation with the Lord who commands armies.


So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail, both the shoots and stalk in one day.


The leaders and the highly respected people are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.


The leaders of this nation were misleading people, and the people being led were destroyed.


So the sovereign master was not pleased with their young men, he took no pity on their orphans and widows; for the whole nation was godless and did wicked things, every mouth was speaking disgraceful words. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.


For evil burned like a fire, it consumed thorns and briers; it burned up the thickets of the forest, and they went up in smoke.


Because of the anger of the Lord who commands armies, the land was scorched, and the people became fuel for the fire. People had no compassion on one another.


They devoured on the right, but were still hungry, they ate on the left, but were not satisfied. People even ate the flesh of their own arm!


Manasseh fought against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasseh; together they fought against Judah. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.


Those who enact unjust policies are as good as dead, those who are always instituting unfair regulations,


to keep the poor from getting fair treatment, and to deprive the oppressed among my people of justice, so they can steal what widows own, and loot what belongs to orphans.


What will you do on judgment day, when destruction arrives from a distant place? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your wealth?


You will have no place to go, except to kneel with the prisoners, or to fall among those who have been killed. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.


Assyria, the club I use to vent my anger, is as good as dead, a cudgel with which I angrily punish.


I sent him against a godless nation, I ordered him to attack the people with whom I was angry, to take plunder and to carry away loot, to trample them down like dirt in the streets.


But he does not agree with this, his mind does not reason this way, for his goal is to destroy, and to eliminate many nations.


Indeed, he says: “Are not my officials all kings?


Is not Calneh like Carchemish? Hamath like Arpad? Samaria like Damascus?


I overpowered kingdoms ruled by idols, whose carved images were more impressive than Jerusalem’s or Samaria’s.


As I have done to Samaria and its idols, so I will do to Jerusalem and its idols.”


But when the sovereign master finishes judging Mount Zion and Jerusalem, then I will punish the king of Assyria for what he has proudly planned and for the arrogant attitude he displays.


For he says: “By my strong hand I have accomplished this, by my strategy that I devised. I invaded the territory of nations, and looted their storehouses. Like a mighty conqueror, I brought down rulers.


My hand discovered the wealth of the nations, as if it were in a nest, as one gathers up abandoned eggs, I gathered up the whole earth. There was no wing flapping, or open mouth chirping.”


Does an ax exalt itself over the one who wields it, or a saw magnify itself over the one who cuts with it? As if a scepter should brandish the one who raises it, or a staff should lift up what is not made of wood!


For this reason the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, will make his healthy ones emaciated. His majestic glory will go up in smoke.


The light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One will become a flame; it will burn and consume the Assyrian king’s briers and his thorns in one day.


The splendor of his forest and his orchard will be completely destroyed, as when a sick man’s life ebbs away.


There will be so few trees left in his forest, a child will be able to count them.


At that time those left in Israel, those who remain of the family of Jacob, will no longer rely on a foreign leader that abuses them. Instead they will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.


A remnant will come back, a remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.


For though your people, Israel, are as numerous as the sand on the seashore, only a remnant will come back. Destruction has been decreed; just punishment is about to engulf you.


The sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, is certainly ready to carry out the decreed destruction throughout the land.


So here is what the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, says: “My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of Assyria, even though they beat you with a club and lift their cudgel against you as Egypt did.


For very soon my fury will subside, and my anger will be directed toward their destruction.”


The Lord who commands armies is about to beat them with a whip, similar to the way he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb. He will use his staff against the sea, lifting it up as he did in Egypt.


At that time the Lord will remove their burden from your shoulders, and their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be taken off because your neck will be too large.


They attacked Aiath, moved through Migron, depositing their supplies at Micmash.


They went through the pass, spent the night at Geba. Ramah trembled, Gibeah of Saul ran away.


Shout out, daughter of Gallim! Pay attention, Laishah! Answer her, Anathoth!


Madmenah flees, the residents of Gebim have hidden.


This very day, standing in Nob, they shake their fist at Daughter Zion’s mountain – at the hill of Jerusalem.


