# verses

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In the land of Uz lived a man whose name was Job. He was an upright and good man, fearing God and departing from evil.


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His substance was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses, and a great number of servants; so that he was the greatest of all the inhabitants of the East.


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Now it was the custom of his sons to make a feast in their houses, each on his day, and to send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.


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And when the days of their feasting had gone round, Job used to send for them and sanctify them, and to rise up early in the morning and offer burnt-offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and have renounced God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.


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Now on a certain day the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, and Satan also came among them.


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And Jehovah said to Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From wandering over the earth, and walking up and down in it.


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And Jehovah said to Satan, Hast thou observed my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, an upright and good man, fearing God and departing from evil?


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Hast thou not placed a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all his possessions? Thou hast prospered the work of his hands, and his herds are greatly increased in the land.


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But only put forth thy hand, and touch whatever he possesseth, and to thy face will he renounce thee.


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And Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; but upon him lay not thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.


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Now on a certain day the sons and daughters of Job were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,


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and the Sabaeans fell upon them, and took them away; the servants also they slew with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.


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While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God hath fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.


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While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldaeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and carried them away; the servants also they slew with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.


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While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house;


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and, lo! there came a great wind from the desert, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.


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Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped;


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and said, Naked came I forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither. Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah!


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Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah; and Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah.


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And Jehovah said to Satan, Whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From wandering over the earth, and walking up and down in it.


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Then said Jehovah to Satan, Hast thou observed my servant Job, that there is none like him upon the earth, an upright and good man, fearing God and departing from evil? And still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou didst excite me against him to destroy him without a cause.


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And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.


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But put forth now thy hand, and touch his bone and his flesh, and to thy face will he renounce thee.


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Then Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown.


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But he said to her, Thou talkest like one of the foolish women. What! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this, Job sinned not with his lips.


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Now three friends of Job heard of all this evil that had come upon him, and came each one from his home; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; for they had agreed to come to mourn with him, and to comfort him.


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And they lifted up their eyes at a distance, and knew him not; then they raised their voices and wept, and rent each one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.


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And they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word to him; for they saw that his grief was very great.<pb/>


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Let darkness and the shadow of death redeem it; Let a cloud dwell upon it; Let whatever darkeneth the day terrify it!


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As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; Let it not come into the number of the months!


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Let the stars of its twilight be darkened; Let it long for light, and have none; Neither let it see the eyelashes of the morning!


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The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken.


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It stood still, but its form I could not discern; An image was before mine eyes; There was silence, and I heard a voice:


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What then are they who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who crumble to pieces, as if moth-eaten!


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His children are far from safety; They are oppressed at the gate, and there is none to deliver them.


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His harvest the hungry devour, Carrying it even through the thorns; And a snare gapeth after his substance.


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Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.


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Thou shalt be safe from the scourge of the tongue, And shalt not be afraid of destruction, when it cometh.


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At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh, And of the wild beasts of the land shalt thou not be afraid.


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For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; Yea, the beasts of the forest shall be at peace with thee.


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For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; Their poison drinketh up my spirit; The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.


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Yet it should still be my consolation, Yea, in unsparing anguish I would exult, That I have not denied the commands of the Holy One.


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To the afflicted, kindness should be shown by a friend; Else he casteth off the fear of the Almighty.


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If I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of restlessness until the dawning of the day.


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The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more; Thine eyes shall look for me, but I shall not be.


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Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.


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If I have sinned, what have I done to thee, O thou watcher of men! Why hast thou set me up as thy mark, So that I have become a burden to myself?


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And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, And take away mine iniquity? ((7:22)) For soon shall I sleep in the dust; And, though thou seek me diligently, I shall not be.<pb/>


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If thou wilt be pure and upright, Surely he will yet arise for thee, And prosper thy righteous habitation;


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He shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand; He shall lay fast hold on it, but it shall not endure.


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They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, And the dwelling-place of the wicked shall come to nought.<pb/>


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He is excellent in wisdom, mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?


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If I look to strength, “Lo! here am I!” [[saith he,]] If to justice, “Who shall summon me to trial?”


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Though I were upright, yet must my own mouth condemn me; Though I were innocent, He would prove me perverse.


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The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covereth the face of the judges thereof; If it be not He, who is it?


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For He is not a man, as I am, that I may contend with him, And that we may go together into judgment;


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I am weary of my life; I will let loose within me my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.


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Is it a pleasure to thee to oppress, And to despise the work of thy hands, And to shine upon the plans of the wicked?


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If I am wicked,—then woe unto me! Yet if righteous, I dare not lift up my head; I am full of confusion, beholding my affliction.


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Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, And increasest thine anger toward me; New hosts continually rise up against me.


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The land of darkness like the blackness of death-shade, Where is no order, and where the light is as darkness.<pb/>


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That he would show thee the secrets of his wisdom,—His wisdom, which is unsearchable! Then shouldst thou know that God forgiveth thee many of thine iniquities.


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Thy life shall be brighter than the noon-day; Now thou art in darkness, thou shalt then be as morning.


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Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Now thou art disappointed, thou shalt then rest in safety.


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But the eyes of the wicked shall be wearied out; They shall find no refuge; Their hope is—the breathing forth of life.<pb/>


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But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: Yea, who knoweth not such things as these?


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I am become a laughing-stock to my friend,—I who call upon God, that he would answer me! The innocent and upright man is held in derision.


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To calamity belongeth contempt in the mind of one at ease; It is ready for them that slip with the feet.


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The tents of robbers are in prosperity, And they who provoke God are secure, Who carry their God in their hand.


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Lo! he withholdeth the waters, and they are dried up; He sendeth them forth, and they lay waste the earth.


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He taketh away the understanding of the great men of the land, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness, where is no path;


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Yea, thou puttest my feet in the stocks, And waterest all my paths; Thou hemmest in the soles of my feet.


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Seeing that his days are determined, And the number of his months, with thee, And that thou hast appointed him bounds which he cannot pass,


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For there is hope for a tree, If it be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that its tender branches will not fail;


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So man lieth down, and riseth not; Till the heavens be no more, he shall not awake, Nor be roused from his sleep.


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O that thou wouldst hide me in the under-world! That thou wouldst conceal me till thy wrath be past! That thou wouldst appoint me a time, and then remember me!


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If a man die, can he live again? All the days of my war-service would I wait, Till my change should come.


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As the waters wear away the stones, And the floods wash away the dust of the earth, So thou destroyest the hope of man.


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Thou prevailest against him continually, and he perisheth; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.


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Distress and anguish fill him with dread; They prevail against him like a king ready for the battle.


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He shall not be rich; his substance shall not endure, And his possessions shall not be extended upon the earth.


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He shall not escape from darkness, And the flame shall dry up his branches; Yea, by the breath of His mouth shall he be taken away.


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I also might speak like you, If ye were now in my place; I might string together words against you, And shake my head at you.


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Thou hast seized hold of me, and this is a witness against me; My leanness riseth up and testifieth against me to my face.


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His anger teareth my flesh, and pursueth me; He gnasheth upon me with his teeth; My adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.


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They gape for me with their mouths; In scorn they smite me on the cheek; With one consent they assemble against me.


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I was at ease, but he hath crushed me; He hath seized me by the neck, and dashed me in pieces; He hath set me up for his mark.


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His archers encompass me around; He pierceth my reins, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.


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Give a pledge, I pray thee; be thou a surety for me with thee; Who is he that will strike hands with me?


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Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger! Must the earth be deserted for thee, And the rock removed from its place?


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They that come after him shall be amazed at his fate, As they that were before them were struck with horror.


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Yea, such is the dwelling of the unrighteous man; Such is the place of him who knoweth not God!<pb/>


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His troops advance together against me; They throw up for themselves a way to me, And encamp around my dwelling.


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The foreigners of my house, yea, my own maid-servants, regard me as a stranger; I am an alien in their eyes.


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Yea, I shall see him my friend; My eyes shall behold him, and not another: For this, my soul panteth within me.


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Be ye afraid of the sword! For malice is a crime for the sword; That ye may know that judgment cometh.<pb/>


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He shall flee away like a dream, and shall not be found; Yea, he shall disappear like a vision of the nigh.


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The eye also which saw him shall see him no more, And his dwelling-place shall never more behold him.


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He hath glutted himself with riches, And he shall throw them up again; Yea, God shall cast them out of his body.


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The fruits of his toil he shall give back, and shall not enjoy them: It is substance to be restored, and he shall not rejoice therein.


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In the fulness of his abundance he shall be brought low; Every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.


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He shall, indeed, have wherewith to fill himself: God shall send upon him the fury of his anger, And rain it down upon him for his food.


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He draweth the arrow, and it cometh forth from his body; Yea, the glittering steel cometh out of his gall. Terrors are upon him;


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Calamity of every kind is treasured up for him. A fire not blown shall consume him; It shall consume whatever is left in his tent.


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Such is the portion of the wicked man from God, And the inheritance appointed for him by the Almighty.<pb/>


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[[Ye say,]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”


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How often is it, that the lamp of the wicked is put out? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?


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“But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!


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For what concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?


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That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in the day of wrath?


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Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?


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Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.


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Is it a pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous; Or a gain to him, that thou walkest uprightly?


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To the north, where he worketh, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the south, and I cannot see him.


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I have not neglected the precepts of his lips; Above my own law have I esteemed the words of his mouth.


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Because I was not taken away before darkness came, And he hath not hidden darkness from mine eyes.<pb/>


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Behold, like wild asses of the desert, they go forth to their work; They search for prey; The wilderness supplieth them food for their children.


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The eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight; He saith, “No eye will see me,” And putteth a mask upon his face.


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In the dark they break into houses; In the daytime they shut themselves up; They are strangers to the light.


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The morning is to them the very shadow of death; They are familiar with the terrors of the shadow of death.


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Light are they on the face of the waters; They have an accursed portion in the earth; They come not near the vineyards.


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His own mother forgetteth him; The worm feedeth sweetly on him; He is no more remembered, And iniquity is broken like a tree.


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They are exalted;—in a little while they are gone! They are brought low, and die, like all others; And like the topmost ears of corn are they cut off.


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Lo! these are but the borders of his works; How faint the whisper we have heard of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?<pb/>


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This is the portion of the wicked man from God,—The inheritance which oppressors receive from the Almighty.


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If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword; And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.


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Man putteth an end to darkness; He searcheth to the lowest depths For the stone of darkness and the shadow of death.


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From the place where they dwell they open a shaft; Forgotten by the feet, They hang down, they swing away from men.


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But he said unto man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.<pb/>


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The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, And I caused the heart of the widow to sing for joy.


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I clothed myself with righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; And justice was my robe and diadem.


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If I smiled upon them, they believed it not; Nor did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.


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When I came among them, I sat as chief; I dwelt as a king in the midst of an army, As a comforter among mourners.<pb/>


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But now they that are younger than I hold me in derision, Whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.


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On my right hand riseth up the brood; They thrust away my feet; They cast up against me their destructive ways.


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Terrors are turned against me; They pursue my prosperity like the wind, And my welfare passeth away like a cloud.


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Through the violence of my disease is my garment changed; It bindeth me about like the collar of my tunic.


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When He stretcheth out his hand, prayer availeth nothing; When He bringeth destruction, vain is the cry for help.


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For what is the portion appointed by God from above, And the inheritance allotted by the Almighty from on high?


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If my steps have turned aside from the way, And my heart gone after mine eyes, Or if any stain hath cleaved to my hand,


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(Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And I have helped the widow from my mother's womb;)


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If the men of my tent have not exclaimed, “Who is there that hath not been satisfied with his meat?”


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Then let me be confounded before the great multitude! Let the contempt of families cover me with shame! Yea, let me keep silence! let me never appear abroad!


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O that there were one who would hear me! Behold my signature! let the Almighty answer me. And let mine adversary write down his charge!


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Let thorns grow up instead of wheat, And noxious weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.<pb/>


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Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram; against Job was his wrath kindled, because he accounted himself righteous rather than God.


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Against his three friends also was his wrath kindled, because they had not found an answer, and yet had condemned Job.


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Then spake Elihu, the son of Barachel, the Buzite, and said: I am young, and ye are very old; Therefore I was afraid, And durst not make known to you my opinion.


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Behold, I have waited for your words, I have listened to your arguments, Whilst ye searched out what to say;


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But if there be with him a messenger, An interpreter, one of a thousand, Who may show unto man his duty,


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Then will God be gracious to him, and say, “Save him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.”


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He shall pray to God, and he will be favorable to him, And permit him to see his face with joy, And restore unto man his righteousness.


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He shall sing among men, and say, “I sinned; I acted perversely; Yet hath he not requited me for it:


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Though I am innocent, I am made a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am free from transgression.”


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Wherefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding! Far be iniquity from God; Yea, far be injustice from the Almighty!


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How much less to him that is not partial to princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they are all the work of his hands.


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In a moment they die; yea, at midnight Do the people stagger and pass away, And the mighty are destroyed without hand.


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So is it with nations and individuals alike! That the wicked may no more rule, And may not be snares to the people.


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Shall he recompense according to thy mind, Because thou refusest, or because thou choosest, and not he? Speak, if thou hast knowledge!


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For he addeth impiety to his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth words against God.<pb/>


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If thou sinnest, what doest thou against Him? If thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou to him?


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The oppressed cry out on account of the multitude of wrongs; They cry aloud on account of the arm of the mighty.


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He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous; But establisheth them for ever with kings on the throne, That they may be exalted.


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He will bring thee also from the jaws of distress To a broad place, where is no straitness; And the provision of thy table shall be full of fatness.


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For if wrath be with him, beware lest he take thee away by his stroke, So that a great ransom shall not save thee!


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After it the thunder roareth; He thundereth with his voice of majesty, And restraineth it not, when his voice is heard.


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For he saith to the snow, “Be thou on the earth!” To the shower also, even the showers of his might.


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Dost thou understand the balancing of the clouds, The wondrous works of Him that is perfect in knowledge?


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For now men do not look upon the light, When it is bright in the skies, When the wind hath passed over them, and made them clear.


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The Almighty, we cannot find him out; Great is he in power and justice, Abundant in righteousness; he doth not oppress.


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Have the gates of death been disclosed to thee, And hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?


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Who provideth for the raven his food, When his young ones cry unto God, While they wander about without food?<pb/>


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Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or canst thou observe when the hinds are in labor?


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Canst thou bind the wild-ox with the harness to the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?


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At every blast of the trumpet, he saith, Aha! And snuffeth the battle afar off,—The thunder of the captains, and the war-shout.


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Lo! the stream overfloweth, but he starteth not; He is unmoved though Jordan rush forth even to his mouth.


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Who is he that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Thus have I uttered what I understood not; Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not:


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And when Jehovah had spoken these words unto Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken concerning me that which is right, as hath my servant Job.


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Take ye, therefore, seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer for yourselves a burnt-offering, and my servant Job shall pray for you; for to him alone will I have regard; that I deal not with you according to your folly. For ye have not spoken concerning me that which is right, as hath my servant Job.”


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So Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, went and did as Jehovah commanded them; and Jehovah had regard to Job.


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And Jehovah turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends, and Jehovah gave him twice as much as he had before.


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Then came to him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all his former acquaintances, and ate bread with him in his house; and condoled with him, and comforted him over all the evil which Jehovah had brought upon him; and every one gave him a piece of money [[a kesita]], and every one a ring of gold.


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Thus Jehovah blessed the latter end of Job more than the beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses.


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And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brethren.


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And Job lived after this a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.


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“BOOK I” Happy the man who walketh not in the counsel of the unrighteous, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers;


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He is like a tree planted by streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaves also do not wither: All that he doeth shall prosper.


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Why do the kings of the earth rise up, And the princes combine together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed king?


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I will declare the decree of Jehovah: He hath said to me, “Thou art my son; This day I have begotten thee.


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Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, And the ends of the earth for thy possession.


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Kiss the son, lest He be angry, and ye perish in your way; For soon shall his wrath be kindled. Happy are all they who seek refuge in him.<pb/>


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“A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.” How many, O LORD, are mine enemies! How many are they who rise up against me!


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Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For thou smitest the cheek of all my enemies; Thou breakest the teeth of the wicked.


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“For the leader of the music; to be accompanied with stringed instruments. A psalm of David.” Hear me, when I call, O God of my righteousness! Thou hast helped me, when I was in trouble,—Have pity upon me, and hear my prayer!


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How long, O men! will ye dishonor my dignity? How long will ye love vanity, and seek disappointment? [[Pause.]]


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Know ye that the LORD hath exalted one that is devoted to him; The LORD will hear, when I call upon him.


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There are many who say, Who will show us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us!


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“For the leader of the music; to be accompanied with wind instruments. A psalm of David.” Give ear to my words, O LORD; Have regard to my cry!


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In the morning shalt thou hear my voice, O LORD! In the morning will I address my prayer to thee, and look for help.


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For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; The unrighteous man dwelleth not with thee.


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But I, through thy great goodness, will come to thy house; In thy fear will I worship at thy holy temple.


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Lead me, O LORD! in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies; Make thy path straight before my face!


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For in their mouth there is no truth; Their heart is malignity; Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue.


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Requite them, O God! Let them be confounded in their devices; Cast them out for the multitude of their transgressions; For against thee have they rebelled!


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But let all, that put their trust in thee, rejoice; Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them; Let them, that love thy name, be joyful in thee!


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For thou, O LORD! dost bless the righteous; With favor dost thou encompass him, as with a shield.<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music; to be accompanied with stringed instruments; to the octave. A psalm of David.” O LORD! rebuke me not in thine anger; Chasten me not in thy hot displeasure!


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I am weary with my groaning; All the night I make my bed to swim, And drench my couch with my tears.


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All my enemies shall be ashamed and utterly confounded; They shall be turned back, and put to shame suddenly.<pb/>


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“A psalm of David, which he sang to Jehovah, on account of the reproaches of Cush the Benjamite.” O Jehovah, my God! to thee do I look for help; Save me from them that persecute me, and deliver me!


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Let my adversary pursue and take me; Let him trample me to the ground, And lay me prostrate in the dust! [[Pause.]]


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Arise, O LORD! in thine anger; Lift thyself up against the rage of mine enemies; Awake for me, ordain judgment!


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The LORD judgeth the nations; Judge me, O LORD! according to my righteousness, And requite me according to my integrity!


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Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked be at an end; But establish the righteous! For the righteous God trieth the heart and the reins.


