[1] Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who
write perverseness; [2] to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob
the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and
that they may make the fatherless their prey! [3] What will you do in the
day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom
will you flee for help? and where will you leave your glory? [4] They shall
only bow down under the prisoners, and shall fall under the slain. For all
this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. [5]
Ho 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 of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, 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 my
princes all of them kings? [9] Isn`t Calno as Carchemish? Isn`t Hamath as
Arpad? Isn`t Samaria as Damascus? [10] As my hand has found the kingdoms of
the idols, whose engraved images did excel them 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 shall happen that, when the
Lord has performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will
punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory
of his high looks. [13] For he has said, By the strength of my hand I have
done it, and by my wisdom; for I have understanding: and I have removed the
bounds of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures, and like a valiant
man I have brought down those who sit [on thrones]: [14] and my hand has
found as a nest the riches of the peoples; and as one gathers eggs that are
forsaken, have I gathered all the earth: and there was none that moved the
wing, or that opened the mouth, or chirped. [15] Shall the ax boast itself
against him who hews therewith? Shall the saw magnify itself against him
who wields it? as if a rod should wield those who lift it up, [or] as if a
staff should lift up [him who is] not wood. [16] Therefore will the Lord,
Yahweh of Hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory
there shall be kindled a burning 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: and
it shall be as when a standard-bearer faints. [19] The remnant of the trees
of his forest shall be few, so that a child may write them. [20] It shall
come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and those who are
escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again lean on him who struck
them, but shall lean on Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. [21] A
remnant shall return, [even] the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. [22]
For though your people, Israel, be as the sand of the sea, [only] a remnant
of them shall return: a destruction [is] determined, overflowing with
righteousness. [23] For a full end, and that determined, will the Lord,
Yahweh of Hosts, make in the midst of all the earth. [24] Therefore thus
says the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, 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, after the manner of Egypt. [25] For yet a very little
while, and the indignation [against you] shall be accomplished, and my
anger [shall be directed] to his destruction. [26] Yahweh of Hosts will
stir up against him a scourge, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of
Oreb: and his rod will be over the sea, and he will lift it up after the
manner of Egypt. [27] It shall happen in that day, that his burden shall
depart from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the
yoke shall be destroyed by reason of fatness. [28] He is come to Aiath, he
is passed through Migron; at Michmash he lays up his baggage; [29] they are
gone over the pass; they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah
trembles; Gibeah of Saul is 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 shall he halt
at Nob: he shakes his hand at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, the
hill of Jerusalem. [33] Behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, will lop the
boughs with terror: and the high of stature shall be hewn down, and the
lofty shall be brought low. [34] He will cut down the thickets of the
forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.