Look, the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, is ready to cut off the branches with terrifying power. The tallest trees will be cut down, the loftiest ones will be brought low.


The thickets of the forest will be chopped down with an ax, and mighty Lebanon will fall.


A shoot will grow out of Jesse’s root stock, a bud will sprout from his roots.


The Lord’s spirit will rest on him – a spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom, a spirit that provides the ability to execute plans, a spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord.


He will take delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by mere appearances, or make decisions on the basis of hearsay.


He will treat the poor fairly, and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and order the wicked to be executed.


Justice will be like a belt around his waist, integrity will be like a belt around his hips.


A wolf will reside with a lamb, and a leopard will lie down with a young goat; an ox and a young lion will graze together, as a small child leads them along.


A cow and a bear will graze together, their young will lie down together. A lion, like an ox, will eat straw.


A baby will play over the hole of a snake; over the nest of a serpent an infant will put his hand.


They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain. For there will be universal submission to the Lord’s sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea.


At that time a root from Jesse will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to him for guidance, and his residence will be majestic.


At that time the sovereign master will again lift his hand to reclaim the remnant of his people from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the seacoasts.


He will lift a signal flag for the nations; he will gather Israel’s dispersed people and assemble Judah’s scattered people from the four corners of the earth.


Ephraim’s jealousy will end, and Judah’s hostility will be eliminated. Ephraim will no longer be jealous of Judah, and Judah will no longer be hostile toward Ephraim.


They will swoop down on the Philistine hills to the west; together they will loot the people of the east. They will take over Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be their subjects.


The Lord will divide the gulf of the Egyptian Sea; he will wave his hand over the Euphrates River and send a strong wind, he will turn it into seven dried-up streams, and enable them to walk across in their sandals.


There will be a highway leading out of Assyria for the remnant of his people, just as there was for Israel, when they went up from the land of Egypt.


At that time you will say: “I praise you, O Lord, for even though you were angry with me, your anger subsided, and you consoled me.


Look, God is my deliverer! I will trust in him and not fear. For the Lord gives me strength and protects me; he has become my deliverer.”


Joyfully you will draw water from the springs of deliverance.


At that time you will say: “Praise the Lord! Ask him for help! Publicize his mighty acts among the nations! Make it known that he is unique!


Sing to the Lord, for he has done magnificent things, let this be known throughout the earth!


Cry out and shout for joy, O citizens of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel acts mightily among you!”


This is a message about Babylon that God revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz:


On a bare hill raise a signal flag, shout to them, wave your hand, so they might enter the gates of the princes!


I have given orders to my chosen soldiers; I have summoned the warriors through whom I will vent my anger, my boasting, arrogant ones.


There is a loud noise on the mountains – it sounds like a large army! There is great commotion among the kingdoms – nations are being assembled! The Lord who commands armies is mustering forces for battle.


They come from a distant land, from the horizon. It is the Lord with his instruments of judgment, coming to destroy the whole earth.


Wail, for the Lord’s day of judgment is near; it comes with all the destructive power of the sovereign judge.


For this reason all hands hang limp, every human heart loses its courage.


They panic – cramps and pain seize hold of them like those of a woman who is straining to give birth. They look at one another in astonishment; their faces are flushed red.


Look, the Lord’s day of judgment is coming; it is a day of cruelty and savage, raging anger, destroying the earth and annihilating its sinners.


Indeed the stars in the sky and their constellations no longer give out their light; the sun is darkened as soon as it rises, and the moon does not shine.


I will punish the world for its evil, and wicked people for their sin. I will put an end to the pride of the insolent, I will bring down the arrogance of tyrants.


I will make human beings more scarce than pure gold, and people more scarce than gold from Ophir.


So I will shake the heavens, and the earth will shake loose from its foundation, because of the fury of the Lord who commands armies, in the day he vents his raging anger.


Like a frightened gazelle or a sheep with no shepherd, each will turn toward home, each will run to his homeland.


Everyone who is caught will be stabbed; everyone who is seized will die by the sword.


Their children will be smashed to pieces before their very eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives raped.


Look, I am stirring up the Medes to attack them; they are not concerned about silver, nor are they interested in gold.