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I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music; to be accompanied with the gittith. A psalm of David.” O Jehovah, our Lord! How excellent is thy name in all the earth! Thou hast set thy glory above the heavens.


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Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained praise, To put thine adversaries to shame, And to silence the enemy and avenger.


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When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars which thou hast ordained:


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The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea, And whatever passeth through the paths of the deep.


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“For the leader of the music; to be sung in the manner or with the voice of maidens. To the Benites, or to Ben. A psalm of David.” I will praise thee, O LORD! with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvellous works.


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The enemy is fallen,—a desolation for ever! Thou, O LORD! hast destroyed their cities; Their memory itself hath perished!


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They who know thy name put their trust in thee; For thou, O LORD! forsakest not them that seek thee!


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“Have pity upon me, [[said I,]] O LORD! Look upon my affliction through them that hate me; Lift me up from the gates of death:


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That I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion; That I may rejoice in salvation by thee.”


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The nations have sunk into the pit which they made; In the net, which they hid, is their own foot taken.


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Thus it is known that the LORD executeth judgment; The wicked are ensnared in the work of their own hands. [[Stringed instruments. Pause.]]


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Through the haughtiness of the wicked the poor are in distress; They are caught in the wiles which are contrived for them.


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His course is always prosperous; Far in the heights are thy judgments from him; As for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.


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He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; In secret places doth he murder the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed upon the poor.


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He secretly lieth in wait, like a lion in a thicket; He lieth in wait to seize upon the helpless; He catcheth the poor, drawing him into his net.


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Thou dost see it; yea, thou beholdest malice and oppression, And markest it upon thy hand! The poor committeth himself to thee; Thou art the helper of the fatherless.


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Break thou the arm of the unjust and wicked man; Seek out his wickedness, till thou canst find none!


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Thou, O LORD! wilt hear the desires of the distressed; Thou wilt strengthen their hearts; Thou wilt lend a listening ear!


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Thou wilt maintain the cause of the fatherless and the oppressed, That henceforth none may be driven from the land.<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” In the LORD do I put my trust. Why say ye to me, “Flee, like a bird, to your mountain?


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For, lo! the wicked bend their bow; They make ready their arrows on the string, To shoot in secret at the upright in heart.


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The LORD is in his holy palace; The LORD'S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, his eyelids prove the children of men.


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Upon the wicked he will rain lightning; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.


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“For the leader of the music; to the octave. A psalm of David.” Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; The faithful are failing among men.


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For the oppression of the poor and the sighing of the wretched, Now will I stand up, saith the LORD; I will set in safety him whom they puff at.


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The words of the LORD are pure; Like silver purified in a furnace on the earth, Seven times refined.


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” How long, O LORD! wilt thou forget me for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?


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How long shall I have anxiety in my soul for ever, And sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” The fool saith in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; abominable are their doings; There is none that doeth good.


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Jehovah looketh down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any that have understanding, That have regard to God.


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They are all gone out of the way; together are they corrupt; There is none that doeth good—no, not one.


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Oh that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When Jehovah bringeth back the captives of his people, Then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel be glad.<pb/>


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He that slandereth not with his tongue, That doeth no injury to his neighbor, And uttereth no reproach against his neighbor;


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In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; But who honoreth them that fear the LORD; Who sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not;


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He that lendeth not his money for interest, And taketh not a bribe against the innocent: He that doeth these things shall never be moved.<pb/>


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They who hasten after other gods shall have multiplied sorrows; Their drink-offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.


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Thou wilt show me the path of life; In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.<pb/>


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“A psalm of David.” Hear the righteous cause, O LORD! Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer from lips without deceit!


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Provest thou my heart, visitest thou me in the night, Triest thou me like gold, thou shalt find nothing!


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My thoughts do not vary from my lips. As to the deeds of men, Through the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.


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Show forth thy loving-kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand Them that seek refuge in thee from their adversaries!


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They encompass us in all our steps; They fix their eyes upon us, that they may cast us on the ground.


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From men, by thy hand, O LORD! from men of the world, Whose portion is in life; whom thou loadest with thy treasure; Whose children have enough, and leave their superfluity to their children.


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But I through righteousness shall see thy face; I shall be satisfied with the revival of thy countenance.<pb/>


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Jehovah is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I trust; My shield, my strong defence, and my high tower.


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In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried unto my God; He heard my voice from his palace, And my cry came before him into his ears.


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Then the earth quaked and trembled; The foundations of the mountains rocked and were shaken, Because his wrath was kindled.


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A smoke went up from his nostrils, And fire from his mouth devoured; Burning coals shot forth from him.


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And he made darkness his covering; His pavilion round about him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.


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The LORD also thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered his voice, Amid hailstones and coals of fire.


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Then the channels of the deep were seen, And the foundations of the earth were laid bare At thy rebuke, O LORD! At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.


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The LORD hath rewarded me according to my righteous; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.


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Therefore hath the LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands before his eyes.


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The ways of God are just and true; His word is pure, tried in the fire; He is a shield to all who put their trust in him.


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Thou gavest me the shield of thy protection; Thy right hand held me up, And thy goodness made me great.


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Thou hast delivered me from the assaults of the nations; Thou hast made me the head of the kingdoms. Nations whom I knew not serve me;


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He delivered me from my enemies; Yea, thou hast lifted me up above my adversaries; Thou hast saved me from the violent man!


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Great deliverance giveth he to his king, And showeth mercy to his anointed,—To David and to his posterity for ever.<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” The heavens declare the glory of God; The firmament showeth forth the work of his hands.


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Yet their sound goeth forth to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,


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Which cometh forth like a bridegroom from his chamber, And rejoiceth, like a strong man, to run his course.


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He goeth forth from the extremity of heaven, And maketh his circuit to the end of it; And nothing is hid from his heat.


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The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; The precepts of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;


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The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandments of the LORD are pure, enlightening the eyes;


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The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.


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Keep back also thy servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me! Then shall I be upright; I shall not be polluted with gross transgression.


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May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer!<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” May Jehovah hear thee in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend thee!


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We will rejoice in thy protection, And in the name of our God will we set up our banners, When Jehovah hath fulfilled all thy petitions.


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Now I know that Jehovah helpeth his anointed; That he heareth him from his holy heaven, And aideth him with the saving strength of his right hand.


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” The king rejoiceth in thy strength, O LORD! Yea, he doth greatly exult in thy protection.


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Thou wilt make them like a burning oven in the time of thine anger; Jehovah shall swallow them up in his wrath, And the fire shall devour them.


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For they spread a net of mischief against thee; They devised plots against thee, but they did not prevail.


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Therefore thou wilt cause them to turn their backs; Thou wilt make ready thine arrows upon the strings against them.


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“For the leader of the music. To the tune of “The hind of the morning.” A psalm of David.” My God, my God! why hast thou forsaken me? Why so far from mine aid, and from the words of my cry?


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Surely thou art he that didst bring me into the world; Thou didst make me lie secure upon my mother's breast!


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I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is become like wax; It melteth in my bosom.


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My strength is dried up like an earthen vessel, And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; Thou hast brought me to the dust of death!


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For dogs have surrounded me; Bands of evil-doers have encompassed me,—Like lions my hands and my feet.


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Praise him, ye worshippers of Jehovah! Extol him, all ye race of Jacob. And fear him, all ye race of Israel!


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For he hath not despised nor abhorred the misery of the afflicted. Nor hath he hid his face from him; But when he cried unto him, he heard.


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The afflicted shall eat, and be satisfied; They that seek the LORD shall praise him; Your hearts shall be glad for ever and ever!


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All the ends of the earth shall remember, and turn to Jehovah; All the families of the nations shall worship before thee!


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All the rich of the earth shall eat and worship; Before him shall they also bow, who are going down to the dust, Who cannot keep themselves alive.


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They shall come, and declare his righteousness; His mighty deeds to the people that shall be born.<pb/>


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When I walk through a valley of deathlike shade, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy crook and thy staff, they comfort me.


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Thou preparest a table before me In the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.


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Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.<pb/>


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“A psalm of David.” The earth is the LORD'S, and all that is therein; The world, and they who inhabit it.


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He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; Who hath not inclined his soul to falsehood, Nor sworn deceitfully.


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Lift up your heads, O ye gates! Lift yourselves up, ye everlasting doors, That the king of glory may come in!


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Lift up your heads, O ye gates! Lift yourselves up, ye everlasting doors, That the king of glory may enter in!


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Yea, none that hope in thee shall be put to shame: They shall be put to shame who wickedly forsake thee.


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Lead me in thy truth, and teach me! For thou art the God from whom cometh my help; In thee do I trust at all times!


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Remember not the faults and transgressions of my youth! According to thy mercy remember thou me, For thy goodness' sake, O LORD!


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“A psalm of David.” Be thou my judge, O LORD! for I have walked in uprightness. I have put my trust in the LORD, therefore shall I not fall.


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“A psalm of David.” The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the shield of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?


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Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, yet will I be confident.


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One thing have I desired of the LORD; that do I yet seek; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the grace of the LORD, And to gaze upon his temple.


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For in the day of trouble he will hide me in his pavilion; Yea, in the secret place of his tabernacle will he shelter me; He will set me upon a rock.


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Yea, already doth he lift my head above my enemies, who are around me; Therefore in his tabernacle will I offer sacrifices with the sound of trumpets; I will sing, yea, with instruments of music I will give praise to the LORD.


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O hide not thou thy face from me; Cast not thy servant away in displeasure! Thou hast been my help, do not leave me; Do not forsake me, O God, my helper!


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Give me not up to the will of my adversaries! For false witnesses have risen up against me, And such as breathe out injustice.


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“A psalm of David.” To thee do I cry, O LORD! O my rock! be not silent to me, Lest, if thou answer me not, I become like those who go down to the pit!


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Hear the voice of my supplication, when I cry unto thee, When I lift up my hands to thy most holy sanctuary!


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Draw me not away with the impious, and with evil-doers, Who speak peace to their neighbors, while mischief is in their hearts!


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Give them according to their deeds, and the wickedness of their doings; Give them according to the work of their hands; Render to them their desert!


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For they regard not the doings of the LORD, nor the work of his hands; Therefore will he destroy them, and not again build them up.


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The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusteth in him, and he helpeth me; Therefore doth my heart exult, And in my song I will praise him.


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The voice of Jehovah is heard above the waters; The God of glory thundereth,-Jehovah above the great waters.


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The voice of Jehovah maketh the wilderness tremble; Yea, Jehovah maketh the wilderness of Kadesh tremble.


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The voice of Jehovah maketh the hinds bring forth, And layeth bare the forests; While, in his palace, every one declareth his glory.


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“A psalm of David. To the air of songs for the dedication of a house.” I will extol thee, O LORD! for thou hast lifted me up, And hast not suffered my enemies to rejoice over me.


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O LORD! thou hast raised me up from the underworld; Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.


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For his anger endureth but a moment, But his favor through life; In the evening sorrow may be a guest, But joy cometh in the morning.


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Thou, O LORD! by thy favor, hast made my mountain to stand strong; Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled!


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“What will my blood profit thee, that I should go down to the pit? Can dust praise thee? Can it declare thy faithfulness?


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Therefore I will sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Jehovah, my God! I will give thanks to thee for ever!<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” In thee, O LORD! do I trust; let me never be put to shame; According to thy goodness deliver me!


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Bow down thine ear to me; help me speedily! Be to me a strong rock, a high fortress, for my deliverance!


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I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy, That thou hast looked upon my trouble, And hast had regard to my distress;


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Have mercy upon me, O LORD! for I am in trouble! My face is consumed with grief; Yea, my spirit and my body.


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For my life is wasted with sorrow, And my years with sighing; My strength faileth by reason of my affliction, And my bones are consumed on account of all my enemies.


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I have become the scorn of my neighbors, And the terror of my acquaintance; They who see me abroad flee from me.


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I hear the slander of many; fear is on every side; For they take counsel together against me; They devise to take away my life.


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Let me not be put to shame, O LORD! for I have called upon thee; Let the wicked be put to shame; Let them be silenced in the grave!


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Let lying lips be put to silence, Which speak proud things against the righteous, With haughtiness and contempt!


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O how great is thy goodness, which thou treasurest up for them that fear thee; Which thou showest to them that trust in thee, before the sons of men!


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Thou hidest them in the secret place of thy presence from the machinations of men; Thou shelterest them in thy pavilion from the violence of tongues.


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I said in my distress, “I am cut off from before thine eyes;” But thou didst hear the voice of my supplication, When I cried unto thee.


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O love the LORD, all ye his servants; For the LORD preserveth the faithful, And requiteth the proud in full measure!


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At length I acknowledged to thee my sin, And did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgression to the LORD;” And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin! [[Pause.]]


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Therefore shall every pious man pray to thee, while thou mayst be found; Surely the floods of great waters shall not come near him.


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Thou art my hiding-place; thou preservest me from trouble; Thou compassest me about with songs of deliverance. [[Pause.]]


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I will instruct thee, and show thee the way thou shouldst go; I will give thee counsel, and keep mine eye upon thee.


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Be ye not like the horse and the mule, which have no understanding, Whose mouths must be pressed with the bridle and curb, Because they will not come near thee!


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Rejoice in the LORD, and be glad, ye righteous; Shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart!<pb/>


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By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, And all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth.


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“A psalm of David, when he feigned himself mad before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.” I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.


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The LORD redeemeth the life of his servants, And none that put their trust in him will suffer for it.<pb/>


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“A psalm of David.” Contend, O LORD! with them that contend with me! Fight against them that fight against me!


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May they be confounded and put to shame, who seek my life; May they be turned back with disgrace, who devise my hurt!


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May unforeseen destruction come upon them! May the snare which they have laid lay hold on themselves, And may they fall into destruction!


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All my bones shall say, Who, O LORD! is like thee, Who dost rescue the afflicted from the oppressor, The afflicted and destitute from the spoiler?


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And yet I, during their sickness, clothed myself with sackcloth, And afflicted myself with fasting; And my prayer was turned to my bosom.


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I behaved myself as if he had been my friend or brother; I bowed down in sadness, as one mourning for his mother.


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But at my fall they rejoice, and gather themselves together; Revilers whom I know not assemble themselves against me; They tear me without ceasing.


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How long, O LORD! wilt thou look on? O rescue my life from the destruction they plot for me; My precious life from these young lions!


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Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully triumph over me; Let them not wink with the eye, who hate me without cause!


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Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha! we have our wish!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!”


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May they all be confounded and brought to shame, Who rejoice at my calamity! May they be clothed with ignominy and disgrace, Who exalt themselves against me!


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Let them shout for joy, and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; Let them ever say, “The LORD be praised, Who delighteth in the prosperity of his servant!”


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord.” To speak of the ungodliness of the wicked is in my heart. He hath no fear of God before his eyes.


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Thy righteousness is like the high mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep; Thou, O LORD! preservest man and beast!


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How precious is thy loving-kindness, O God! Yea, the sons of men seek refuge under the shadow of thy wings.


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They are satisfied with the abundance of thy house, And thou causest them to drink of the full stream of thy pleasures.


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“A psalm of David.” Be not thou angry on account of the wicked, Nor be envious of those who do iniquity.


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He will cause thy justice to shine forth like the light, And thy righteousness like the noonday's brightness.


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Hope thou patiently on the LORD, And in him place thy trust! Be not angry on account of the prosperous,—On account of him that deviseth deceit!


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Yet a little while, and the wicked shall be no more; Thou mayst look for his place, and he will not be found.


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The wicked draw the sword, And bend their bow, To cast down the afflicted and the needy, And to slay the upright.


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But the wicked shall perish; Yea, the enemies of the LORD shall be consumed, like the glory of the fields; They shall be consumed into smoke.


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For they who are blessed by God shall inherit the land, And they who are cursed by him shall be rooted out.


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I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his offspring begging bread.


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For the LORD loveth righteousness, And forsaketh not his servants; They are preserved for ever; But the posterity of the wicked shall be rooted out.


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Trust in the LORD, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to the possession of the land, Whilst thou shalt see the destruction of the wicked!


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The LORD will help and deliver them; He will deliver them from their enemies, and save them, Because they trust in him.<pb/>


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“A psalm of David. To bring to remembrance.” O LORD! rebuke me not in thy wrath, Nor chasten me in thy hot displeasure!


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While they who seek my life lay snares for me; They who seek my hurt threaten destruction, And meditate deceit all the day long.


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“A psalm of David. For the leader of the music of the Jeduthunites.” I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me.


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Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth, And my life is as nothing before thee; Yea, every man in his firmest state is altogether vanity. [[Pause.]]


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Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely he disquieteth himself in vain; He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.


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When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for iniquity, Thou causest his glory to waste away like a moth! Surely every man is vanity.


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Hear my prayer, O LORD! Give ear to my cry; Be not silent at my tears! For I am but a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” I trusted steadfastly in the LORD, And he listened, and heard my cry.


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He drew me out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, And made my steps firm.


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He hath put into my mouth a new song, A song of praise to our God. Many shall see, and fear, And put their trust in the LORD.


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Many, O LORD, my God! are the wonderful works which thou hast done; Many have been thy gracious purposes towards us; None can be compared to thee! Would I declare and rehearse them, they are more than can be numbered.


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In sacrifice and oblation thou hast no pleasure; Mine ears thou hast opened; Burnt-offering and sin-offering thou requirest not.


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I have proclaimed thy righteousness in the great assembly; Lo, I have not restrained my lips, O LORD! thou knowest!


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I hide not thy justice in my heart; I declare thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I conceal not thy mercy and truth from the great assembly.


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Withdraw not from me thy tender mercies, O LORD! May thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually preserve me!


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For evils without number have encompassed me; My iniquities have overtaken me; I cannot see the end of them; They are more than the hairs of my head, And my heart dieth within me.


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May they all be confounded and covered with shame Who seek to take away my life! Let them be driven back with disgrace Who desire to do me injury!


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But let all who seek thee Be glad and rejoice in thee! Let those who love thy protection Ever say, “Great is Jehovah!”


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I am poor and afflicted, yet the Lord thinketh upon me; Thou art my help and my deliverer; My God! make no delay!<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” Happy is he who hath regard to the poor! The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.


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The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; He shall be happy on the earth; Thou wilt not give him up to the will of his enemies!


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If one come to see me, he speaketh falsehood; His heart gathereth malice; When he goeth abroad, he uttereth it.


