[1] Woe to you, destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed; you
treacherous one, with whom none has dealt treacherously! When you have
ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have made an end of
dealing treacherously, you will be dealt with treacherously. [2] O LORD, be
gracious to us; we wait for thee. Be our arm every morning, our salvation
in the time of trouble. [3] At the thunderous noise peoples flee, at the
lifting up of thyself nations are scattered; [4] and spoil is gathered as
the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, men leap upon it. [5] The LORD is
exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and
righteousness; [6] and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of
salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is his treasure. [7]
Behold, the valiant ones cry without; the envoys of peace weep bitterly.
[8] The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceases. Covenants are broken,
witnesses are despised, there is no regard for man. [9] The land mourns and
languishes; Lebanon is confounded and withers away; Sharon is like a
desert; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves. [10] "Now I will
arise," says the LORD, "now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted.
[11] You conceive chaff, you bring forth stubble; your breath is a fire
that will consume you. [12] And the peoples will be as if burned to lime,
like thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire." [13] Hear, you who are
far off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge my might. [14]
The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: "Who
among us can dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us can dwell with
everlasting burnings?" [15] He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,
who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold
a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes
from looking upon evil, [16] he will dwell on the heights; his place of
defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him, his
water will be sure. [17] Your eyes will see the king in his beauty; they
will behold a land that stretches afar. [18] Your mind will muse on the
terror: "Where is he who counted, where is he who weighed the tribute?
Where is he who counted the towers?" [19] You will see no more the insolent
people, the people of an obscure speech which you cannot comprehend,
stammering in a tongue which you cannot understand. [20] Look upon Zion,
the city of our appointed feasts! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet
habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor
will any of its cords be broken. [21] But there the LORD in majesty will be
for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can
go, nor stately ship can pass. [22] For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is
our ruler, the LORD is our king; he will save us. [23] Your tackle hangs
loose; it cannot hold the mast firm in its place, or keep the sail spread
out. Then prey and spoil in abundance will be divided; even the lame will
take the prey. [24] And no inhabitant will say, "I am sick"; the people who
dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.