Their arrows will cut young men to ribbons; they have no compassion on a person’s offspring, they will not look with pity on children.


Babylon, the most admired of kingdoms, the Chaldeans’ source of honor and pride, will be destroyed by God just as Sodom and Gomorrah were.


No one will live there again; no one will ever reside there again. No bedouin will camp there, no shepherds will rest their flocks there.


Wild animals will rest there, the ruined houses will be full of hyenas. Ostriches will live there, wild goats will skip among the ruins.


Wild dogs will yip in her ruined fortresses, jackals will yelp in the once-splendid palaces. Her time is almost up, her days will not be prolonged.


The Lord will certainly have compassion on Jacob; he will again choose Israel as his special people and restore them to their land. Resident foreigners will join them and unite with the family of Jacob.


Nations will take them and bring them back to their own place. Then the family of Jacob will make foreigners their servants as they settle in the Lord’s land. They will make their captors captives and rule over the ones who oppressed them.


When the Lord gives you relief from your suffering and anxiety, and from the hard labor which you were made to perform,


you will taunt the king of Babylon with these words: “Look how the oppressor has met his end! Hostility has ceased!


The Lord has broken the club of the wicked, the scepter of rulers.


It furiously struck down nations with unceasing blows. It angrily ruled over nations, oppressing them without restraint.


The whole earth rests and is quiet; they break into song.


The evergreens also rejoice over your demise, as do the cedars of Lebanon, singing, ‘Since you fell asleep, no woodsman comes up to chop us down!’


Sheol below is stirred up about you, ready to meet you when you arrive. It rouses the spirits of the dead for you, all the former leaders of the earth; it makes all the former kings of the nations rise from their thrones.


All of them respond to you, saying: ‘You too have become weak like us! You have become just like us!


Your splendor has been brought down to Sheol, as well as the sound of your stringed instruments. You lie on a bed of maggots, with a blanket of worms over you.


Look how you have fallen from the sky, O shining one, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O conqueror of the nations!


You said to yourself, “I will climb up to the sky. Above the stars of El I will set up my throne. I will rule on the mountain of assembly on the remote slopes of Zaphon.


I will climb up to the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High!”


But you were brought down to Sheol, to the remote slopes of the pit.


Those who see you stare at you, they look at you carefully, thinking: “Is this the man who shook the earth, the one who made kingdoms tremble?


Is this the one who made the world like a desert, who ruined its cities, and refused to free his prisoners so they could return home?”’


As for all the kings of the nations, all of them lie down in splendor, each in his own tomb.


But you have been thrown out of your grave like a shoot that is thrown away. You lie among the slain, among those who have been slashed by the sword, among those headed for the stones of the pit, as if you were a mangled corpse.


You will not be buried with them, because you destroyed your land and killed your people. The offspring of the wicked will never be mentioned again.


Prepare to execute his sons for the sins their ancestors have committed. They must not rise up and take possession of the earth, or fill the surface of the world with cities.”


“I will rise up against them,” says the Lord who commands armies. “I will blot out all remembrance of Babylon and destroy all her people, including the offspring she produces,” says the Lord.


“I will turn her into a place that is overrun with wild animals and covered with pools of stagnant water. I will get rid of her, just as one sweeps away dirt with a broom,” says the Lord who commands armies.


The Lord who commands armies makes this solemn vow: “Be sure of this: Just as I have intended, so it will be; just as I have planned, it will happen.


I will break Assyria in my land, I will trample them underfoot on my hills. Their yoke will be removed from my people, the burden will be lifted from their shoulders.


This is the plan I have devised for the whole earth; my hand is ready to strike all the nations.”


Indeed, the Lord who commands armies has a plan, and who can possibly frustrate it? His hand is ready to strike, and who can possibly stop it?


In the year King Ahaz died, this message was revealed:


Don’t be so happy, all you Philistines, just because the club that beat you has been broken! For a viper will grow out of the serpent’s root, and its fruit will be a darting adder.


The poor will graze in my pastures; the needy will rest securely. But I will kill your root by famine; it will put to death all your survivors.