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Yea, my familiar friend in whom I trusted, who did eat of my bread,—He hath lifted up his heel against me.


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“BOOK II. For the leader of the music. A song of the sons of Korah.” As the hart panteth for the water-brooks, So panteth my soul for thee, O God!


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When I think of it, I pour out my soul in grief; How I once walked with the multitude, Walked slowly with them to the house of God, Amid sounds of joy and praise with the festive multitude!


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Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, Him, my deliverer and my God!


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My soul is cast down within me, While I remember thee from the land of Jordan and Hermon, From the mountain Mizar.


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Once the LORD commanded his kindness by day, And by night his praise was with me,-Thanksgiving to the God of my life.


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Now I say to God, my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning on account of the oppression of the enemy?


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Like the crushing of my bones are the reproaches of the enemy, While they say to me continually, “Where is thy God?”


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Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, Him, my deliverer and my God!<pb/>


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Judge me, O God! and defend my cause against a merciless nation! Deliver me from unjust and deceitful men!


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Thou art the God of my refuge: why dost thou cast me off? Why go I mourning on account of the oppression of the enemy?


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O send forth thy light and thy truth; let them guide me; Let them lead me to thy holy mountain, and to thy dwelling-place!


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Then will I go to the altar of God, To the God of my joy and exultation; Yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God, my God!


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” O God! we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us, What deeds thou didst in their days, In the days of old.


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With thine own hand didst thou drive out the nations, And plant our fathers; Thou didst destroy the nations, And cause our fathers to flourish.


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For not by their own swords did they gain possession of the land, Nor did their own arms give them victory; But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance; For thou didst favor them!


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On account of the voice of the scoffer and the reviler, And on account of the enemy and the avenger.


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“For the leader of the music. To be accompanied with the Shoshannim. A song of loveliness by the sons of Korah.” My heart is overflowing with a good matter; I will address my work to the king: May my tongue be like the pen of a ready writer!


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Thou art the fairest of the sons of men; Grace is poured upon thy lips; For God hath blessed thee for ever!


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In thy glorious array ride forth victoriously, On account of truth and mildness and justice; And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things!


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Thine arrows are sharp; Nations shall fall before thee; They shall pierce the hearts of the king's enemies.


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Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest iniquity; Therefore hath God, thy God, anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows!


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All thy garments are myrrh, aloes, and cassia; From ivory palaces stringed instruments delight thee.


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In variegated garments shall she be led to the king; The virgin companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.


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I will make thy name memorable throughout all generations; So shall the nations praise thee for ever and ever!<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. Of, or for, the sons of Korah. To be sung in the manner, or with the voice, of virgins.” God is our refuge and strength; An ever present help in trouble.


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Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be changed; Though the mountains tremble in the heart of the sea;


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Though its waters roar and be troubled, And the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. [[Pause.]]


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He causeth wars to cease to the end of the earth; He hath broken the bow, and snapped the spear asunder, And burned the chariots in fire.


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“Desist, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted throughout the earth!”


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” O clap your hands, all ye nations! Shout unto God with the voice of triumph!


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The princes of the nations gather themselves together To the people of the God of Abraham; For the mighty of the earth belong to God; He is supremely exalted.<pb/>


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“A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, upon his holy mountain.


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Beautiful in its elevation is Mount Zion, The joy of the whole earth; The joy of the farthest North is the city of the great king;


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As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish it for ever. [[Pause.]]


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As thy name, O God! so thy praise, extendeth to the ends of the earth; Thy right hand is full of righteousness.


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Hear this, all ye nations; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world;


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For he seeth that wise men die, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, And leave their wealth to others.


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They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.


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Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. [[Pause.]]


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Like sheep they are cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place.


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Though in his life he thought himself happy,—Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity,—


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“A psalm of Asaph.” The mighty God, Jehovah, speaketh, and calleth the earth, From the rising of the sun to its going down.


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Our God cometh, and will not be silent; Before him is a devouring fire, And around him a raging tempest.


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“Hear, O my people, and I will speak! O Israel, and I will testify against thee! For I am God, thine own God.


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And to the wicked God saith, “To what purpose dost thou talk of my statutes? And why hast thou my laws upon thy lips?—


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These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; Hence thou thoughtest that I was altogether like thyself: But I will reprove thee, and set it in order before thine eyes.


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Whoso offereth praise honoreth me; And to him who hath regard to his ways Will I show salvation from God.”<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after his intercourse with Bathsheba.” Be gracious unto me, O God! according to thy loving kindness; According to the greatness of thy mercy, blot out my transgressions!


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Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And in thy sight have I done evil; So that thou art just in thy sentence, And righteous in thy judgment.


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Deliver me from the guilt of blood, O God, the God of my salvation! That my tongue may sing aloud of thy goodness!


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The sacrifice which God loveth is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God! thou wilt not despise!


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Then shalt thou be pleased with sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt-offerings and complete offerings; Then shall bullocks be offered upon thine altar.<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, and said to him, David is come to the house of Abimelech.” Why gloriest thou in mischief, thou man of violence? The goodness of God yet continueth daily.


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Thee also shall God utterly destroy! o He shall seize thee, and tear thee from thy dwelling-place, And uproot thee from the land of the living. [[Pause.]]


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“Behold the man that made not God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And placed his strength in his wickedness!”


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But I shall be like a green olive-tree in the house of God; I will trust in the goodness of God for ever and ever.


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I will praise thee for ever for what thou hast done; I will trust in thy name, because it is good, Before the eyes of thy godly ones!<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. To be sung on wind instruments. A psalm of David.” The fool saith in his heart, “There is no God!” They are corrupt; their doings are abominable; There is none that doeth good.


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God looketh down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any that have understanding, That have regard to God.


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Yea! fear shall come upon them, Where no fear is; For God will scatter the bones of him that encampeth against thee; Thou shalt put them to shame, for God despiseth them!


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O that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captives of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel be glad.<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. To be sung on stringed instruments A psalm of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?” Save me, O God! by thy name, And by thy strength defend my cause!


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For enemies have risen up against me, And oppressors seek my life; They have not set God before their eyes. [[Pause.]]


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For thou hast delivered me from all trouble, So that my eye hath looked with joy upon my enemies!<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. To be sung on stringed instruments. A psalm of David.” Give ear to my prayer, O God! Hide not thyself from my supplication!


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On account of the clamors of the enemy, On account of the violence of the wicked. For they bring evil upon me, And in wrath set themselves against me.


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It was not an enemy that reviled me, Then I could have borne it; Nor one that hated me, who rose up against me; From him I could have hid myself.


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May sudden death seize upon them! May they go down to the underworld alive! For wickedness is in their dwellings, in the midst of them.


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God will hear me, and bring them down,—He that hath been judge of old. [[Pause.]] Because they have no changes, Therefore they fear not God.


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Their speech was softer than butter, But war was in their heart; Their words were smoother than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.


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“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain thee; He will never suffer the righteous to fall!”


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Yea, thou, O God! wilt bring them down into the lowest pit! Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in thee!<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. To be sung to the tune of “The dumb dove among strangers.” A psalm of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.” Have pity upon me, O God! for man panteth for my life; My adversary daily oppresseth me!


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Through God shall I praise his word; In God do I put my trust; I will not fear; What can flesh do to me?


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They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they watch my steps, Lying in wait for my life.


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For thou hast delivered me from death, Yea, my feet from falling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living.<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. To be sung to the tune of “Do not destroy.” A psalm of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.” Have pity upon me, O God! have pity upon me, For in thee doth my soul seek refuge! Yea, in the shadow of thy wings do I take shelter, Until these calamities be overpast!


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He will send from heaven, and save me; He will put to shame him that panteth for my life; [[Pause.]] God will send forth his mercy and his truth.


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My life is in the midst of lions; I dwell among them that breathe out fire; Among men whose teeth are spears and arrows, And whose tongue is a sharp sword.


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They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have digged a pit before me, But into it they have themselves fallen.


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“For the leader of the music. To the tune of “Do not destroy.” A psalm of David.” Do ye, indeed, administer justice faithfully, ye mighty ones? Do ye judge with uprightness, ye sons of men?


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May they melt like waters, which flow away; May their arrows, when they aim them, be as if cut in pieces!


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May they be like the snail, which melteth away as it goeth; Like the abortion of a woman, that seeth not the sun!


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The righteous shall rejoice, when he seeth such vengeance; He shall bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.


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Then shall men say, “Truly there is a reward for the righteous! Truly there is a God who is judge upon the earth!”<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. To the tune of “Do not destroy.” A psalm of David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.” Deliver me from my enemies, O my God! Defend me from them that rise up against me!


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For, lo! they lie in wait for my life; The mighty are gathered against me, Without any offence or fault of mine, O LORD!


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Do thou, O Jehovah, God of hosts, God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations! Show no mercy to any wicked transgressors! [[Pause.]]


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Behold! with their mouths they belch out malice; Swords are upon their lips; “For who,” say they, “will hear?”


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Slay them not, lest my people forget; Scatter them by thy power, and cast them down, O Lord, our shield!


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The word of their lips is the sin of their mouth; Let them be overtaken in their pride, For the curses and the falsehood which they utter!


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Consume them in thy wrath; consume them that they be no more, That they may know that God ruleth in Jacob, Even to the ends of the earth! [[Pause.]]


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But I will sing of thy power; Yea, in the morning will I sing aloud of thy mercy; For thou hast been my defence, My refuge in the day of my distress.


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“For the leader of the music; upon the Shushan-Eduth; a psalm of David for instruction; when he was at strife with the Syrians of Mesopotamia, and the Syrians of Zoba; when Joab returned, and smote twelve thousand Edomites in the valley of Salt.” O God! thou hast forsaken us; thou hast broken us in pieces; Thou hast been angry! O revive us again!


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God promiseth in his holiness; I will rejoice; I shall yet divide Shechem, And measure out the valley of Succoth.


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“For the leader of the music. To be sung upon stringed instruments. A psalm of David.” Hear my cry, O God! Attend to my prayer!


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From the extremity of the land I cry unto thee in deep sorrow of heart; Lead me to the rock that is high above me!


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“For the leader of the music of the Jeduthunites, A psalm of David.” Truly my soul resteth on God alone; From him cometh my deliverance!


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How long will ye continue to assault a single man? How long will ye all seek to destroy me, Like a bending wall, or a tottering fence?


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They study how to cast me down from my eminence; They delight in falsehood; They bless with their mouths, but in their hearts they curse.


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Truly men of low degree are vanity, And men of high degree are a lie; Placed in the balance, They are all lighter than vanity.


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Trust not in extortion; Place no vain hopes in rapine! If riches increase, set not your heart upon them!


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To thee also, O Lord! belongeth mercy; For thou dost render to every man according to his work!<pb/>


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“A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.” O God! thou art my God! earnestly do I seek thee! My soul thirsteth, my flesh longeth for thee, In a dry, thirsty land. where is no water!


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My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And with joyful lips my mouth shall praise thee,


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But the king shall rejoice in God; All that swear by him shall be honored; But the mouth of liars shall be stopped.<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” Hear my voice, O God! when I pray! Preserve my life from the terrors of the enemy!


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They prepare themselves for an evil deed; They commune of laying secret snares: “Who,” say they, “will see them?”


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They meditate crimes: “We have finished,” say they, “our plans!” The heart and bosom of every one of them are deep.


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” To thee belongeth trust, to thee praise, O God in Zion! And to thee shall the vow be performed!


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Happy is he whom thou choosest, And bringest near thee to dwell in thy courts! May we be satisfied with the blessings of thy house, Thy holy temple!


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By wonderful deeds dost thou answer us in thy goodness, O God, our salvation! Who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of the most distant seas!


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They who dwell in the ends of the earth are awed by thy signs; Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and of the evening to rejoice!


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Thou visitest the earth and waterest it; Thou enrichest it exceedingly; The river of God is full of water. Thou suppliest the earth with corn, When thou hast thus prepared it.


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Thou waterest its furrows, And breakest down its ridges; Thou makest it soft with showers, And blessest its increase.


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The pastures are clothed with flocks, And the valleys are covered with corn; They shout, yea, they sing for joy.<pb/>


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Say unto God, How terrible are thy doings! Through the greatness of thy power thine enemies are suppliants to thee!


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Let all the earth worship thee; Let it sing praise to thee, let it sing praise to thy name! [[Pause.]]


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By his power he ruleth for ever; His eyes are fixed upon the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves! [[Pause.]]


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Thou didst cause men to ride upon our heads, And we have gone through fire and water: But thou hast brought us to a place of abundance.


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Burnt sacrifices of fatlings will I offer to thee with the fat of rams; Bullocks, with he-goats, will I sacrifice to thee. [[Pause.]]


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“For the leader of the music. To be sung on stringed instruments. A psalm.” O God! be merciful to us, and bless us, And cause thy face to shine upon us! [[Pause.]]


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Let all the nations be glad, and shout for joy! For justly dost thou judge the people, And govern the nations on the earth.


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” Let God arise, and his enemies are scattered, And they who hate him flee before him!


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As smoke is dispersed, so thou dispersest them; As wax melteth before the fire, So perish the wicked before the face of God.


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Sing unto God; sing praises to his name! Prepare a way for him who rideth through the desert! Jehovah is his name; be joyful in his presence!


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God causeth the forsaken to dwell in houses; He leadeth forth to prosperity them that are bound; But the rebellious shall dwell in a barren land.


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O God! when thou didst go before thy people, When thou didst march through the wilderness. [[Pause.]]


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The earth quaked, and the heavens dropped at the presence of God; This Sinai trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.


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Thy people established themselves in the land; Thou, O God! in thy goodness, didst prepare it for the needy!


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Truly ye may repose yourselves in the stalls, Like the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her feathers with shining gold.”


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Why frown ye, ye many-topped hills, At the hill in which God is pleased to dwell, In which Jehovah will dwell for ever?


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The chariots of God are myriads, yea, thousands of thousands; The Lord is in the midst of them, as upon Sinai, in the sanctuary.


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Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captive the vanquished, Thou hast received gifts among men, Even the rebellious, that here thou mightst dwell, O LORD God!


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But God smiteth the head of his enemies, Even the hairy crowns of those who go on in their iniquity.


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Here is Benjamin, the youngest, and his leaders; The chiefs of Judah, and their band; The chiefs of Zebulon, and the chiefs of Naphtali.


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Thy God has ordained thy strength, [[O Israel!]] Show forth thy might, O God! thou who hast wrought for us!


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Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, The multitude of bulls with the calves of the nations, So that they shall cast themselves down with masses of silver; Scatter thou the nations that delight in war!


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To him who rideth upon the ancient heaven of heavens! Behold, he uttereth his voice, his mighty voice!


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Terrible art thou, O God! from thy sanctuary! The God of Israel giveth strength and power to his people. Praised be God!<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. Upon the Shoshannim. A psalm of David.” Save me, O God! For the waters press in to my very life!


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I sink in deep mire, where is no standing; I have come into deep waters, and the waves flow over me.


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More numerous than the hairs of my head are they who hate me without reason; Mighty are they who seek to destroy me, being my enemies without cause: I must restore what I took not away.


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Let not them that trust in thee through me be put to shame, O Lord Jehovah, God of hosts! Let not them that seek thee through me be confounded, O God of Israel!


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Yet will I address my prayer to thee, O LORD! May it be in an acceptable time according to thy great goodness! Hear, O God! and afford me thy sure help!


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Save me from the mire, and let me not sink; May I be delivered from my enemies,—from the deep waters!


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Let not the water-flood overflow me; Let not the deep swallow me up, And let not the pit close her mouth upon me!


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Hear me, O LORD! since great is thy loving-kindness; According to the abundance of thy tender mercies look upon me!


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Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I look for pity, but there is none; For comforters, but find none.


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For they persecute those whom thou hast smitten, And talk of the pain of those whom thou hast wounded.


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Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; Let not their names be written with the righteous!


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For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah, That they may dwell therein, and possess it.


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Yea, the posterity of his servants shall possess it, And they that love him shall dwell therein.<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David, for remembrance.” Make haste, O God! to deliver me, O LORD! come speedily to mine aid!


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May they all be confounded, and covered with shame, Who seek to take my life! May they be driven back with disgrace Who desire to do me injury!


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But let all who seek thee be glad and rejoice in thee! Let them that love thy protection ever say, “May God be praised!”


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But I am poor and needy; O God! hasten to mine aid! Thou art my help and my deliverer, O LORD! make no delay!<pb/>


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Be thou the rock of my abode, where I may continually resort! Thou hast granted me deliverance; For thou art my rock and my fortress!


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Upon thee have I leaned from my birth; From my earliest breath thou hast been my support; My song hath been continually of thee!


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Let them perish with shame who are my enemies; Let them be covered with contempt and dishonor who seek my hurt!


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My mouth shall speak of thy goodness,—Of thy sure protection all the day long; For thy mercies are more than I can number.


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I will celebrate thy mighty deeds, O Lord Jehovah! I will make mention of thy goodness, of thine only!


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And now, when I am old and gray-headed, O God! forsake me not, Until I make known thine arm to the next generation,-Thy mighty power to all that are to come!


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For thy goodness, O God! reacheth to the heavens; Wonderful things doest thou! O God! who is like unto thee?


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Thou hast suffered us to see great and grievous troubles; Thou wilt again give us life, And wilt bring us back from the depths of the earth!


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Then will I praise thee with the psaltery; Even thy faithfulness, O my God! To thee will I sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel!


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My tongue also shall continually speak of thy righteousness: For all who seek my hurt are brought to shame and confounded.<pb/>


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He shall defend the oppressed of the people; He shall save the needy, And break in pieces the oppressor.


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In his days shall the righteous flourish, And great shall be their prosperity, as long as the moon shall endure.


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The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts;


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He shall prosper, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba; Prayer also shall be made for him continually, And daily shall he be praised.


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There shall be an abundance of corn in the land; Its fruit shall shake like Lebanon, even on the tops of the mountains; And they of the cities shall flourish as the grass of the earth.


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His name shall endure for ever; His name shall be continued as long as the sun. By him shall men bless themselves; All nations shall call him blessed.


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If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.


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But it is good for me to draw near to God; I put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare all thy works.<pb/>


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“A psalm of Asaph.” O God! why hast thou cast us off for ever? Why doth thine anger smoke against the flock of thy pasture?


