14 Yahweh will have compassion on Yakov,

≈ and will choose Yisrael again,

and settle them on their own land.

Foreigners will join with them,

≈ and attach themselves to the Israeli people.

2 The nations will take them back to their own place,

and in Yahweh’s land, the Israelis will take them as male and female servants.

They’ll take their captors captive,

≈ and they’ll rule over their oppressors.

3 Then at the time when Yahweh gives you a break from your anguish and suffering,

≈ and from the hard labour you did as slaves,

4 then you’ll taunt Babylon’s king with this song,

“How the oppressor has stopped,

≈ and how his fury has ceased.

5 Yahweh has broken the wicked peoples’ staff,

≈ the golden rod of the rulers.

6 In your rage, you struck the people groups with never-ending blows,

≈ ruling the nations in anger—persecuting them without restraint.

7 Now the whole world is in restful peace.

People have broken out with a shout of celebration.

8 Even the cypress trees are happy about your demise,

≈ as as the cedars in Lebanon.

Now that you’re powerless,

→ no one comes up to cut us down.

9 Down below, the grave is excited

≈ waiting for your arrival.

It wakes up the dead for you—all the kings of the earth,

≈ raising them from their thrones—all the kings of the nations.

10 They’ll all speak and tell you

that you have been made weak like them,

in fact become completely like them.

11 Your reputation has been brought down to the grave,

≈ along with the sound of your harps.

Maggots are spread to be your mattress,

≈ and worms are your blanket.

12 How you’ve fallen from heaven, you shining son of the dawn.[ref]

≈ You’ve been cut down to the ground, you who defeated nations.

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