Wail, O city gate! Cry out, O city! Melt with fear, all you Philistines! For out of the north comes a cloud of smoke, and there are no stragglers in its ranks.


How will they respond to the messengers of this nation? Indeed, the Lord has made Zion secure; the oppressed among his people will find safety in her.


Here is a message about Moab: Indeed, in a night it is devastated, Ar of Moab is destroyed! Indeed, in a night it is devastated, Kir of Moab is destroyed!


They went up to the temple, the people of Dibon went up to the high places to lament. Because of what happened to Nebo and Medeba, Moab wails. Every head is shaved bare, every beard is trimmed off.


In their streets they wear sackcloth; on their roofs and in their town squares all of them wail, they fall down weeping.


The people of Heshbon and Elealeh cry out, their voices are heard as far away as Jahaz. For this reason Moab’s soldiers shout in distress; their courage wavers.


My heart cries out because of Moab’s plight, and for the fugitives stretched out as far as Zoar and Eglath Shelishiyah. For they weep as they make their way up the ascent of Luhith; they loudly lament their demise on the road to Horonaim.


For the waters of Nimrim are gone; the grass is dried up, the vegetation has disappeared, and there are no plants.


For this reason what they have made and stored up, they carry over the Stream of the Poplars.


Indeed, the cries of distress echo throughout Moabite territory; their wailing can be heard in Eglaim and Beer Elim.


Indeed, the waters of Dimon are full of blood! Indeed, I will heap even more trouble on Dimon. A lion will attack the Moabite fugitives and the people left in the land.


Send rams as tribute to the ruler of the land, from Sela in the desert to the hill of Daughter Zion.


At the fords of the Arnon the Moabite women are like a bird that flies about when forced from its nest.


“Bring a plan, make a decision! Provide some shade in the middle of the day! Hide the fugitives! Do not betray the one who tries to escape!


Please let the Moabite fugitives live among you. Hide them from the destroyer!” Certainly the one who applies pressure will cease, the destroyer will come to an end, those who trample will disappear from the earth.


Then a trustworthy king will be established; he will rule in a reliable manner, this one from David’s family. He will be sure to make just decisions and will be experienced in executing justice.


We have heard about Moab’s pride, their great arrogance, their boasting, pride, and excess. But their boastful claims are empty!


So Moab wails over its demise – they all wail! Completely devastated, they moan about what has happened to the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth.


For the fields of Heshbon are dried up, as well as the vines of Sibmah. The rulers of the nations trample all over its vines, which reach Jazer and spread to the desert; their shoots spread out and cross the sea.


So I weep along with Jazer over the vines of Sibmah. I will saturate you with my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh, for the conquering invaders shout triumphantly over your fruit and crops.


Joy and happiness disappear from the orchards, and in the vineyards no one rejoices or shouts; no one treads out juice in the wine vats – I have brought the joyful shouts to an end.


So my heart constantly sighs for Moab, like the strumming of a harp, my inner being sighs for Kir Hareseth.


When the Moabites plead with all their might at their high places, and enter their temples to pray, their prayers will be ineffective!


This is the message the Lord previously announced about Moab.


Now the Lord makes this announcement: “Within exactly three years Moab’s splendor will disappear, along with all her many people; there will be just a few, insignificant survivors left.”


Here is a message about Damascus: “Look, Damascus is no longer a city, it is a heap of ruins!


The cities of Aroer are abandoned. They will be used for herds, which will lie down there in peace.


Fortified cities will disappear from Ephraim, and Damascus will lose its kingdom. The survivors in Syria will end up like the splendor of the Israelites,” says the Lord who commands armies.


“At that time Jacob’s splendor will be greatly diminished, and he will become skin and bones.


It will be as when one gathers the grain harvest, and his hand gleans the ear of grain. It will be like one gathering the ears of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.


There will be some left behind, like when an olive tree is beaten – two or three ripe olives remain toward the very top, four or five on its fruitful branches,” says the Lord God of Israel.


At that time men will trust in their creator; they will depend on the Holy One of Israel.


They will no longer trust in the altars their hands made, or depend on the Asherah poles and incense altars their fingers made.