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Remember the people which thou didst purchase of old; Thine own inheritance, which thou didst redeem; That Mount Zion, where thou once didst dwell!


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They have cast fire into thy sanctuary; They have profaned, and cast to the ground, the dwelling-place of thy name.


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They said in their hearts, “Let us destroy them all together!” They have burned all God's places of assembly in the land.


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We no longer see our signs; There is no prophet among us, Nor any one that knoweth how long this desolation shall endure.


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Thou didst divide the sea by thy power; Thou didst crush the heads of the sea-monsters in the waters.


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Thou didst break in pieces the head of the crocodile; Thou gavest him for food to the inhabitants of the desert.


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Give not up the life of thy turtle-dove to the wild beast; Forget not for ever thine afflicted people!


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Forget not the clamor of thine adversaries,—The noise of thine enemies, which continually increaseth!<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. To the tune of “Do not destroy.” A psalm of Asaph.” We give thanks to thee, O God! we give thanks to thee, and near is thy name; Men shall declare thy wondrous deeds!


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For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup; The wine is foaming and full of spices, And of it he poureth out; Even to the dregs shall all the wicked of the earth drink it.


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“For the leader of the music. Upon stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph.” In Judah is God known; Great is his name in Israel.


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Make and perform vows to Jehovah, your God! Let all that dwell around him bring gifts to the terrible One,


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“For the leader of the music of the Jeduthunites. A psalm of Asaph.” I call upon God; I cry aloud for help; I call upon God, that he would hear me!


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In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; In the night is my hand stretched forth continually; My soul refuseth to be comforted.


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Thy thunder roared in the whirlwind; Thy lightning illumined the world; The earth trembled and shook.


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Thy way was through the sea, And thy path through great waters; And thy footsteps could not be found.


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“A psalm of Asaph.” Give ear, O my people, to my instruction! Incline your ears to the words of my mouth!


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We will not hide from their children; Showing to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, His might, and the wonders he hath wrought.


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For he appointed statutes in Jacob, And established a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers To make known to their children;


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So that the generation to come might know them; The children, which should be born, and rise up, Who should declare them to their children;


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And might not be, like their forefathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation,—A generation whose heart was not fixed upon God, And whose spirit was not steadfast toward the Almighty.


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Behold! he smote the rock, and the water flowed, And streams gushed forth: Is he also able to give bread? Can he provide flesh for his people?”


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When, therefore, the LORD heard this, he was wroth: So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger arose against Israel.


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When the wrath of God came upon them, And slew their strong men, And smote down the chosen men of Israel.


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Yet, being full of compassion, he forgave their iniquity, And would not utterly destroy them; Often he restrained his indignation, And stirred not up all his anger.


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He sent against them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, indignation, and woe,—A host of angels of evil.


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He made a way for his anger, He spared them not from death, But gave up their lives to the pestilence.


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He cast out the nations before them, And divided their land by a measuring-line, as an inheritance, And caused the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.


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Where he built, like the heavens, his sanctuary; Like the earth, which he hath established for ever.


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“A psalm of Asaph.” O God! the nations have come into thine inheritance; They have polluted thy holy temple; They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins!


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They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be food for the birds of heaven, The flesh of thy holy ones to the wild beasts of the earth!


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Pour out thy wrath on the nations which acknowledge thee not. And on the kingdoms which call not upon thy name!


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For we are brought very low! Help us, O God of our salvation! for the honor of thy name; F or thy name's sake save us, and forgive our iniquities!


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Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” May the revenging of the blood of thy servants, which hath been shed, Be manifested among the nations before our eyes!


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Let the cry of the prisoner come before thee! According to the greatness of thy power preserve those that are appointed to die!


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And return sevenfold into our neighbors' bosoms The reproach with which they have reproached thee, O Lord!


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So shall we, thy people, and the flock of thy pasture, Give thanks to thee for ever. And show forth thy praise to all generations.<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. Upon the Shushan-Eduth. A psalm of Asaph.” Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel! Thou who leadest Joseph like a flock, Thou who sittest between the cherubs, shine forth!


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O God of hosts! return, we beseech thee, Look down from heaven, and behold, And have regard to this vine!


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“For the leader of the music. On the Gittith. A psalm of Asaph.” Sing joyfully to God, our strength! Shout with gladness to the God of Jacob!


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He appointed it as a memorial in Joseph, When he went out of the land of Egypt, Where he heard a language which he knew not.


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Thou didst call in trouble, and I delivered thee; In the secret place of thunder I answered thee; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. [[Pause.]]


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I Jehovah am thy God, Who brought thee out of the land of Egypt: Open wide thy mouth, and I will fill it!


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The haters of Jehovah should have become suppliants to them, And their prosperity should have endured for ever.


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With the finest of the wheat I would have fed them, And with honey out of the rock would I have satisfied them.”<pb/>


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They are without knowledge and without understanding; They walk in darkness: Therefore all the foundations of the land are shaken.


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“Come,” say they, “let us blot them out from the number of the nations, That the name of Israel may no more be remembered!”


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That they may know that thy name alone is Jehovah; That thou art the Most High over all the earth.<pb/>


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“For the leader of the music. On the Gittith. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” How lovely are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!


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My soul longeth, yea, fainteth, for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry aloud for the living God.


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The very sparrow findeth an abode, And the swallow a nest, where they may lay their young, By thine altars, O LORD of hosts, My king and my God!


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Passing through the valley of Baca, they make it a fountain; and the early rain covereth it with blessings.


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For a day spent in thy courts is better than a thousand: I would rather stand on the threshold of the house of my God, Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.


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For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; The LORD giveth grace and glory; No good thing doth he withhold From them that walk uprightly.


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” O LORD! thou hast been favorable to thy land; Thou hast brought back the captives of Jacob;


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I will hear what God the LORD will speak: Truly he will speak peace to his people, and to his servants; Only let them not turn again to folly!


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All the nations which thou hast made must come and worship before thee, O Lord! And glorify thy name!


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O God! the proud have risen against me; Bands of cruel men seek my life, And set not thee before their eyes.


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But thou, O Lord! art a God full of compassion and kindness, Long-suffering, rich in mercy and truth!


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Look upon me, and have compassion upon me! Give thy strength to thy servant, And save the son of thy handmaid!


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Show me a token for good, That my enemies may see it and be confounded; Because thou, O LORD! helpest and comfortest me!<pb/>


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“I name Egypt and Babylon among them that know me; Behold! Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia,—They also were born there.”


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And of Zion it shall be said, “Men of every nation were born there, And the Most High hath established her.”


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“A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the leader of the music. Upon wind instruments. A psalm of Heman, the Ezrahite.” O LORD, God of my salvation! To thee do I cry by day, And by night is my prayer before thee!


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I am left to myself among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom thou no more rememberest, And who are cut off from thy [[protecting]] hand.


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Thou hast put mine acquaintances far from me, Yea, thou hast made me their abhorrence: I am shut up, and cannot go forth.


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Mine eyes languish by reason of my affliction. I call upon thee daily, O LORD! To thee do I stretch out my hands!


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“A psalm of Ethan, the Ezrahite.” I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever; With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations!


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A God greatly to be feared in the assembly of the holy ones, And to be had in reverence above all who are around him?


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O Jehovah, God of hosts! Who is mighty like thee, O Jehovah? And thy faithfulness is round about thee.


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Thou didst break Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; Thou didst scatter thine enemies with thy mighty arm.


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The heavens are thine; thine also is the earth; The world and all that is therein, thou didst found them.


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Once thou spakest in a vision to thy holy one, And saidst,—”I have laid help on one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people;


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Remember, O Lord! the reproach of thy servants, How I bear in my bosom the taunts of all the many nations,


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With which thine enemies have reproached me, O LORD! With which they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed!


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“BOOK IV. A prayer of Moses, the man of God.” LORD! thou hast been our dwelling-place In all generations!


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Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God!


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The days of our life are threescore years and ten, And, by reason of strength, may be fourscore years: Yet is the pride of them weariness and sorrow; For it vanisheth swiftly, and we fly away.


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Make us glad according to the time in which thou hast afflicted us; According to the years in which we have seen adversity!


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Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish for us the work of our hands; Yea, the work of our hands, establish thou it!<pb/>


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He will cover thee with his feathers, And under his wings shalt thou find refuge; His faithfulness shall be thy shield and buckler.


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Thou shalt tread upon the lion and the adder; The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under foot.


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When he calleth upon me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honor.


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“A psalm for the Sabbath-day.” It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to thy name, O Most High!


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When the wicked spring up like grass, And all who practise iniquity flourish, It is but to be destroyed for ever!


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For, lo! thine enemies, O LORD! For, lo! thine enemies perish, And dispersed are all who do iniquity!


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Mine eye hath gazed with joy upon mine enemies; Mine ears have heard with joy of my wicked adversaries.


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Jehovah reigneth; he is clothed with majesty; Jehovah is clothed with majesty, and girded with strength; Therefore the earth standeth firm, and cannot be moved.


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Mightier than the voice of many waters, Yea, than the mighty waves of the sea, Is the LORD in his lofty habitation.


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He will bring upon them their own iniquity; Yea, through their own wickedness he will cut them off; Yea, the LORD, our God, will cut them off.<pb/>


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For he is our God, And we are the people of his pasture and the flock of his hand. O that ye would now hear his voice!


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“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah [[the strife]], As in the day of temptation [[Massah]] in the wilderness,


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Forty years was I offended with that generation: And I said, 'They are a people of a perverse heart, And who have no regard to my ways.'


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Say among the nations, Jehovah is king; The world shall stand firm; it shall not be moved; He will judge the nations in righteousness.


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Before Jehovah! for he cometh, He cometh to judge the earth! He will judge the world with justice, And the nations with faithfulness.<pb/>


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The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.


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Ye that love the LORD, hate evil! He preserveth the lives of his servants, And delivereth them from the hand of the wicked.


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“A psalm.” Sing to the LORD a new song; For he hath done marvellous things; His own right hand and his holy arm have gotten him the victory!


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The LORD hath made known his salvation; His righteousness hath he manifested in the sight of the nations.


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He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel, And all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.


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Before the LORD! for he cometh to judge the earth! With righteousness will he judge the world, And the nations with equity.<pb/>


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Let them declare the glory of the King who loveth justice! Thou hast established equity; Thou dost execute justice in Jacob!


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Moses and Aaron, with his priests, And Samuel, who called upon his name,—They called upon the LORD, and he answered them.


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He spake to them in the cloudy pillar; They kept his commandments, And the ordinances which he gave them.


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Thou, O LORD, our God! didst answer them; Thou wast to them a forgiving God, Though thou didst punish their transgressions!


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Know ye that Jehovah is God! It is he that made us, and we are his, His people, and the flock of his pasture.


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Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And his courts with praise; Be thankful to him, and bless his name!


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I will have regard to the way of uprightness: When thou shalt come to me, I will walk within my house with an upright heart.


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I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes; I hate the work of evil-doers; It shall not cleave to me.


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Whoso slandereth his neighbor in secret, him will I cut off; Him that hath a haughty look and a proud heart I will not endure.


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Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; He that walketh in the way of uprightness shall serve me.


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He who practiseth deceit shall not dwell in my house; He who telleth lies shall not remain in my sight.


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Every morning will I destroy the wicked of the land, That I may cut off all evil-doers from the city of the LORD.<pb/>


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“A prayer of the afflicted, when in deep distress he poureth out his complaint before the Lord.” Hear my prayer, O LORD! And let my cry come unto thee!


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Hide not thy face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline thine ear to me when I call! Answer me speedily!


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I say, O my God! take me not away in the midst of my days! Thy years endure through all generations.


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They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; As a vesture shalt thou change them, And they shall be changed;


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The children of thy servants shall dwell securely, And their posterity shall be established before thee.<pb/>


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But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting to them that fear him, And his righteousness to children's children,


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Bless the LORD, ye his angels, Ye mighty ones who do his commands, Hearkening to the voice of his word!


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Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God! thou art very great! Thou art clothed with glory and majesty!


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He layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; He maketh the clouds his chariot; He rideth upon the wings of the wind.


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Thou hast established a bound which the waters may not pass, That they may not return, and cover the earth.


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He causeth grass to spring up for cattle, And herbage for the service of man, To bring forth food out of the earth,


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And wine that gladdeneth the heart of man, Making his face to shine more than oil, And bread that strengtheneth man's heart.


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O LORD! how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all! The earth is full of thy riches!


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Thou hidest thy face, they are confounded; Thou takest away their breath, they die, And return to the dust.


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May sinners perish from the earth, And the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise ye the LORD!<pb/>


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That I may see the prosperity of thy chosen, That I may rejoice in the joy of thy people, That I may glory with thine inheritance!


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Our fathers in Egypt did not regard thy wonders; They remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; But rebelled at the sea, the Red sea.


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Then he said that he would destroy them; Had not Moses, his chosen, stood before him in the breach, To turn away his wrath, that he might not destroy them.


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They also gave themselves to the worship of Baal-peor, And ate sacrifices offered to lifeless idols.


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And shed innocent blood, The blood of their own sons and daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood.


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Many times did he deliver them; But they provoked him by their devices, And they were brought low for their iniquities.


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Save us, O Jehovah, our God! and gather us from among the nations, That we may give thanks to thy holy name, And glory in thy praise!


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[Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, Amen! Praise ye Jehovah!]<pb/>


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God promiseth in his holiness; I will rejoice; I shall yet divide Shechem, And measure out the valley of Succoth;


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For the mouths of the wicked and the deceitful are opened against me; They speak against me with a lying tongue.


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May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by the LORD, And may the sin of his mother never be blotted out!


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Because he remembered not to show pity, But persecuted the afflicted and the poor man, And sought the death of the broken-hearted.


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May he be clothed with cursing as with a garment; May it enter like water into his bowels, And like oil into his bones!


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May it be to him like the robe that covereth him, Like the girdle with which he is constantly girded!


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But do thou, O LORD, my God! take part with me, For thine own name's sake! Because great is thy mercy, O deliver me!


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Let them curse, but do thou bless! When they arise, let them be put to shame; But let thy servant rejoice!


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“A psalm of David.” Jehovah said to my lord, “Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.”


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Thy people shall be ready, when thou musterest thy forces, in holy splendor; Thy youth shall come forth like dew from the womb of the morning.


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Jehovah hath sworn, and he will not repent: “Thou art a priest for ever, After the order of Melchisedeck!”


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He shall execute justice among the nations; He shall fill them with dead bodies, He shall crush the heads of his enemies over many lands.


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Praise ye the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, In the assembly of the righteous, and in the congregation.


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He sent redemption to his people; He established his covenant for ever; Holy, and to be had in reverence, is his name.


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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they who keep his commandments; His praise endureth for ever.<pb/>


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To the righteous shall arise light out of darkness; He is gracious and full of compassion and righteousness.


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He hath scattered blessings; he hath given to the poor; His righteousness shall endure for ever; His horn shall be exalted with honor.


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The wicked shall see, and be grieved; He shall gnash his teeth, and melt away; The desire of the wicked shall perish.<pb/>


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He causeth the barren woman to dwell in a house, A joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD!<pb/>


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Not unto us, O LORD! not unto us, But unto thy name, give glory, For thy mercy and thy truth's sake!


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They have hands, but they handle not; They have feet, but they walk not; Nor do they speak with their throats.


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The LORD hath been mindful of us; he will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.


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The snares of death encompassed me, And the pains of the underworld seized upon me; I found distress and sorrow.


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For thou hast preserved me from death; Thou hast kept mine eyes from tears, And my feet from falling!


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Hear, O LORD! for I am thy servant; I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid! Thou hast loosed my bonds.


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For great toward us hath been his kindness, And the faithfulness of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD!<pb/>


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They beset me around like bees; They were quenched like the fire of thorns, For in the name of the LORD I destroyed them.


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The voice of joy and salvation is in the habitations of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly;


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The LORD will preserve thee, when thou goest out and when thou comest in, From this time forth for ever.<pb/>


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“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up. By David.” I was glad when they said to me, Let us go up to the house of the LORD!


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Thither the tribes go up, The tribes of the LORD, according to the law of Israel, To praise the name of the LORD.


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“A song of the steps, or the goings up.” To thee do I lift up mine eyes, O Thou who dwellest in the heavens!


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Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, And as the eyes of a maiden to the hand of her mistress, So do our eyes look to the LORD, our God, Until he have pity upon us.


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Our soul is filled to the full with the scorn of those who are at ease, And with the contempt of the proud.<pb/>


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“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up. By David.” If the LORD had not been for us, Now may Israel say,


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“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up.” They who trust in the LORD shall be as Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, which standeth for ever.


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As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, So the LORD is round about his people, Henceforth even for ever!


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For the sceptre of the wicked shall not remain upon the portion of the righteous, Lest the righteous put forth their hands to iniquity.


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But such as turn aside to their crooked ways,-May the LORD destroy them with the evil-doers! Peace be to Israel!<pb/>


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“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up.” When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like them that dream.


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Then was our mouth filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then said they among the nations, “The LORD hath done great things for them!”


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Yea, he goeth forth weeping, bearing his seed; He shall surely come back rejoicing, bearing his sheaves.<pb/>


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“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up. By Solomon.” Except the LORD build the house, The builders labor in vain; Except the LORD guard the city, The watchman waketh in vain.


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In vain ye rise up early, and go to rest late, And eat the bread of care! The same giveth he his beloved one in sleep.


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Happy the man that hath his quiver full of them! They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with adversaries in the gate.<pb/>


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“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up.” Happy is he who feareth the LORD, Who walketh in his ways!


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Thy wife shall be like a fruitful vine within thy house; Thy children like olive-branches round about thy table.


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Jehovah shall bless thee out of Zion, And thou shalt see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of thy life;


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“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up.” Much have they afflicted me from my youth, May Israel now say;


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And they who pass by do not say, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!”<pb/>


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My soul waiteth for the LORD More than they who watch for the morning; Yea, more than they who watch for the morning!


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“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up. Of David.” O LORD! my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty; I employ not myself on great things, or things too wonderful for me!


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Yea, I have stilled and quieted my soul As a weaned child upon his mother; My soul within me is like a weaned child.


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Jehovah hath sworn in truth unto David, And he will not depart from it: “Of the fruit of thy body will I place upon the throne for thee.


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If thy children keep my covenant, And my statutes, which I teach them, Their children also throughout all ages Shall sit upon thy throne.”


