10
1 Woe
to those who
decree unrighteous decrees,
and to the writers
who write oppressive
decrees
2 to
deprive the needy
of justice, and
to rob the
poor among my
people of their
rights, that
widows may be
their plunder, and
that they may
make the
fatherless their
prey!
3 What
will you do
in the day
of visitation, and
in the desolation
which will come
from afar? To
whom will you
flee for help?
Where will you
leave your wealth?
4 They
will only bow
down under
the prisoners,
and will fall
under the slain.
For all this
his anger is not
turned away,
but his hand
is stretched out
still.
5 Alas Assyrian,
the rod of
my anger, the
staff in whose
hand is my
indignation!
6 I
will send him
against a profane
nation, and
against the people
who anger me
I will give
him a command
to take the
plunder and to
take the prey,
and to tread
them down like
the mire of
the streets.
7 However,
he doesn’t mean so,
neither does his
heart think so;
but it is
in his heart
to destroy, and
to cut off
not a few
nations.
8 For
he says, “Aren’t all
of my princes
kings?
9 Isn’t Calno
like Carchemish? Isn’t
Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t
Samaria like
Damascus?”
10 As
my hand has
found the kingdoms
of the idols, whose
engraved images exceeded those
of Jerusalem and
of Samaria,
11 shall
I not, as
I have done
to Samaria and
her idols, so
do to Jerusalem
and her idols?
12 Therefore
it will happen
that when the Lord
has performed his
whole work on
Mount Zion and
on Jerusalem, I
will punish the
fruit of
the willful proud
heart of the
king of Assyria,
and the insolence
of his arrogant
looks.
13 For
he has said, “By
the strength of
my hand I
have done it,
and by my
wisdom, for I
have understanding. I
have removed the
boundaries of the
peoples, and have
robbed their
treasures. Like
a valiant man I
have brought down
their rulers.
14 My
hand has found
the riches of
the peoples like
a nest, and
like one gathers
eggs that are
abandoned, I
have gathered all
the earth. There
was no one
who moved their
wing, or that
opened their mouth,
or chirped.”
15 Should
an ax brag against
him who chops
with it? Should
a saw exalt
itself above him
who saws with it?
As if a rod
should lift those
who lift it
up, or as if
a staff should
lift up someone
who is not
wood.
16 Therefore
the Lord, GOD
of Armies, will
send among his
fat ones leanness;
and under his
glory a burning
will be kindled
like the burning
of fire.
17 The
light of Israel
will be for
a fire, and his
Holy One for
a flame; and
it will burn
and devour his
thorns and his
briers in one
day.
18 He
will consume the
glory of his
forest and of
his fruitful field,
both soul and body.
It will be
as when a standard
bearer faints.
19 The
remnant of the
trees of his
forest shall be
few, so that
a child could
write their number.
20 It
will come to
pass in that
day that the
remnant of Israel,
and those who
have escaped from
the house of
Jacob will no
more again lean
on him who
struck them, but
shall lean on
the LORD,
the Holy One
of Israel, in
truth.
21 A
remnant will
return, even the
remnant of Jacob,
to the mighty God.
22 For
though your people,
Israel, are like
the sand of
the sea, only
a remnant of
them will return.
A destruction is
determined, overflowing
with righteousness.
23 For
the Lord, GOD
of Armies, will
make a full
end, and that
determined, throughout
all the earth.
24 Therefore
the Lord, GOD
of Armies, says,
“My people who
dwell in Zion,
don’t be afraid of
the Assyrian, though he
strike you with
the rod, and
lift up his
staff against you,
as Egypt did.
25 For
yet a very
little while, and
the indignation
against you will
be accomplished,
and my anger
will be directed
to his
destruction.”
26 The
LORD of Armies
will stir up
a scourge against
him, as in
the slaughter of
Midian at the
rock of Oreb.
His rod will
be over the
sea, and he
will lift it
up like he
did against Egypt.
27 It
will happen in
that day that
his burden will
depart from off
your shoulder, and
his yoke from
off your neck,
and the yoke
shall be destroyed
because of the
anointing oil.
28 He
has come to
Aiath. He has
passed through
Migron. At
Michmash he stores
his baggage.
29 They have
gone over the
pass. They have
taken up their
lodging at Geba.
Ramah trembles.
Gibeah of Saul
has fled.
30 Cry
aloud with your
voice, daughter of
Gallim! Listen,
Laishah! You poor
Anathoth!
31 Madmenah
is a fugitive.
The inhabitants of
Gebim flee for
safety.
32 This very
day he will
halt at Nob.
He shakes his
hand at the
mountain of the
daughter of Zion,
the hill of
Jerusalem.
33 Behold,
the Lord, GOD
of Armies, will
lop the boughs
with terror. The
tall will be
cut down, and
the lofty will
be brought low.
34 He will
cut down the
thickets of the
forest with iron,
and Lebanon will
fall by the Mighty
One.