At that time their fortified cities will be like the abandoned summits of the Amorites, which they abandoned because of the Israelites; there will be desolation.


For you ignore the God who rescues you; you pay no attention to your strong protector. So this is what happens: You cultivate beautiful plants and plant exotic vines.


The day you begin cultivating, you do what you can to make it grow; the morning you begin planting, you do what you can to make it sprout. Yet the harvest will disappear in the day of disease and incurable pain.


The many nations massing together are as good as dead, those who make a commotion as loud as the roaring of the sea’s waves. The people making such an uproar are as good as dead, those who make an uproar as loud as the roaring of powerful waves.


Though these people make an uproar as loud as the roaring of powerful waves, when he shouts at them, they will flee to a distant land, driven before the wind like dead weeds on the hills, or like dead thistles before a strong gale.


In the evening there is sudden terror; by morning they vanish. This is the fate of those who try to plunder us, the destiny of those who try to loot us!


The land of buzzing wings is as good as dead, the one beyond the rivers of Cush,


that sends messengers by sea, who glide over the water’s surface in boats made of papyrus. Go, you swift messengers, to a nation of tall, smooth-skinned people, to a people that are feared far and wide, to a nation strong and victorious, whose land rivers divide.


All you who live in the world, who reside on the earth, you will see a signal flag raised on the mountains; you will hear a trumpet being blown.


For this is what the Lord has told me: “I will wait and watch from my place, like scorching heat produced by the sunlight, like a cloud of mist in the heat of harvest.”


For before the harvest, when the bud has sprouted, and the ripening fruit appears, he will cut off the unproductive shoots with pruning knives; he will prune the tendrils.


They will all be left for the birds of the hills and the wild animals; the birds will eat them during the summer, and all the wild animals will eat them during the winter.


At that time tribute will be brought to the Lord who commands armies, by a people that are tall and smooth-skinned, a people that are feared far and wide, a nation strong and victorious, whose land rivers divide. The tribute will be brought to the place where the Lord who commands armies has chosen to reside, on Mount Zion.


Here is a message about Egypt: Look, the Lord rides on a swift-moving cloud and approaches Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him; the Egyptians lose their courage.


“I will provoke civil strife in Egypt, brothers will fight with each other, as will neighbors, cities, and kingdoms.


The Egyptians will panic, and I will confuse their strategy. They will seek guidance from the idols and from the spirits of the dead, from the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, and from the magicians.


I will hand Egypt over to a harsh master; a powerful king will rule over them,” says the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies.


The water of the sea will be dried up, and the river will dry up and be empty.


The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will trickle and then dry up; the bulrushes and reeds will decay,


along with the plants by the mouth of the river. All the cultivated land near the river will turn to dust and be blown away.


The fishermen will mourn and lament, all those who cast a fishhook into the river, and those who spread out a net on the water’s surface will grieve.


Those who make clothes from combed flax will be embarrassed; those who weave will turn pale.


Those who make cloth will be demoralized; all the hired workers will be depressed.


The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; Pharaoh’s wise advisers give stupid advice. How dare you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the sages, one well-versed in the writings of the ancient kings?”


But where, oh where, are your wise men? Let them tell you, let them find out what the Lord who commands armies has planned for Egypt.


The officials of Zoan are fools, the officials of Memphis are misled; the rulers of her tribes lead Egypt astray.


The Lord has made them undiscerning; they lead Egypt astray in all she does, so that she is like a drunk sliding around in his own vomit.


Egypt will not be able to do a thing, head or tail, shoots and stalk.


At that time the Egyptians will be like women. They will tremble and fear because the Lord who commands armies brandishes his fist against them.


The land of Judah will humiliate Egypt. Everyone who hears about Judah will be afraid because of what the Lord who commands armies is planning to do to them.


At that time five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord who commands armies. One will be called the City of the Sun.


At that time there will be an altar for the Lord in the middle of the land of Egypt, as well as a sacred pillar dedicated to the Lord at its border.


It will become a visual reminder in the land of Egypt of the Lord who commands armies. When they cry out to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a deliverer and defender who will rescue them.