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“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up. By David.” Behold, how good and pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!


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It is like precious perfume upon the head, Which ran down upon the beard, The beard of Aaron; Which went down to the very border of his garments;


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Like the dew of Hermon, Like that which descendeth upon the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD commandeth a blessing, Even life for evermore.<pb/>


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“A psalm of the steps, or the goings up.” Praise the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, Who stand in the house of the LORD by night!


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He causeth the clouds to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings for the rain; He bringeth the wind from his store-houses.


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For there they who carried us away captive required of us a song; They who wasted us required of us mirth: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”


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If I do not remember thee, Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy!


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Remember, O LORD! against the children of Edom The day of the calamity of Jerusalem! Who said, “Raze it, Raze it to its foundations!”


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“A psalm of David.” I will praise thee with my whole heart; Before the gods will I sing praise to thee;


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I will worship toward thy holy temple, And praise thy name for thy goodness and thy truth; For thy promise thou hast magnified above all thy name!


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Though I walk through the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me; Thou wilt stretch forth thy hand against the wrath of my enemies; Thou wilt save me by thy right hand!


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The LORD will perform all things for me; Thy goodness, O LORD! endureth ever: Forsake not the works of thine hands!<pb/>


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If I ascend into heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in the underworld, behold, thou art there!


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Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to thee!


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I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvellous are thy works, And this my soul knoweth full well!


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My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret. When I was curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth.


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Thine eyes did see my substance, while yet unformed, And in thy book was every thing written; My days were appointed before one of them existed.


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” Deliver me, O LORD! from the evil man, Save me from the man of violence,


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Defend me, O LORD! from the hands of the wicked, Preserve me from the man of violence, Who have purposed to cause my fall! [[Pause.]]


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The proud have hidden snares and cords for me; They have spread a net by the way-side; They have set traps for me.


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Grant not, O LORD! the desires of the wicked; Let not their devices prosper; Let them not exalt themselves!


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Let burning coals fall upon them; May they be cast into the fire, And into deep waters from which they shall not arise!


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The slanderer shall not be established upon the earth; Evil shall pursue the violent man to destruction.


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“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” I cry to thee, O LORD! make haste unto me! Give ear to my voice, when I cry unto thee!


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Let my prayer come before thee as incense, And the lifting-up of my hands, as the evening sacrifice!


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Let not my heart incline to any evil thing; Let me not practise wickedness with the doers of iniquity, And let me not eat of their delicacies!


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Let the righteous smite me,—it shall be a kindness; Let him reprove me, and it shall be oil for my head; Let him do it again, and my head shall not refuse it; But now I pray against their wickedness!


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So are our bones scattered at the mouth of the underworld, As when one furroweth and ploweth up the land.


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“A psalm of David; a prayer, when he was in the cave” I cry unto the LORD with my voice; With my voice to the LORD do I make my supplication.


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When my spirit is overwhelmed within me, Thou knowest my path! In the way which I walk, they have hid a snare for me.


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I look on my right hand, and behold, But no man knoweth me; Refuge faileth me; No one careth for me.


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Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they prevail against me!


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Bring me out of prison, That I may praise thy name! The righteous shall gather around me, When thou shalt show me thy favor.<pb/>


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“A psalm of David.” Hear my prayer, O LORD! give ear to my supplications! In thy faithfulness, and in thy righteousness, answer me!


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For the enemy pursueth my life; He hath smitten me to the ground; He hath made me dwell in darkness, As those that have been dead of old.


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Hear me speedily, O LORD! My spirit faileth; Hide not thy face from me. Lest I become like those who go down to the pit!


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Cause me so see thy loving-kindness speedily; For in thee do I trust! Make known to me the way which I should take; For to thee do I lift up my soul!


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And, in thy compassion, cut off mine enemies, And destroy all that distress me! For I am thy servant.<pb/>


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He who is my loving-kindness and my fortress; My high tower and my deliverer, My shield, and he in whom I trust; Who subdueth peoples under me.


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LORD, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?


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To thee, who givest salvation to kings, Who deliverest David, thy servant, from the destructive sword!


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Rescue and deliver me from the hands of aliens, Whose mouth uttereth deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood!


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That our sons may be as plants, Grown up in their youth; Our daughters as corner-pillars, Hewn like those of a palace!


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That our garners may be full, Affording all kinds of store; That our sheep may bring forth thousands And ten thousands in our streets.


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That our cattle may be fruitful; That there be no breaking in, or going out; And no outcry in our streets.


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“A song of praise. By David.” I will extol thee, my God, the King! I will praise thy name for ever and ever!


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My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD; And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever!<pb/>


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Who executeth judgment for the oppressed; Who giveth food to the hungry. The LORD setteth free the prisoners;


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The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind; The LORD raiseth up them that are bowed down; The LORD loveth the righteous.


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The LORD preserveth the strangers; He relieveth the fatherless and the widow; But the way of the wicked he maketh crooked.


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Praise ye the LORD! For it is good to sing praise to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is becoming.


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Who covereth the heavens with clouds, Who prepareth rain for the earth, Who causeth grass to grow upon the mountains.


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He hath dealt in this manner with no other nation; And, as for his ordinances, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD!<pb/>


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Let them praise the name of the LORD! For his name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and the heavens.


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He exalteth the horn of his people, The glory of all his godly ones, Of the children of Israel, a people near to him. Praise ye the LORD!<pb/>


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To execute upon them the sentence which is written: This honor have all his godly ones. Praise ye the LORD!<pb/>


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Let the wise man hear, and he will increase his knowledge, And the man of understanding will gain wise counsels;


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If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us lurk secretly for him who is innocent in vain;


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Let us swallow them up alive, like the underworld, Yea, in full health, as those that go down into the pit;


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Such are the ways of every one greedy of unjust gain; It taketh away the life of the possessor thereof.


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At the head of the noisy streets she crieth aloud; At the entrances of the gates, throughout the city, she proclaimeth her words [[saying]]:


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How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? How long will scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?


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“Because I have called, and ye have refused,—Because I have stretched out my hand, and no one hath regarded.


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When your fear cometh upon you like a storm. And destruction overtaketh you like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.


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Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer! They will seek me early, But they shall not find me!


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Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own devices;


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Yea, the turning away of the simple shall slay them, And the carelessness of fools shall destroy them.


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But whoso hearkeneth to me shall dwell securely, And shall not be disquieted with the fear of evil.”<pb/>


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Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; Bind them around thy neck, Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:


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She is a tree of life to them that lay hold of her, And happy is every one who hath her in his grasp.


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When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.


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Say not to thy neighbor, “Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give to thee,” when thou hast it by thee.


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The curse of the LORD is upon the house of the wicked, But he blesseth the dwelling of the righteous.


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For they sleep not, unless they have done mischief; Yea, their sleep is taken away, unless they have caused some to fall.


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But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, Which groweth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.


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A lovely hind, a graceful doe, Her breasts shall satisfy thee at all times, And thou shalt be always ravished with her love.


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His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked; Yea, he shall be held fast by the cords of his own sins.


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He shall die for want of instruction; Yea, through the greatness of his folly he shall stagger.<pb/>


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If thou hast become ensnared by the words of thy mouth, If thou hast been caught by the words of thy mouth,


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Do this now, my son, and rescue thyself,—Since thou hast fallen into the hands of thy neighbor,—Go, prostrate thyself, and be urgent with thy neighbor!


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Therefore shall calamity come upon him suddenly; In a moment shall he be destroyed, and that without remedy;


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When thou goest forth, they shall guide thee; When thou sleepest, they shall watch over thee; And, when thou awakest, they shall talk with thee.


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For the commandment is a lamp, and instruction a light; Yea, the rebukes of correction lead to life.


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For by a harlot a man is brought to a morsel of bread, And the adulteress layeth snares for the precious life.


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So is it with him who goeth in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever toucheth her shall not go unpunished.


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He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the chastisement of the fool,


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Till an arrow strike through his liver;—As a bird hasteneth into the snare, And knoweth not that it is laid for its life.


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For many are the wounded which she hath cast down; Yea, countless is the number of those slain by her.


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By the side of the gates, In the entrance of the city, In the approaches to the doors, she crieth aloud.


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The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, And the deceitful mouth, do I hate.


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When as yet there were no deeps, I was brought forth. When there were no springs, abounding with water.


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When he gave to the sea its bounds, that the waters should not pass their border; When he marked out the foundations of the earth,—


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Then was I by him as a master-builder; I was his delight day by day, Exulting before him at all times;


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Happy the man who hearkeneth to me, Who watcheth day by day at my gates, Who waiteth at the posts of my doors;


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“He who correcteth a scoffer Bringeth shame upon himself; And he who rebuketh the wicked Bringeth upon himself a stain.


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Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.


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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Most Holy is understanding.


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But he considereth not that the dead are there, That in the vales of the under-world are her guests.<pb/>


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The Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.


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Upon the lips of a man of understanding wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that lacketh understanding.


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The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver; The understanding of the wicked is of little worth.


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When the whirlwind passeth by, the wicked is no more; But the righteous is an everlasting foundation.


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The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: But the expectation of the wicked shall come to nothing.


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The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.<pb/>


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The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.


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The righteousness of the good man maketh his way plain; But the wicked falleth through his wickedness.


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The righteousness of the upright delivereth them; But transgressors are ensnared in their own mischief.


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When the wicked man dieth, his hope cometh to an end; Yea, the expectation of the unjust cometh to an end.


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By his mouth the vile man destroyeth his neighbor; But by the knowledge of the righteous are men delivered.


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When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.


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By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.


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He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he who is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.


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The perverse in heart are the abomination of the LORD; But the upright in their way are his delight.


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From generation to generation the wicked shall not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous shall be delivered.


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There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; And there is that withholdeth more than is right, yet he cometh to want.


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Him that keepeth back corn the people curse; But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.


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He, who earnestly seeketh good, seeketh favor; But he that seeketh mischief, it shall come upon him.


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A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband; But she who causeth shame is as rottenness in his bones.


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A man will be commended according to his wisdom; But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.


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Better is he that demeaneth himself, and hath a servant, Than he that exalteth himself, and hath no bread.


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He who tilleth his own land shall be satisfied with bread; But he who followeth worthless persons is void of understanding.


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In the transgression of the lips is a dangerous snare; But the righteous man shall escape from trouble.


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By the fruit of a man's mouth he shall be filled with good, And the recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.


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The slothful man shall not roast his game; But a precious treasure to any man is he that is diligent.


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By the fruit of a man's mouth he shall eat good; But the appetite of transgressors shall be sated with violence.


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He who keepeth his mouth keepeth his life; But destruction shall be to him who openeth wide his lips.


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The appetite of the sluggard longeth, and hath nothing; But the appetite of the diligent is fully satisfied.


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He that despiseth the word shall be destroyed; But he who revereth the commandment shall be rewarded.


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Poverty and shame are for him who rejecteth instruction; But he that regardeth reproof shall come to honor.


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The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.


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The good man leaveth his substance to his children's children; But the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.


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There is much food from the fallow-ground of the poor; But there is who is brought low for want of uprightness.


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The righteous man eateth to the satisfying of his desire; But the stomach of the wicked suffereth want.<pb/>


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The perverse in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And from himself shall the good man be satisfied.


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Do not they who devise evil fail of their end? But they who devise good meet with kindness and truth.


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He who is slow to anger is of great understanding. But he who is of a hasty spirit setteth folly on high.


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The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD; But the prayer of the righteous is his delight.


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The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD; But him who followeth after righteousness he loveth.


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The underworld, yea, the region of death, is before the LORD; How much more the hearts of the sons of men!


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The heart of the righteous meditateth on his answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.


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He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own life; But he that hearkeneth to rebuke getteth understanding.


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Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; From generation to generation he shall not be unpunished.


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Through kindness and truth, iniquity is expiated; And, through the fear of the LORD, men depart from evil.


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In the light of the king's countenance is life, And his favor is a like a cloud bringing the latter rain.


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How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.


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It is the highway of the upright to depart from evil; He that taketh heed to his way preserveth his life.


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Understanding is a wellspring of life to him that hath it. And the chastisement of fools is their folly.


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He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he who ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.


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A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.


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Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.


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A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.


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The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.


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He that justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.


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He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.


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Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.


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He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.


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Even a fool, when he is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.<pb/>


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The words of a talebearer are like sweet morsels; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.


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He that first pleadeth his cause appeareth just; But his opponent cometh, and searcheth him through.


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A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; Yea, their contentions are like the bars of a castle.


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With the fruit of a man's mouth shall his stomach be filled; He shall be filled with the produce of his lips.


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A man of many friends will show himself false; Yet there is a friend who sticketh closer than a brother.<pb/>


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Moreover, that the soul be without knowledge is not good, And he that hasteth with is feet stumbleth.


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All the brethren of the poor man hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He runneth after their words,—they are gone!


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The fear of the LORD tendeth to life, And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.


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Strike the scoffer, and the simple will become prudent; Reprove a man of understanding, and he will discern knowledge.


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Cease, my son, to listen to the instruction That causeth thee to wander from the words of knowledge!


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The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.


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Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.


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He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open his lips.


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Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.<pb/>


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As streams of water, So is the heart of the king in the hand of the LORD; He turneth it whithersoever he will.


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When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; When the wise man is taught, he receiveth knowledge.


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The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous! And in the room of the upright shall be the transgressor.


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The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he bringeth it with an evil design!


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Thorns and snares are in the way of the deceitful; He that will preserve his life will be far from them.


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He that oppresseth the poor to increase his wealth, And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.


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For it will be a pleasant thing, if thou keep them in thy bosom, When they are altogether established upon thy lips.


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That I may make thee know rectitude, and words of truth; That thou mayst bring back words of truth to them that send thee.


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Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall be the minister of kings; He shall not serve obscure men.<pb/>


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Wilt thou let thine eyes fly toward them? They are gone! For riches truly make to themselves wings; They fly away like the eagle toward heaven.


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For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.


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The morsel, which thou hast eaten, thou shalt vomit up; And thou wilt have thrown away thy sweet words.


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The father of a righteous man shall greatly rejoice; Yea, he who begetteth a wise child shall have joy in him.


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Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who contentions? Who anxiety? Who wounds without cause? Who dimness of eyes?


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Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, When it goeth down smoothly.


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Yea, thou shalt be as one that lieth down in the midst of the sea, And as one that lieth down upon the top of a mast.


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They have stricken me [[shalt thou say]],—I suffered no pain! They have beaten me,—I felt it not! When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.<pb/>


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Deliver thou those who are dragged to death, And those who totter to the slaughter,—O keep them back!


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If thou sayst, “Behold, we knew it not!” Doth not he that weigheth the heart observe it? Yea, he that keepeth thy soul knoweth it. And he will render to every man according to his works.


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So learn thou wisdom for thy soul! When thou hast found it, there shall be a reward, And thy expectation shall not be cut off.


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For though the righteous fall seven times, yet shall he rise up again; But the wicked shall fall into mischief.


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He that saith to the wicked, “Thou art righteous,” Him shall the people curse; Nations shall abhor him.


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But it shall be well with them that punish him, And the blessing of prosperity shall come upon them.


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Say not, “As he hath done to me, So will I do to him; I will render to the man according to his doings.”


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And, lo! it was all overgrown with thorns, And the face thereof was covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down.


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As the heavens for their height, And as the earth for its depth, So is the heart of kings unsearchable!


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Take away the wicked man from the presence of the king, And his throne will be established by righteousness.


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For better is it that one should say to thee, “Come up hither!” Than that he should put thee in a lower place, In the presence of the prince whom thine eyes behold.


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Go not forth hastily to engage in a suit, Lest thou know not what to do in the end of it, When thine adversary hath put thee to shame.


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As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the spirit of his masters.


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Hast thou found honey? eat what is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be surfeited with it, and vomit it up.


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A battle-hammer, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man who beareth false witness against his neighbor.


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As he that taketh off a garment on a cold day, As vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.


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As one that taketh a dog by the ears, So is he who, passing by, is enraged on account of the quarrel of another.


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Thine own friend and thy father's friend forsake not; And go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity. Better is a neighbor that is near, than a brother far off.


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He who blesseth his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early for it, It shall be accounted to him as a curse.


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He that watcheth the fig-tree shall eat its fruit; So he that is careful for his master shall come to honor.


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The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; So let a man be to the mouth that giveth him praise.


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Though thou shouldst beat a fool in a mortar, Among bruised wheat, with a pestle, Yet will not his folly depart from him.


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The hay disappeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbage of the mountains is gathered in.


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There is goat's milk enough for thy food, For the food of thy household, And for the sustenance of thy maidens.<pb/>


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Through the transgression of a land many are its rulers; But through men of prudence and understanding the prince shall live long.


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Better is a poor man who walketh in uprightness, Than he who is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.


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He that keepeth the law is a wise son; But he that is the companion of prodigals bringeth shame on his father.


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He that causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way Shall himself fall into his own pit; But the upright shall have good things in possession.


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The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor man, who hath understanding, will search him through.


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When the righteous rejoice, there is great glorying; But, when the wicked are exalted, men hide themselves.


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He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; But he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.


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The prince who is weak in understanding is great in oppression; But he who hateth unjust gain shall prolong his days.


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He who tilleth his land shall have bread enough; And he that followeth after worthless persons shall have poverty enough.


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A faithful man shall abound with blessings; But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not go unpunished.


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Whoso stealeth from his father or his mother, And saith, “It is no transgression,” The same is the companion of a robber.


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When the wicked are exalted, men hide themselves; But, when they perish, the righteous increase.<pb/>


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He who, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.


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When the righteous are powerful, the people rejoice; But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.


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He who loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; But he who is a companion of harlots destroyeth his substance.


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As the unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, So the upright in his way is an abomination to the wicked.<pb/>


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The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh, even his prophecy; the inspired utterance of the man to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal.


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Who hath gone up into heaven and come down? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound up the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what his son's name, if thou knowest?


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Remove far from me falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food which is needful for me;


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Lest I be full, and deny thee, And say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor, and steal, And violate the name of my God.


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There is a class, whose teeth are swords, And their jaw-teeth knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men.


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The vampire hath two daughters; “Give! give!” [[is their cry.]] There are three things which are never satisfied; Yea, four which say not, “Enough!”


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The underworld, and the barren womb; The earth, which is not satiated with water, And fire, which never saith, “It is enough!”


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The eye that mocketh at a father, And scorneth to obey a mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it.