The Lord will reveal himself to the Egyptians, and they will acknowledge the Lord’s authority at that time. They will present sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and fulfill them.


The Lord will strike Egypt, striking and then healing them. They will turn to the Lord and he will listen to their prayers and heal them.


At that time there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will visit Egypt, and the Egyptians will visit Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.


At that time Israel will be the third member of the group, along with Egypt and Assyria, and will be a recipient of blessing in the earth.


The Lord who commands armies will pronounce a blessing over the earth, saying, “Blessed be my people, Egypt, and the work of my hands, Assyria, and my special possession, Israel!”


The Lord revealed the following message during the year in which King Sargon of Assyria sent his commanding general to Ashdod, and he fought against it and captured it.


At that time the Lord announced through Isaiah son of Amoz: “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and take your sandals off your feet.” He did as instructed and walked around in undergarments and barefoot.


Later the Lord explained, “In the same way that my servant Isaiah has walked around in undergarments and barefoot for the past three years, as an object lesson and omen pertaining to Egypt and Cush,


so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, both young and old. They will be in undergarments and barefoot, with the buttocks exposed; the Egyptians will be publicly humiliated.


Those who put their hope in Cush and took pride in Egypt will be afraid and embarrassed.


At that time those who live on this coast will say, ‘Look what has happened to our source of hope to whom we fled for help, expecting to be rescued from the king of Assyria! How can we escape now?’”


Here is a message about the Desert by the Sea: Like strong winds blowing in the south, one invades from the desert, from a land that is feared.


I have received a distressing message: “The deceiver deceives, the destroyer destroys. Attack, you Elamites! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning!”


For this reason my stomach churns; cramps overwhelm me like the contractions of a woman in labor. I am disturbed by what I hear, horrified by what I see.


My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror.


Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!


For this is what the sovereign master has told me: “Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees.


When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert.”


Then the guard cries out: “On the watchtower, O sovereign master, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every night.


Look what’s coming! A charioteer, a team of horses.” When questioned, he replies, “Babylon has fallen, fallen! All the idols of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”


O my downtrodden people, crushed like stalks on the threshing floor, what I have heard from the Lord who commands armies, the God of Israel, I have reported to you.


Here is a message about Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”


The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again.”


Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans.


Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives.


For they flee from the swords – from the drawn sword and from the battle-ready bow and from the severity of the battle.


For this is what the sovereign master has told me: “Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.


Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left.” Indeed, the Lord God of Israel has spoken.


Here is a message about the Valley of Vision: What is the reason that all of you go up to the rooftops?


The noisy city is full of raucous sounds; the town is filled with revelry. Your slain were not cut down by the sword; they did not die in battle.


All your leaders ran away together – they fled to a distant place; all your refugees were captured together – they were captured without a single arrow being shot.


So I say: “Don’t look at me! I am weeping bitterly. Don’t try to console me concerning the destruction of my defenseless people.”


For the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, has planned a day of panic, defeat, and confusion. In the Valley of Vision people shout and cry out to the hill.


The Elamites picked up the quiver, and came with chariots and horsemen; the men of Kir prepared the shield.


Your very best valleys were full of chariots; horsemen confidently took their positions at the gate.


They removed the defenses of Judah. At that time you looked for the weapons in the House of the Forest.


You saw the many breaks in the walls of the city of David; you stored up water in the lower pool.


You counted the houses in Jerusalem, and demolished houses so you could have material to reinforce the wall.


You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool – but you did not trust in the one who made it; you did not depend on the one who formed it long ago!


At that time the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, called for weeping and mourning, for shaved heads and sackcloth.


But look, there is outright celebration! You say, “Kill the ox and slaughter the sheep, eat meat and drink wine. Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”


The Lord who commands armies told me this: “Certainly this sin will not be forgiven as long as you live,” says the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies.


This is what the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, says: “Go visit this administrator, Shebna, who supervises the palace, and tell him:


‘What right do you have to be here? What relatives do you have buried here? Why do you chisel out a tomb for yourself here? He chisels out his burial site in an elevated place, he carves out his tomb on a cliff.


Look, the Lord will throw you far away, you mere man! He will wrap you up tightly.