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The track of an eagle in the air, The track of a serpent upon a rock, The track of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the track of a man with a maid.


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Such is the way of an adulterous woman; She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, And saith, “I have done nothing wrong.”


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Under an odious woman when she becometh a wife, And a handmaid when she becometh heir to her mistress.


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If thou hast been foolish in lifting thyself up, And hast meditated evil, Put thy hand on thy mouth!


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For, as the pressing of milk bringeth forth cheese, And as the pressing of the nose bringeth forth blood, So the pressing of anger bringeth forth strife.<pb/>


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It is not for kings, O Lemuel! It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes to desire strong drink;


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She hath no fear for her household on account of the snow, For all her household are clothed with crimson.


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The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about to the north; round and round goeth the wind, and returneth to its circuits.


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All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; to the place whence the rivers come, thither they return.


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All words become weary; man cannot express it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.


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The thing that hath been is that which shall be, and that which hath been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.


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Is there any thing of which one may say, “Behold, this is new”? It was long ago, in the times which were before us.


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There is no remembrance of former things, and of things that are to come there shall be no remembrance to those who live afterwards.


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And I gave my mind to seek and to search out with wisdom concerning all things which are done under heaven; an evil business, which God hath given to the sons of men, in which to employ themselves.


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I saw all the things which are done under the sun; and, behold, it was all vanity, and striving after wind.


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I communed with my heart, saying, “Behold, I have gained more and greater wisdom than all who have been before me at Jerusalem; yea, my mind hath seen much wisdom and knowledge.”


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And I gave my mind to know wisdom, and to know senselessness and folly; I perceived that this also is striving after wind.


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I said in my heart, “Come, now, I will try thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure!” But, lo! this also was vanity.


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I thought in my heart to strengthen my body with wine, and, while my heart cleaved to wisdom, to lay hold on folly, till I should see what was good for the sons of men, which they should do under heaven all the days of their life.


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I got me men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than all who were in Jerusalem before me.


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I heaped me up also silver and gold, and the wealth of kings and of provinces. I got me men-singers and women-singers, and the delight of the sons of men, a chosen woman and chosen women.


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And whatever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy. For my heart rejoiced by means of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.


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Then I looked upon all the works which my hands had wrought, and upon all the labor which I had toiled in performing; and, behold, it was all vanity, and striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.


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Then I turned myself to behold wisdom and senselessness and folly. For what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.


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The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walketh in darkness; yet I perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.


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Then I said in my heart, “As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth to me. Why, then, became I wiser than others?” Then I said in my heart, “This also is vanity.”


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For there is no remembrance of the wise man more than of the fool for ever; for in the days to come shall all have long been forgotten; and, alas! the wise man dieth, as well as the fool.


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Therefore I hated life, because what is done under the sun appeared evil to me. For all is vanity, and striving after wind.


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Yea, I hated all my labor which I had performed under the sun, because I must leave it to the man that shall be after me.


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And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? Yet shall he be lord of all the labor with which I have wearied myself, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.


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Therefore I turned to give up my heart to despair in regard to all the labor with which I had wearied myself under the sun.


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For there is a man whose labor has been with wisdom and knowledge and skill; yet to a man who hath not labored for it must he leave it as his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.


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For what hath man of all his labor, and the striving of his spirit, with which he wearieth himself under the sun?


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For all his days are grief, and his occupation trouble; even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.


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There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink, and let his soul enjoy good in his labor. But this, as I have seen, cometh from the hand of God.


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For to a man who is good in his sight God giveth wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he giveth the wearisome business of gathering and heaping up, to give it to him who is good before God. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.<pb/>


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A time to cast stones asunder, and a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.


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God maketh every thing good in its time; but he hath put the world into the heart of man, so that he understandeth not the work which God doeth, from the beginning to the end.


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I know that there is nothing better for a man than that he should rejoice and enjoy good his life long.


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But when a man eateth and drinketh, and enjoyeth good through all his labor, this is the gift of God.


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I know that whatever God doeth, that shall be for ever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it; and God doeth it that men may fear before him.


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That which is, was long ago; and that which is to be, hath already been; and God recalleth that which is past.


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Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice there was iniquity; and in the place of righteousness, iniquity.


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Then said I in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked.” For there shall be a time for every matter and for every work.


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I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, that God will prove them, in order that they may see that they are like the beasts.


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For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts: one lot befalleth both. As the one dieth, so dieth the other. Yea, there is one spirit in them, and a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast; for all is vanity.


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Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of a beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?


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And so I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his labors; for that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?<pb/>


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Then I turned and saw all the oppressions which take place under the sun; and, behold, there were the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and from the hand of their oppressors there was violence, and they had no comforter.


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Yea, better than both of them is he who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work which is done under the sun.


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And I saw all labor, and all success in work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.


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There is one who is alone, and no one with him; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end to all his labor, and his eye is not satisfied with riches. “For whom, then [[saith he]], do I labor and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity; yea, it is an evil thing!


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For if they fall, the one will lift his fellow up; but woe to him who is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to help him up!


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And if an enemy prevail against one, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.


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There was no end to all the people before whom he went forth; yet they that come afterwards shall not rejoice in him. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.<pb/>


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Look well to thy feet, when thou goest to the house of God, and draw nigh to hear, rather than to offer sacrifice as fools. For they consider not that they do evil.


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Be not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be swift to utter any thing before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth. Therefore let thy words be few.


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When thou vowest a vow to God, delay not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou hast vowed.


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Suffer not thy mouth to bring punishment on thy flesh, and say not before the angel, “It was a mistake.” Wherefore should God be angry on account of thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?


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For in a multitude of dreams is a multitude of vanities; so also in a multitude of words; but fear thou God!


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If thou seest oppression of the poor, and justice and equity perverted in a province, be not alarmed at the matter. For over the high there is a higher, who watcheth, and there is one higher than they all.


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He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; and he that loveth riches shall have no profit from them. This also is vanity.


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When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage hath the owner thereof, save the beholding of them with his eyes?


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Sweet is the sleep of a laboring man, whether he have eaten little or much; but the repletion of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.


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There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, — riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt.


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As he came forth from his mother's womb naked, so shall he go away again, as he came, and shall take away nothing of his labor which he may carry in his hand.


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This is also a sore evil, that, in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit is there to him who toileth for wind?


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Behold, what I have seen is, that it is good and proper for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor which he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him; for it is his portion.


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To whatever man also God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him to enjoy them, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.


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For he will not much remember the days of his life; for God answereth him with the joy of his heart.<pb/>


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a man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honor, and nothing is wanting to him of all which he desireth, yet God giveth him not to taste thereof; but a stranger enjoyeth it. This is vanity, yea, a grievous evil.


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Though a man have a hundred children, and live many years, and though the days of his years be many, if his soul be not satisfied with good, and he have no burial, I say that an untimely birth is better than he.


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This, indeed, cometh in nothingness, and goeth down into darkness, and its name is covered with darkness;


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For what advantage hath the wise man over the fool? What advantage hath the poor, who knoweth how to walk before the living?


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Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity, and striving after wind.


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That which is was long ago called by name; and it was known that he is a man, and that he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.


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For who knoweth what is good for man in life, in all the days of his vain life, which he spendeth as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?<pb/>


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It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to heart.


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Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. Better is the patient in spirit than the proud in spirit.


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Say not, “What is the cause that the former days were better than these?” For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.


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For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence. But knowledge hath the advantage. For wisdom giveth life to them that have it.


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In the day of prosperity be joyful; but look for a day of adversity! for this also, as well as the other, hath God appointed, to the end that a man should not find out any thing which shall be after him.


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All this have I seen in my days of vanity. There are righteous men who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked men who live long in their wickedness.


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It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this; yea, also, from that withdraw not thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape all those things.


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I applied my mind earnestly to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and intelligence, and to know wickedness and folly, yea, foolishness and madness.


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And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands bands. He that pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.


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That which my soul hath hitherto sought, and I have not found, is this: a man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among a thousand have I not found.


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Who is like the wise man, and who knoweth the explanation of a thing? A man's wisdom brighteneth his countenance, and the harshness of his face is changed.


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Be not in haste to depart from his presence; persist not in an evil thing; for whatever pleaseth him, that he doeth.


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He that keepeth the commandment shall experience no evil; and the heart of the wise man hath regard to time and judgment.


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No man hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no man hath power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in that war; and wickedness shall not deliver those that are guilty of it.


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All this have I seen, and I have given heed to all things that are done under the sun. There is a time when man ruleth over man to his hurt.


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And so I saw the wicked buried, while the righteous came and went from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city. This also is vanity.


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Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore doth the heart of the sons of men become bold within them to do evil.


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But though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and have his days prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him.


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But it shall not be well with the wicked: he shall be like a shadow, and shall not prolong his days, because he feareth not before God.


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There is a vanity which taketh place upon the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked, and that there are wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous. I said, “This also is vanity!”


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Then I commended joy; because nothing is good for a man under the sun, except to eat and to drink and to be joyful; for it is this that abideth with him for his labor during the days of his life which God giveth him under the sun.


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When I applied my mind to know wisdom, and to see the business which is done upon the earth,—that one seeth no sleep with his eyes by day or by night,—


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then I saw the whole work of God, that a man cannot comprehend that which is done under the sun; how much soever he labor to search it out, yet shall he not comprehend it; yea, though a wise man resolve to know it, yet shall he not be able to comprehend it.<pb/>


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For I gave my mind to all this, even to search out all this, that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God, and yet neither his love nor hatred doth any man know. All is before them.


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All [[cometh to them]] as to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sinner; he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.


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This is an evil among all things which take place under the sun, that there is one event to all; therefore also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and afterward they go down to the dead.


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For who is there that is excepted? With all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.


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For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not any thing, and there is no more to them any advantage, for their memory is forgotten.


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Their love also, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they a portion any more for ever in any thing which taketh place under the sun.


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Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a cheerful heart; for long since hath God been pleased with thy works.


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Enjoy life with the wife whom thou lovest, all the days of thy vain life which he hath given thee under the sun, all thy vain days. For this is thy portion in life, and in thy labor with which thou weariest thyself under the sun.


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Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might! For there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the under-world, whither thou goest.


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I turned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of knowledge; but time and chance happen to them all.


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For man knoweth not his time. As fishes that are taken in a destructive net, and as birds that are caught in a snare, so are the sons of men snared in a time of distress, when it falleth suddenly upon them.


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There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.


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Now there was found within it a wise poor man; and he, by his wisdom, delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.


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Then said I, “Wisdom is better than strength;” and yet the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.


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Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer loathsome and corrupt; thus doth a little folly weigh down wisdom and honor.


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Yea, even when the fool walketh in the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.


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If the anger of a ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place! for gentleness pacifieth great offences.


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Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.


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If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put forth more strength; but an advantage for giving success hath wisdom.


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A fool also multiplieth words, though no man knoweth what shall be; and who can tell him what shall be after him?


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Happy thou, O land, when thy king is a noble, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!


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Curse not the king; no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber! for a bird of the air shall carry the voice; and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.<pb/>


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When the clouds are full of rain, they empty upon the earth; and when a tree falleth to the south or the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.


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As thou knowest not the way of the wind, nor how the bones are formed in the womb of her that is with child, so thou canst not know the work of God, who doeth all things.


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In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand! For thou knowest not whether this shall prosper, or that, or whether both of them shall be alike good.


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Yea, though a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him think of the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.


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Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes! but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.


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Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy body! for childhood and youth are vanity.<pb/>


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Remember, also, thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, of which thou shalt say, “I have no pleasure in them;”


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before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars become dark, and the clouds return after the rain;


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at the time when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows are darkened;


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when the doors are shut in the streets, while the sound of the mill is low; when they rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music are brought low;


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when also they are afraid of that which is high, and terrors are in the way, and the almond is despised, and the locust is a burden, and the caper-berry is powerless; since man goeth to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets;—


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before the silver cord be snapped asunder, and the golden bowl be crushed, or the bucket broken at the fountain, or the wheel shattered at the well,


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Moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he considered, and sought out, and set in order, many proverbs.


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The words of the wise are as goads; yea, as nails driven in are the words of members of assemblies, given by one shepherd.


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And, moreover, by these, my son, be warned! To the multiplying of books there is no end, and much study wearieth the flesh.


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Let us hear the end of the whole discourse! Fear God and keep his commandments! For this is the duty of every man.


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For God will bring every work into the judgment which there is upon every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.


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[[M.]] O that he would kiss me with one of the kisses of his mouth! For thy love is better than wine.


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Because of the savor of thy precious perfumes, (Thy name is like fragrant oil poured forth,) Therefore do the virgins love thee.


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Draw me after thee; let us run! The king hath led me to his chambers! We will be glad and rejoice in thee; We will praise thy love more than wine. Justly do they love thee!


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I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.


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Gaze not upon me because I am black, Because the sun hath looked upon me! My mother's sons were angry with me; They made me keeper of the vineyards; My vineyard, my own, have I not kept.


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Tell me, thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest thy flock, Where thou leadest it to rest at noon; For why should I be like a veiled one by the flocks of thy companions?


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[[Lad.]] If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, Trace thou thy way by the tracks of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents!


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[[M.]] As the apple-tree among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the sons. In his shadow I love to sit down, And his fruit is sweet to my taste.


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He hath brought me to his banqueting-house, And his banner over me is love. Strengthen me with raisins,


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[[Lov.]] I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles, and by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till she please!


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[[M.]] The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh, Leaping upon the mountains, Bounding upon the hills.


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Like a gazelle is my beloved, Or a young hind. Behold, he standeth behind our wall; He is looking through the windows; He glanceth through the lattice.


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The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing of birds is come, And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;


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The fig-tree is spicing its green fruit; The vines in blossom give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away!


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O my dove, that art in the recesses of the rock, In the hiding-places of the steep craggy mountain, Let me see thy face, Let me hear thy voice! For sweet is thy voice, And thy face lovely.”


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When the day breathes, and the shadows flee away, Come again, my beloved, like a gazelle, or a young hind, Upon the craggy mountains.<pb/>


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[[M.]] Upon my bed, in the night, I sought him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but found him not.


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I will arise now [[said I]], and go about the city; In the streets and the broad ways will I seek him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but found him not.


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I had but just passed them, When I found him whom my soul loveth; I held him, and would not let him go, Till I had brought him into my mother's house, Into the apartment of her that bore me.


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[[Lov.]] I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem! By the gazelles, and by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till she please.


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Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the powders of the merchant?


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Behold, the carriage of Solomon! Threescore valiant men are around it, Of the valiant men of Israel.


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They all wear swords, Being skilled in war. Every one hath his sword girt upon his thigh, On account of danger in the night.


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The pillars thereof he made of silver, The railing of gold, The seat of purple, Its interior curiously wrought by a lovely one of the daughters of Jerusalem.


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Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion! And behold King Solomon In the crown with which his mother crowned him, In the day of his espousals, In the day of the gladness of his heart.<pb/>


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[[Lov.]] Behold, thou art fair, my love! behold, thou art fair! Thine eyes are doves behind thy veil; Thy locks are like a flock of goats Which lie down on mount Gilead;


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Thy teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep, Which come up from the washing-place, Of which every one beareth twins, And none is barren among them;


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Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, And thy mouth comely; Thy cheeks are like a divided pomegranate behind thy veil;


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Thy neck is like the tower of David, Built for an armory, In which there hang a thousand bucklers, All shields of mighty men;


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When the day breathes, and the shadows flee away, I will betake me to the mountain of myrrh And the hill of frankincense.


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Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, With me from Lebanon! Look from the top of Amana, From the top of Senir and Hermon, From the dens of the lions, From the mountains of the leopards.


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Thou hast taken captive my heart, my sister, my spouse; Thou hast taken captive my heart with one of thine eyes, With one chain of thy neck.


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How sweet is thy love, my sister, my spouse! How much more precious thy caresses than wine, And the fragrance of thy perfumes than all spices!


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Thy lips, O my spouse! drop the honeycomb; Honey and milk are under thy tongue, And the fragrance of thy garments is as the fragrance of Lebanon.


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Spikenard and saffron, Sweet cane and cinnamon, With all trees of frankincense; Myrrh and aloes, With all the chief spices;


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[[M.]] Awake, O north wind, and come, thou south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out! May my beloved come to his garden, And eat his pleasant fruits.<pb/>


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[[Lov.]] I am come to my garden, my sister, my spouse! I gather my myrrh with my balsam, I eat my honeycomb with my honey, I drink my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends! Drink, yea, drink abundantly, my loved companions!


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[[M.]] I slept, but my heart was awake; It was the voice of my beloved, who was knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is filled with dew, And my locks with the drops of the night.”


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“I have taken off my vest [[said I]]; How shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; How shall I soil them?”


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I rose up to open to my beloved, And my hands dropped with myrrh, And my fingers with self-flowing myrrh, upon the handles of the bolt.


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I opened to my beloved; But my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone. I was not in my senses while he spake with me! I sought him, but could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.


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The watchmen that go about the city found me; They smote me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls took away from me my veil.


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I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem! If ye should find my beloved,—What will ye tell him? That I am sick with love.


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[[Lad.]] What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women! What is thy beloved more than another beloved, That thus thou dost charge us?


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His cheeks are like a bed of balsam, Like beds of spices; His lips are lilies Dropping self-flowing myrrh;


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His hands are gold rings set with chrysolite; His body is wrought-work of ivory, overlaid with sapphires;


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His legs are marble pillars, resting on pedestals of fine gold; His aspect is like Lebanon, Majestic like the cedars;


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His mouth is sweetness; His whole being, loveliness. This is my beloved, This my friend, O ye daughters of Jerusalem!<pb/>


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[[Lad.]] Whither is thy beloved gone, thou fairest among women? Whither hath thy beloved betaken himself? That we may seek him with thee.


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[[M.]] My beloved is gone down to his garden, To the beds of balsam, To feed in the gardens, And to gather lilies.


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Turn away thine eyes from me! They overpower me! Thy locks are like a flock of goats, Which lie down upon Gilead.


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Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep, Which come up from the washing-place, Of which every one hath twins, And none is barren among them.


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But my dove, my undefiled, is the one; She is the incomparable one of her mother, The darling of her that bore her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; The queens and concubines, and they praised her.


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[[Lov.]] Who is this that looketh forth like the morning, Fair as the moon, bright as the sun, And terrible as an army with banners?