He will wind you up tightly into a ball and throw you into a wide, open land. There you will die, and there with you will be your impressive chariots, which bring disgrace to the house of your master.


I will remove you from your office; you will be thrown down from your position.


“At that time I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah.


I will put your robe on him, tie your belt around him, and transfer your authority to him. He will become a protector of the residents of Jerusalem and of the people of Judah.


I will place the key to the house of David on his shoulder. When he opens the door, no one can close it; when he closes the door, no one can open it.


I will fasten him like a peg into a solid place; he will bring honor and respect to his father’s family.


His father’s family will gain increasing prominence because of him, including the offspring and the offshoots. All the small containers, including the bowls and all the jars will hang from this peg.’


“At that time,” says the Lord who commands armies, “the peg fastened into a solid place will come loose. It will be cut off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off.” Indeed, the Lord has spoken.


Here is a message about Tyre: Wail, you large ships, for the port is too devastated to enter! From the land of Cyprus this news is announced to them.


Lament, you residents of the coast, you merchants of Sidon who travel over the sea, whose agents sail over


the deep waters! Grain from the Shihor region, crops grown near the Nile she receives; she is the trade center of the nations.


Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea says this, O fortress of the sea: “I have not gone into labor or given birth; I have not raised young men or brought up young women.”


When the news reaches Egypt, they will be shaken by what has happened to Tyre.


Travel to Tarshish! Wail, you residents of the coast!


Is this really your boisterous city whose origins are in the distant past, and whose feet led her to a distant land to reside?


Who planned this for royal Tyre, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the dignitaries of the earth?


The Lord who commands armies planned it – to dishonor the pride that comes from all her beauty, to humiliate all the dignitaries of the earth.


Daughter Tarshish, travel back to your land, as one crosses the Nile; there is no longer any marketplace in Tyre.


The Lord stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook kingdoms; he gave the order to destroy Canaan’s fortresses.


He said, “You will no longer celebrate, oppressed virgin daughter Sidon! Get up, travel to Cyprus, but you will find no relief there.”


Look at the land of the Chaldeans, these people who have lost their identity! The Assyrians have made it a home for wild animals. They erected their siege towers, demolished its fortresses, and turned it into a heap of ruins.


Wail, you large ships, for your fortress is destroyed!


At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the typical life span of a king. At the end of seventy years Tyre will try to attract attention again, like the prostitute in the popular song:


“Take the harp, go through the city, forgotten prostitute! Play it well, play lots of songs, so you’ll be noticed!”


At the end of seventy years the Lord will revive Tyre. She will start making money again by selling her services to all the earth’s kingdoms.


Her profits and earnings will be set apart for the Lord. They will not be stored up or accumulated, for her profits will be given to those who live in the Lord’s presence and will be used to purchase large quantities of food and beautiful clothes.


Look, the Lord is ready to devastate the earth and leave it in ruins; he will mar its surface and scatter its inhabitants.


Everyone will suffer – the priest as well as the people, the master as well as the servant, the elegant lady as well as the female attendant, the seller as well as the buyer, the borrower as well as the lender, the creditor as well as the debtor.


The earth will be completely devastated and thoroughly ransacked. For the Lord has decreed this judgment.


The earth dries up and withers, the world shrivels up and withers; the prominent people of the earth fade away.


The earth is defiled by its inhabitants, for they have violated laws, disregarded the regulation, and broken the permanent treaty.


So a treaty curse devours the earth; its inhabitants pay for their guilt. This is why the inhabitants of the earth disappear, and are reduced to just a handful of people.


The new wine dries up, the vines shrivel up, all those who like to celebrate groan.


The happy sound of the tambourines stops, the revelry of those who celebrate comes to a halt, the happy sound of the harp ceases.


They no longer sing and drink wine; the beer tastes bitter to those who drink it.


The ruined town is shattered; all of the houses are shut up tight.


They howl in the streets because of what happened to the wine; all joy turns to sorrow; celebrations disappear from the earth.


The city is left in ruins; the gate is reduced to rubble.


This is what will happen throughout the earth, among the nations. It will be like when they beat an olive tree, and just a few olives are left at the end of the harvest.