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[[M.]] I went down into the garden of nuts, To see the green plants of the valley, To see whether the vine blossomed, And the pomegranates budded.


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[[Lad.]] Return, return, O Shulamite! Return, return, that we may look upon thee! [[M.]] Why should ye look upon the Shulamite, As upon a dance of the hosts?<pb/>


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[[Lov.]] How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O prince's daughter! The roundings of thy hips are like neck ornaments, The work of the hands of the artificer;


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Thy navel is like a round goblet, that wanteth not the spiced wine; Thy belly like a heap of wheat, inclosed with lilies;


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Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; Thine eyes are like the pools at Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim; Thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon, which looketh toward Damascus;


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Thy head upon thee is like Carmel, And the hair of thy head like purple; The king is captivated by thy locks.


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I will go up, say I to myself, upon the palm-tree; I will take hold of its boughs, And thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, And the fragrance of thy nose like apples,


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And thy mouth like the best wine— [[M.]] — that goeth down smoothly for my beloved, Flowing over the lips of them that sleep.


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Then will we go early to the vineyards, To see whether the vine putteth forth, Whether its blossom openeth, And the pomegranates bud forth; There will I give thee my love!


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The love-apples give forth fragrance; And at our doors are all kinds of precious fruits, new and old: I have kept them for thee, my beloved!<pb/>


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O that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breast of my mother! When I found thee abroad, I might kiss thee; And for it no one would deride me.


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I will lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, that thou mayst teach me; I will give thee spiced wine to drink, and the juice of my pomegranates.


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[[Lov.]] I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem! That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, Till she please!


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[[Lad.]] Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? [[M.]] Under the apple-tree I awakened thee; There thy mother brought thee forth; There she that bore thee brought thee forth!


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O set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm! For love is strong as death; True love is firm as the grave: Its flames are flames of fire, The fire of Jehovah.


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Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can floods drown it. Would a man give all the wealth of his house for love, It would be utterly contemned.


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[[Br.]] We have a sister who is yet young; She is yet without breasts. What shall we do with our sister, When she shall be spoken for?


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If she be a wall, We will build upon it a silver tower; If she be an open gate, We will inclose her with planks of cedar.


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[[Sis.]] I am a wall, and my breasts like towers; Therefore am I become in his eyes as one that findeth peace.


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Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He let out the vineyard to keepers; Every one was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.


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My vineyard is before my eyes. Be thine the thousand, O Solomon! And two hundred to the keepers of its fruit!


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The visions of Isaiah, the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.


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Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For Jehovah speaketh: “I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against me.


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The ox knoweth his owner, And the ass his master's crib; But Israel doth not know; My people do not consider.”


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Ah, sinful nation! a people laden with iniquity! A race of evil-doers! degenerate children! They have forsaken Jehovah; they have despised the Holy One of Israel; They have gone backward.


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Where can ye be smitten again, Since ye renew your rebellion? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;


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From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it; It is all bruises, and stripes, and flesh wounds, Neither pressed, nor bound up, nor softened with ointment.


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Your country is desolate; Your cities are burnt with fire; Your ground, strangers devour it before your eyes; It is become desolate, destroyed by an enemy.


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And the daughter of Zion is left as a shed in a vineyard, As a hut in a garden of cucumbers, As a besieged city.


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Had not Jehovah of hosts left us a small remnant, We had soon become as Sodom; We had been like to Gomorrah.


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Hear ye the word of Jehovah, ye princes of Sodom! Give ear to the instruction of our God, ye people of Gomorrah!


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What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah; I am satiated with burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; In the blood of bullocks and of lambs and of goats I have no delight.


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Bring no more false oblations! Incense is an abomination to me, The new moon also, and the sabbath, and the calling of the assembly; Iniquity and festivals I cannot endure.


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When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; Yea, when ye multiply prayers, I will not hear: Your hands are full of blood!


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Cease to do evil; Learn to do well; Seek justice; relieve the oppressed; Defend the fatherless; plead for the widow!


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Come, now, and let us argue together, saith Jehovah. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red as crimson, they shall be like wool.


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But if ye refuse, and be rebellious, The sword shall consume you; For the mouth of Jehovah hath said it.


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How is the faithful city become a harlot, She that was full of equity! Once justice dwelt in her, but now murderers!


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Thy princes are faithless, companions of thieves; Every one of them loveth gifts, and seeketh rewards; They render not justice to the fatherless, And the cause of the widow cometh not before them.


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Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ha! I will ease me of mine adversaries, And avenge me of mine enemies.


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And I will again turn my hand toward thee, And wholly purge away thy dross, And take away all thy alloy.


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And I will restore thee judges, as at the first, And counsellors, as at the beginning. Then shalt thou be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.


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But destruction shall fall at once on the rebels and sinners; Yea, they that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed.


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For ye shall be ashamed of the terebinths in which ye delighted; Ye shall blush for the gardens which ye loved;


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And ye shall be as a terebinth-tree whose leaves are withered, And as a garden in which is no water.


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The strong shall become tow, And his work a spark of fire; Both shall burn together, And none shall quench them.<pb/>


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It shall come to pass in the last days, That the mountain of the house of Jehovah shall be established at the head of the mountains, And exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow unto it.


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And many kingdoms shall go, and shall say, “Come, let us go to the mountain of Jehovah, To the house of the God of Jacob, That he may teach us his ways, And that we may walk in his paths!” For from Zion shall go forth a law, And the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.


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He shall be a judge of the nations, And an umpire of many kingdoms; And they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, And their spears into pruning-hooks; Nation shall not lift up the sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war any more.


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For thou hast forsaken thy people, the house of Jacob, Because they are full of the East, And are sorcerers, like the Philistines, And strike hands with a foreign race!


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Their land is full of silver and gold, And there is no end to their treasures; Their land is full of horses, And there is no end to their chariots;


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Their land is full of idols; They bow down to the work of their own hands, To that which their own fingers have made.


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Therefore shall the mean man be bowed down, And the great man be brought low; And thou wilt not forgive them!


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Go into the rock, hide yourselves in the dust, From the terror of Jehovah, and the glory of his majesty!


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The proud looks of man shall be humbled, And the loftiness of mortals shall be brought low; Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.


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For Jehovah of hosts holdeth a day of judgment Against all that is proud and lofty; Against all that is exalted, and it shall be brought low;


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The pride of man shall be humbled; The loftiness of mortals shall be brought low; Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.


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And men shall go into clefts of the rocks, and caves of the earth, From the terror of Jehovah, and the glory of his majesty, When he ariseth to make the earth tremble.


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At that time shall men cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, Which they have made to worship, To the moles and the bats;


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Fleeing into caves of the rocks, and clefts of the craggy rocks, From the terror of Jehovah, and the glory of his majesty, When he ariseth to make the earth tremble.


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Trust, then, no more in man, Whose breath is in his nostrils! For what account is to be made of him!<pb/>


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For behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, Taketh away from Jerusalem and from Judah every stay and support; The whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water;


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The captain of fifty, and the honorable man, The counsellor, the expert in arts, and the skilful in charms.


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And the people shall oppress one another, Man striving against man, and neighbor against neighbor; The boy shall behave himself insolently toward the aged, And the base toward the honorable.


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Then shall a man take hold of his brother in his father's house, [[and say,]] Thou hast yet clothing, Be thou our ruler, And take this ruin into thy hands!


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But in that day shall he lift up his hand, and say: I am no healer; In my house is neither bread nor raiment; Make not me ruler of the people!


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For Jerusalem tottereth, and Judah falleth, Because their tongues and their deeds are against Jehovah, To provoke his holy eyes.


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Their very countenance witnesseth against them; They publish their sin like Sodom; they hide it not; Woe to them, for they bring evil upon themselves!


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As for my people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O my people, thy leaders cause thee to err, And destroy the way in which thou walkest!


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Jehovah entereth into judgment with the elders of his people, and their princes: “So then ye have consumed the vineyard; The plunder of the poor is in your houses!


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What mean ye, that ye crush my people, And grind the faces of the poor?” Saith Jehovah, the Lord of hosts.


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Thus, also, saith Jehovah: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, And walk with outstretched necks, And glance their eyes wantonly, Mincing their steps as they go, And tinkling with their foot-clasps,


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In that day shall the Lord take from them The ornaments of the foot-clasps, and the net-works, and the crescents;


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And instead of perfume there shall be corruption; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of curled locks, baldness; Instead of a wide mantle, a covering of sackcloth; Fire-scars instead of beauty.


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In that day shall seven women lay hold of one man saying: We will eat our own bread, And wear our own garments, Only let us be called by thy name, And take away our reproach!


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In that day shall the increase of Jehovah be glorious and honorable, And the fruit of the land excellent and beautiful, For them that have escaped of Israel.


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All that remain in Zion, And all that are left in Jerusalem, Shall be called holy; Every one that is written down for life in Jerusalem.


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When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, And have removed the blood of Jerusalem from the midst of her, By a spirit of judgment and a spirit of destruction,


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Then shall Jehovah create upon the whole extent of mount Zion, and upon her places of assembly, A cloud and smoke by day, And the brightness of a flaming fire by night; Yea, for all that is glorious there shall be a shelter;


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There shall be a tent by day for a shadow from the heat, And for a refuge and shelter from the storm and rain.<pb/>


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Let me sing now a song respecting my friend, A song respecting my friend touching his vineyard. My friend had a vineyard On a very fruitful hill;


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He digged it, and cleared it of stones, And planted it with the choicest vine, And built a tower in the midst of it, And hewed out a wine-press therein; Then he looked that it should bring forth its grapes, But it brought forth sour grapes.


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What could have been done for my vineyard That I have not done for it? Why, then, when I looked that it should bring forth its grapes, Brought it forth sour grapes?


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But come now, and I will tell you What I mean to do with my vineyard. I will take away its hedge, and it shall be eaten up; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trodden down!


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And I will make it a waste; It shall not be pruned, nor digged, But shall grow up into thorns and briers; I will also command the clouds That they shed no rain upon it.


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The vineyard of Jehovah of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah the plant of his delight. He looked for justice, and behold, bloodshed! For righteousness, and behold, outcry!


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Woe to them that join house to house, That add field to field, Till there is no place left, And they dwell alone in the land.


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To mine ear hath Jehovah of hosts revealed it: Surely many houses shall become a desolation, The great and the fair ones, without an inhabitant.


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Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield a single bath of wine, And a homer of seed shall produce but an ephah.


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Woe to them that rise early in the morning to follow strong drink,—Who sit late in the night that wine may inflame them!


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And the lyre and the harp, the tabret and the pipe, and wine, are at their feasts, But they regard not the work of Jehovah, Nor attend to the operation of his hands.


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Therefore shall my people be led captive, when they think not of it; Their honorable men shall be famished with hunger, And their rich men parched with thirst.


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Therefore doth the under-world enlarge its greedy throat, And stretch open its mouth without measure, And down go her nobility and her wealth, Her busy throng, and all that was joyful within her.


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The mean man shall be bowed down, And the great man shall be brought low, And the eyes of the haughty shall be humbled;


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Jehovah of hosts shall be exalted through judgment; Yea, God, the Holy One, shall be sanctified through righteousness.


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Then shall the lambs feed, as in their own pasture, And the deserted fields of the rich shall strangers consume.


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Who say, Let him make speed, let him hasten his work that we may see it! Let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near and be fulfilled, that we may know it!


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Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil, That put darkness for light, and light for darkness, That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!


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Therefore, as fire devours stubble, And as the withered grass sinks into the flame, So their root shall become rottenness, And their blossom shall fly up like dust. For they have despised the law of Jehovah of hosts, And contemned the word of the Holy One of Israel.


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Therefore is the anger of Jehovah kindled against his people; He stretcheth forth his hand against them, and smiteth them, so that the mountains tremble, And their carcasses are as dung in the midst of the streets; For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still.


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He lifteth up a banner for the nations afar off, He whistleth for them from the ends of the earth, And behold, they haste, and come swiftly.


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None among them is weary, and none stumbleth; None slumbereth nor sleepeth; The girdle of their loins is not loosed, Nor the latchet of their shoes broken.


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Their arrows are sharp, And all their bows bent; The hoofs of their horses are like flint, And their wheels like a whirlwind.


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Their roaring is like the roaring of the lion; They roar like young lions; They roar, and seize the prey; They bear it away, and none can rescue it.


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Yea, in that day shall they roar against them like the roaring of the sea; And if one look to the land, behold darkness and sorrow, And the light is darkened by its clouds.<pb/>


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In the year in which King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple.


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Around him stood seraphs; each one of them had six wings; with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he did fly.


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And one called to another, and said: Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of hosts; The whole earth is full of his glory.


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And the foundations of the thresholds were shaken with the voice of their cry. And the temple was filled with smoke.


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Then I said, Alas for me! I am undone! For I am a man of unclean lips, and dwell among a people of unclean lips, and mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts.


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Then flew one of the seraphs to me, having in his hands a glowing stone, which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.


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And he touched my mouth, and said, Behold, this toucheth thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin is expiated.


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And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said: Behold, here am I; send me!


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And he said: Go, and say thou to this people, Hear ye, indeed, but understand not; See ye, indeed, but perceive not!


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Make the heart of this people gross; Make their ears dull, and blind their eyes; That they may not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, Nor perceive with their hearts, and turn, and be healed.


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Then said I, How long, Lord? He said: Until the cities be laid waste, so that there be no inhabitant, And the houses, so that there be no man, And the land be left utterly desolate;


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And though there be a tenth part remaining in it, Even this shall again be destroyed; Yet as when the terebinth and the oak are cut down, Their stem remaineth alive, So shall a holy race be the stem of the nation.<pb/>


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In the time of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up against Jerusalem to besiege it; but he could not prevail against it.


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And when it was told the house of David, that the Syrians had encamped in Ephraim, his heart was moved, and the hearts of his people, as the trees of the forest are moved with the wind.


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Then said Jehovah to Isaiah, Go forth to meet Ahaz, thou and Shear-Jashub thy son, at the end of the aqueduct of the upper pool, in the way to the fuller's field;


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and say to him: Take heed, and be quiet! Fear not, neither let thy heart he faint On account of the two tails of these smoking firebrands, On account of the fierce wrath of Rezin with the Syrians, and of the son of Remaliah,


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“Let us go up against Judah, and besiege the city, And take it, And set a king in the midst of it, Even the son of Tabeal.”


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But the head of Syria shall still be Damascus, And the head of Damascus, Rezin; [[And within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that he be no more a people.]]


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And the head of Ephraim shall still be Samaria, And the head of Samaria, the son of Remaliah. If ye will not believe, neither shall ye thrive.”


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Then he said, Hear ye now, O house of David! Is it too small a thing for you to weary men, That ye should weary my God also?


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Therefore shall Jehovah himself give you a sign: Behold, the damsel shall conceive, and bear a son, And she shall call his name Immanuel.


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For before this child shall have learned to refuse the evil and choose the good, The land shall become desolate, On account of whose two kings thou art in terror.


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Yet Jehovah shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, Days such as have not been Since Ephraim revolted from Judah. [[Even the king of Assyria.]]


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And it shall come to pass in that day That Jehovah shall whistle for the fly that is at the end of the streams of Egypt, And the bee that is in the land of Assyria,


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And they shall come, and light all of them In the desolate valleys, and fissures of the rocks, And upon all hedges, and upon all pastures.


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In that day shall Jehovah shave, with a razor hired beyond the river, [[with the king of Assyria,]] The head, and the hair of the feet; Yea, even the beard shall he take away.


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And for the abundance of milk which they produce, shall he eat cheese; For milk and honey shall all eat Who are left in the land,


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And it shall come to pass in that day, That every place where stood a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekels of silver, Shall be covered with briers and thorns.


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All the hills that were digged with the mattock Shall no one approach through fear of briers and thorns; They shall be for the pasturage of oxen, And the trampling of sheep.<pb/>


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And Jehovah said to me, Take thee a great tablet, and with a man's writing-instrument write on it, Hasteth-the-prey, Speedeth-the-spoil.


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I went in to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then said Jehovah to me, Call his name, Hasteth-the-prey, Speedeth-the-spoil.


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For before the child shall learn to say, My father, and My mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be borne away before the king of Assyria.


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Because this people despiseth The soft-flowing waters of Siloah, And rejoiceth in Rezin, and the son of Remaliah,


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Therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth upon them the strong and mighty waters of the river; [[The king of Assyria and all his glory.]] He shall rise above all his channels, And go over all his banks.


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And he shall pass through Judah, overflowing and spreading; Even to the neck shall he reach, And his stretched-out wings shall fill the whole breadth of thy land, O Immanuel!


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Rage, ye nations, and despair! Give ear, all ye distant parts of the earth! Gird yourselves, and despair! Gird yourselves, and despair!


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Form your plan, and it shall come to naught; Give the command, and it shall not stand; For God is with us.


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For thus spake Jehovah to me with a strong hand, Instructing me not to walk in the way of this people:


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Call not everything a confederacy which this people calleth a confederacy; Fear ye not what they fear, Neither be afraid!


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And he shall be to you a sanctuary; But a stone of stumbling, and a rock to strike against, To the two houses of Israel, A trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


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And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall, and be broken; They shall be ensnared and taken.


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I will, therefore, wait for Jehovah, Who now hideth his face from the house of Jacob; Yet will I look for him.


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Behold, I, and the children which Jehovah hath given me, Are signs and tokens in Israel From Jehovah of hosts, who dwelleth upon mount Zion.


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And when they shall say to you, “Inquire of the necromancers and the wizards, That chirp, and that murmur,” [[Then say ye,]] “Should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead for the living?”


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To the word, to the revelation! If they speak not according to this, For them no bright morning shall arise.


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They shall pass through the land distressed and famished; And when they are famished, they shall be enraged, and curse their king and their God, And look upward.


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And if they look to the earth, Behold distress and darkness, fearful darkness! And into darkness shall they be driven.<pb/>


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But the darkness shall not remain where now is distress; Of old he brought the land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali into contempt; In future times shall he bring the land of the sea beyond Jordan, the circle of the gentiles, into honor.


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The people that walk in darkness behold a great light; They who dwell in the land of death-like shade, Upon them a light shineth.


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Thou enlargest the nation; Thou increasest their joy; They rejoice before thee with the joy of harvest, With the joy of those who divide the spoil.