They lift their voices and shout joyfully; they praise the majesty of the Lord in the west.


So in the east extol the Lord, along the seacoasts extol the fame of the Lord God of Israel.


From the ends of the earth we hear songs – the Just One is majestic. But I say, “I’m wasting away! I’m wasting away! I’m doomed! Deceivers deceive, deceivers thoroughly deceive!”


Terror, pit, and snare are ready to overtake you inhabitants of the earth!


The one who runs away from the sound of the terror will fall into the pit; the one who climbs out of the pit, will be trapped by the snare. For the floodgates of the heavens are opened up and the foundations of the earth shake.


The earth is broken in pieces, the earth is ripped to shreds, the earth shakes violently.


The earth will stagger around like a drunk; it will sway back and forth like a hut in a windstorm. Its sin will weigh it down, and it will fall and never get up again.


At that time the Lord will punish the heavenly forces in the heavens and the earthly kings on the earth.


They will be imprisoned in a pit, locked up in a prison, and after staying there for a long time, they will be punished.


The full moon will be covered up, the bright sun will be darkened; for the Lord who commands armies will rule on Mount Zion in Jerusalem in the presence of his assembly, in majestic splendor.


O Lord, you are my God! I will exalt you in praise, I will extol your fame. For you have done extraordinary things, and executed plans made long ago exactly as you decreed.


Indeed, you have made the city into a heap of rubble, the fortified town into a heap of ruins; the fortress of foreigners is no longer a city, it will never be rebuilt.


So a strong nation will extol you; the towns of powerful nations will fear you.


For you are a protector for the poor, a protector for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm, a shade from the heat. Though the breath of tyrants is like a winter rainstorm,


like heat in a dry land, you humble the boasting foreigners. Just as the shadow of a cloud causes the heat to subside, so he causes the song of tyrants to cease.


The Lord who commands armies will hold a banquet for all the nations on this mountain. At this banquet there will be plenty of meat and aged wine – tender meat and choicest wine.


On this mountain he will swallow up the shroud that is over all the peoples, the woven covering that is over all the nations;


he will swallow up death permanently. The sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from every face, and remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. Indeed, the Lord has announced it!


At that time they will say, “Look, here is our God! We waited for him and he delivered us. Here is the Lord! We waited for him. Let’s rejoice and celebrate his deliverance!”


For the Lord’s power will make this mountain secure. Moab will be trampled down where it stands, as a heap of straw is trampled down in a manure pile.


Moab will spread out its hands in the middle of it, just as a swimmer spreads his hands to swim; the Lord will bring down Moab’s pride as it spreads its hands.


The fortified city (along with the very tops of your walls) he will knock down, he will bring it down, he will throw it down to the dusty ground.


At that time this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city! The Lord’s deliverance, like walls and a rampart, makes it secure.


Open the gates so a righteous nation can enter – one that remains trustworthy.


You keep completely safe the people who maintain their faith, for they trust in you.


Trust in the Lord from this time forward, even in Yah, the Lord, an enduring protector!


Indeed, the Lord knocks down those who live in a high place, he brings down an elevated town; he brings it down to the ground, he throws it down to the dust.


It is trampled underfoot by the feet of the oppressed, by the soles of the poor.”


The way of the righteous is level, the path of the righteous that you make is straight.


Yes, as your judgments unfold, O Lord, we wait for you. We desire your fame and reputation to grow.


I look for you during the night, my spirit within me seeks you at dawn, for when your judgments come upon the earth, those who live in the world learn about justice.


If the wicked are shown mercy, they do not learn about justice. Even in a land where right is rewarded, they act unjustly; they do not see the Lord’s majesty revealed.


O Lord, you are ready to act, but they don’t even notice. They will see and be put to shame by your angry judgment against humankind, yes, fire will consume your enemies.


O Lord, you make us secure, for even all we have accomplished, you have done for us.


O Lord, our God, masters other than you have ruled us, but we praise your name alone.


The dead do not come back to life, the spirits of the dead do not rise. That is because you came in judgment and destroyed them, you wiped out all memory of them.