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For thou breakest their heavy yoke, And the rod that smote their backs, And the scourge of the taskmaster, As in the day of Midian.


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For every greave of the warrior in battle, And the war-garment rolled in blood, Shall be burned; yea, it shall be food for the fire.


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For to us a child is born, To us a son is given, And the government shall be upon his shoulder, And he shall be called Wonderful, counsellor, mighty potentate, Everlasting father, prince of peace;


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His dominion shall be great, And peace without end shall be upon the throne of David and his kingdom, To fix and establish it Through justice and equity, Henceforth and forever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will do this.


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His whole people shall feel it, Ephraim, and the inhabitants of Samaria, Who say in pride and arrogance of heart,


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“The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; The sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”


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The Syrians before, the Philistines behind, Who shall devour Israel with wide jaws. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still.


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Therefore shall Jehovah cut off from Israel the head and the tail, The palm-branch and the rush, in one day.


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Therefore shall the Lord have no joy in their young men, And on their orphans and widows he shall have no compassion; For they are all profane, and evil-doers; Every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still.


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For wickedness burneth like a fire, It consumeth the briers and thorns, And it kindleth the thicket of the forest, So that it goeth up in columns of smoke.


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Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burned, And the people are food for the fire; No one spareth another.


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They consume on the right hand, and yet are hungry; They devour on the left, and are not satisfied; Every one devoureth the flesh of his arm.


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Manasseh is against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasseh, And both together against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still.<pb/>


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To turn away the needy from judgment, And rob the poor of my people of their right; That the widows may become their prey, And that they may plunder the orphans.


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What will ye do in the day of visitation, And in the desolation which cometh from afar? To whom will ye flee for help, And where will ye leave your glory?


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Forsaken by me, they shall sink down among the prisoners, And fall among the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still.


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Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, The staff in whose hands is the instrument of my indignation!


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Against an impious nation I will send him, And against a people under my wrath I will give him a charge To gather the spoil, and seize the prey, And to trample them under foot like the mire of the streets.


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But he doth not so purpose, And his heart doth not so intend; But to destroy is in his heart, And to cut off a multitude of nations.


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As my hand hath seized the kingdoms of the idols, Whose graven images were more numerous than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,


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But when the Lord hath accomplished his whole work upon Mount Zion and Jerusalem, Then will he punish the fruit of the proud heart of the king of Assyria, And the arrogance of his lofty eyes.


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For he hath said: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, And by my wisdom; for I am wise; I have removed the bounds of nations, I have plundered their treasures; As a hero have I brought down them that sat upon thrones.


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The riches of the nations hath my hand seized, as a nest; As one gathereth eggs that have been left, So have I gathered the whole world. And there was none that moved the wing, Or that opened the beak, or that chirped.”


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Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth with it? Or shall the saw magnify itself against him that moveth it? As if the rod should wield him that lifteth it! As if the staff should lift up him that is not wood!


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Wherefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall send upon his fat ones leanness, And under his glory shall he kindle a burning, like the burning of a fire.


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The light of Israel shall be a fire, And his Holy One a flame, Which shall burn and devour his thorns and briers in one day.


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The glory of his forest and of his fruitful field From the spirit even to the flesh shall he consume; It shall be with them as when a sick man fainteth.


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In that day shall the remnant of Israel, and they that have escaped of the house of Jacob, no more lean upon him that smote them; They shall lean upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.


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For though thy people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, Only a remnant of them shall return. The devastation is decreed; It shall overflow with righteousness.


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For devastation and punishment doth the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, execute in the midst of the whole land,


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Yet thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts: Fear not, O my people, that dwellest in Zion, because of the Assyrian! With his rod indeed shall he smite thee, And lift up his staff against thee in the manner of Egypt;


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Jehovah of hosts shall raise up against him a scourge, As he smote Midian at the rock of Horeb, And as he lifted up the rod against the sea; Yea, he shall lift it up, as in Egypt.


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In that day shall his burden be removed from thy shoulder, And his yoke from thy neck; Yea, thy yoke shall be broken, as that of a fat steer.


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They pass the strait; At Geba they make their night-quarters; Ramah trembleth; Gibeah of Saul fleeth.


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Yet one day shall he rest at Nob, Then shall he shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, The hill of Jerusalem.


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But behold! the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, shall lop the branches with fearful force, And the high of stature shall be cut down, And the lofty shall be brought low.


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The spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of the knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah,


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He shall take delight in the fear of Jehovah; He shall not judge by the sight of his eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of his ears.


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But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, And decide with equity for the afflicted of the land; He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; With the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.


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Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, And the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf, and the young lion, and the fatling shall be together, And a little child shall lead them.


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The cow and the bear shall feed together, Together shall their young lie down, And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.


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The suckling shall play upon the hole of the asp, And the near-weaned child lay his hand on the hiding-place of the basilisk.


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They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; For the land shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, As the waters cover the depths of the sea.


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In that day shall the shoot of Jesse stand as a banner to the nations, And to him shall the gentiles repair, And his dwelling-place shall be glorious.


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In that day shall Jehovah the second time stretch forth his hand To recover the remnant of his people, That remaineth, from Assyria, and from Egypt, And from Pathros, and from Ethiopia, and from Elam, And from Shinar, and from Hamath, And from the islands of the sea.


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He shall set up a banner to the nations, And gather the outcasts of Israel, And bring together the dispersed of Judah, From the four extremities of the earth.


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Then shall the jealousy of Ephraim depart, And the enmity in Judah be at an end; Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, And Judah shall not contend with Ephraim.


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But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines at the sea; Together shall they plunder the children of the East; On Edom and Moab shall they lay their hand, And the sons of Ammon shall be subject to them.


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Then will Jehovah utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea, And shake his hand over the river with a mighty wind, And smite it into seven streams, So that men may go over it dry-shod.


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And it shall be a highway for the remnant of the people, Which shall remain, from Assyria, As there was to Israel, When he came up from the land of Egypt.<pb/>


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In that day shalt thou say, “I will praise thee, O Jehovah, for, though thou hast been angry with me, Thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me.


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Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; For Jehovah is my glory, and my song; It is he who was my salvation.”


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And in that day ye shall say, “Give thanks to Jehovah; call upon his name; Make known his deeds among the people; Give praises, for his name is exalted!


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Cry aloud, shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee!”<pb/>


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Upon the bare mountain lift up a banner; Cry aloud to them, wave the hand, That they may enter the gates of the tyrants!


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I have given orders to my consecrated ones, Yea, I have called upon my mighty ones to execute mine anger, My proud exulters!


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The noise of a multitude upon the mountains, like that of a great people! The tumultuous noise of kingdoms, of nations gathered together! Jehovah of hosts mustereth his army for battle.


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They come from a distant country, From the end of Heaven, Jehovah and the instruments of his indignation. To lay waste the whole land.


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They shall be in consternation; Distress and anguish shall lay hold of them; As a woman in travail shall they writhe; They shall look upon one another with amazement: Their faces shall glow like flames.


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Behold! the day of Jehovah cometh, Terrible, full of wrath and burning indignation, To make the land a waste, And to destroy the sinners out of it.


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For the stars of heaven, and the constellations thereof, Shall not give their light; The sun shall be darkened at his going forth, And the moon shall withhold her light.


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For I will punish the world for its guilt, And the wicked for their iniquity. I will put an end to the arrogance of the proud, And I will bring down the haughtiness of the tyrants.


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Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, And the earth shall be shaken out of her place, In the anger of Jehovah of hosts, In the day of his burning indignation.


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Then shall they be like a chased doe; Like a flock, which no one gathereth together; Every one shall turn to his own people, And every one flee to his own land.


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Every one that is overtaken shall be thrust through, And every one that is caught shall fall by the sword.


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Their children shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; Their houses shall be plundered, and their wives ravished.


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Behold, I stir up against them the Medes, Who make no account of silver, And as to gold, they do not regard it.


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Their bows shall strike down the young men, And on the fruit of the womb they shall have no compassion; Their eye shall not pity the children.


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So shall Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The proud ornament of the Chaldeans, Be like Sodom and Gomorrah, which God overthrew,


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It shall never more be inhabited; Nor shall it be dwelt in through all generations. Nor shall the Arabian pitch his tent there, Nor shall shepherds make their folds there.


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But there shall the wild beasts of the desert lodge, And owls shall fill their houses; And ostriches shall dwell there, And satyrs shall dance there.


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Wolves shall howl in their palaces, And jackals in their pleasant edifices. Her time is near, And her days shall not be prolonged.<pb/>


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For Jehovah will have compassion upon Jacob, And will again set his love upon Israel, And cause them to rest in his own land. And strangers shall join themselves to them, And cleave to the house of Jacob.


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The nations shall take them and bring them to their own place; And the house of Israel shall possess them, in the land of Jehovah, As servants and as handmaids; They shall take captive their captors, And they shall rule over their oppressors.


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So when Jehovah shall have given thee rest From thy sorrow and thy distress, And from the hard bondage Which was laid upon thee,


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Then shall thou utter this song over the king of Babylon, and say, “How hath the tyrant fallen, The oppression ceased!


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That smote the people in anger, With a continual stroke, That lorded it over the nations in wrath With unremitted oppression.


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Even the cypress-trees exult over thee, And the cedars of Lebanon: 'Since thou art fallen, No feller cometh up against us.'


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The under-world is in commotion on account of thee, To meet thee at thy coming; It stirreth up before thee the shades, all the mighty of the earth; It arouseth from their thrones all the kings of the nations;


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Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, And the sound of thy harps. Vermin have become thy couch, And worms thy covering.


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How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cast down to the ground, Thou that didst trample upon the nations!


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Thou saidst in thy heart, 'I will ascend to heaven, Above the stars of God will I exalt my throne; I will sit upon the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north.


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They that see thee gaze upon thee, and view thee attentively, (and say,) 'Is this the man that made the earth tremble, That shook kingdoms,


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That made the world a wilderness, And laid waste its cities, And sent not his captives to their homes?'


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But thou art cast forth without a grave, Like a worthless branch; Covered with the slain, who are pierced by the sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit, Like a carcass trampled under foot.


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Thou shalt not be joined with them in the grave, Because thou hast destroyed thy country, And slain thy people; The race of evil-doers shall nevermore be named.


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Prepare ye slaughter for his children, For the iniquity of their fathers, That they may no more arise, and possess the earth, And fill the world with enemies!”


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For I will arise against them, saith Jehovah of hosts, And I will cut off from Babylon the name and remnant, Posterity and offspring, saith Jehovah.


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I will make her the possession of the porcupine, and pools of water; Yea, I will sweep her away with the besom of destruction, saith Jehovah of hosts.


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Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely, as I have devised, so shall it come to pass, The purpose which I have formed, that shall stand,


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To crush the Assyrian in my land, And to trample him on my mountains. Then shall his yoke depart from them, And his burden be removed from their shoulders.


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This is the purpose which is formed concerning all the earth, And this the hand which is stretched out over all the nations.


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For Jehovah of hosts hath decreed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?


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Rejoice not, all Philistia, Because the rod that smote thee is broken, For from the root of a serpent shall come forth a basilisk, And his fruit shall be a flying, fiery serpent.


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Then shall the most wretched of the poor feed quietly, And the needy shall lie down in security; For I will kill thy root with famine, And thy remnant shall be slain.


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Howl, O gate! cry aloud, O city! O Philistia, thou meltest away in terror! For from the north cometh a smoke, And there is no straggler in their hosts.


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What answer shall be given to the messengers of the nations? That Jehovah hath founded Zion, And in her shall the poor of his people find refuge.<pb/>


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The prophecy concerning Moab. Yea! in the night of assault was Ar of Moab a ruin! In the night of assault was Kir of Moab a ruin!


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They go up to the temple, and to Dibon, to weep upon the high places; Upon Nebo and upon Medeba doth Moab howl; On every head is baldness, And every beard is shorn.


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In their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth; On the tops of their houses and in their public walks every one howleth, And melteth away with weeping.


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Heshbon and Elealah utter a cry; Even to Jahaz is their voice heard; Therefore the warriors of Moab shriek aloud; Their hearts tremble within them.


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My heart crieth out for Moab, Whose fugitives wander to Zoar, to Eglath-shelishijah; For they ascend the heights of Luhith weeping, And in the way of Horonaim they raise the cry of destruction.


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For the waters of Nimrim are desolate; The grass is withered; the tender plant faileth; There is no green thing left.


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For the cry encompasseth the borders of Moab; Even to Eglaim reacheth her wailing, To Beer-Elim her howling.


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For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; For I bring new evils upon Dimon; Upon him that escapeth of Moab will I send a lion, Even upon him that remaineth in the land.<pb/>


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Send ye the lambs to the ruler of the land, From Selah through the wilderness To the mount of the daughter of Zion!


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For as a wandering bird, As a forthdriven nest, So shall be the daughters of Moab At the fords of Arnon; [[saying,]]


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“Offer counsel; give decision, Make thy shadow at noonday like the darkness of night. Hide the outcasts; Betray not the fugitives.


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Let my outcasts dwell with thee, [[O Zion!]] Be thou to them a covert from the spoiler! For the extortion is at an end, The spoiling ceaseth. The oppressors are consumed from the land.


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Then shall your throne be established through mercy, And upon it shall sit in the house of David A judge searching for justice, and prompt in equity.”


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“We have beard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud; His haughtiness, and his pride, and his insolence, His vain boastings.”


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Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab; Every one shall howl; For the ruins of Kir-hares shall ye mourn, In deep affliction.


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For the fields of Heshbon languish, The lords of the nations break down the choicest shoots of the vine of Sibmah, They reached even to Jazer; they wandered into the desert; Her branches were spread out; they crossed the sea.


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Therefore I will weep, like Jazer, for the vine of Sibmah; I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealah, For upon thy summer fruits, and thy harvest, the war-shout is fallen.


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Gladness and joy are driven from the fruitful field, And in the vineyards is no singing nor shouting; The treaders tread out no wine in their vats; I have made the vintage-shouting to cease.


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And it shall come to pass that though Moab present himself, Though he weary himself upon his high places, And go up to his sanctuary to pray, Yet shall he not prevail.


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But now saith Jehovah: Within three years, like the years of a hireling, The glory of Moab shall be put to shame, With all his great multitude; And the remnant shall be very small, and without strength.<pb/>


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The prophecy concerning Damascus. Behold, Damascus shall be no more a city; It shall become a heap of ruins.


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The cities of Aroer shall be forsaken; They shall be pastures for flocks, Which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.


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The fortress shall cease from Ephraim, And the kingdom from Damascus, and the rest of Syria; It shall be with them as with the glory of the children of Israel, Saith Jehovah of hosts.


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And it shall be as when the harvest-man gathereth the corn, And reapeth the ears with his arm; Yea, as when one gleaneth ears in the valley of Rephaim.


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There shall be left in it only a gleaning, as in the olive-harvest, Two or three berries on the top of the highest bough, Four or five on the fruitful branches, Saith Jehovah, the God of Israel.


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In that day shall a man have regard to his Maker, And his eyes shall look to the Holy One of Israel.


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He shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, Nor have respect to that which his fingers have made, The images of Astarte and the Sun-pillars.


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In that day shall his fortified cities be like ruins in the forests, or on the mountain tops, Which the enemy left, in flight from the children of Israel; And the land shall be a desolation.


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For thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, And hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength; Therefore though thou plant beautiful plants, And set shoots from a foreign soil,


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When thou hast planted them, though thou hedge them in, And in the morning bring thy plants to the blossom, Yet shall the harvest flee away, In the day of pain and desperate sorrow.


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Alas! a tumult of many nations! They rage with the raging of the sea. Alas! a roaring of kingdoms! They roar with the roaring of mighty waters.


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Like the roaring of mighty waters do the nations roar; He rebuketh them, and they flee away, Driven like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, Like stubble before the whirlwind.


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At the time of evening, behold, terror! Before morning, behold, they are no more! This is the portion of them that spoil us, And the lot of them that plunder us.<pb/>


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That sendest thy messengers upon the sea, In reed-boats upon the face of the waters: Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation tall and fair, To a people terrible from the first and onward, To a mighty, victorious people, Whose land is divided by rivers!


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All ye inhabitants of the world, ye that dwell on the earth, When the standard is lifted up on the mountains, behold! When the trumpet is sounded, hear!


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For thus hath Jehovah said to me: “I will sit still, and look on from my dwelling-place, Like a serene heat when the sun shineth, Like a dewy cloud in the heat of harvest.”


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But before the vintage, when the bud is gone, And the blossom is ripening into a swelling grape, He shall cut off the shoots with pruning-hooks, And the branches he shall take away and cut down.


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They shall be left together to the ravenous birds of the mountains, And to the wild beasts of the earth. The ravenous birds shall summer upon it, And every wild beast of the earth shall winter upon it.


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At that time shall gifts be brought to Jehovah of hosts From a nation tall and fair, From a people terrible from the first and onward, A mighty, victorious people, Whose land is divided by rivers, To the dwelling-place of Jehovah of hosts, to mount Zion.<pb/>


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The prophecy concerning Egypt. Behold, Jehovah rideth upon a swift cloud, And cometh to Egypt; The gods of Egypt tremble at his presence, And the heart of Egypt melteth within her.


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“I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians; Brother shall fight against brother, And neighbor against neighbor; City against city, And kingdom against kingdom.


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The spirit of Egypt shall fail within her, And her devices I will bring to naught. Then shall they consult the idols, and the sorcerers, And the necromancers, and the wizards.


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But I will give up the Egyptians to the hands of a cruel lord, And a fierce king shall rule over them,” Saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.


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The streams shall become putrid; The canals of Egypt shall be emptied and dried up; The reed and the rush shall wither.


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The meadows by the river, by the borders of the river, And all that groweth by the river, Shall wither, be blasted, and be no more.


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Then shall the fishermen mourn; All they that cast the hook into the river shall lament, And they that spread nets upon the face of the waters shall languish.


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Surely the princes of Zoan are fools; The wise counsellors of Pharaoh have been stupid in their counsels. How, then, can ye say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, The son of ancient kings”?


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Where are they now, thy wise men? Let them tell thee now, so that men may know it, What Jehovah of hosts hath determined concerning Egypt!


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The princes of Zoan are become fools; The princes of Noph are deceived, Even the chiefs of her tribes have caused Egypt to err.


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Jehovah hath mingled within her a spirit of perverseness, And they have caused Egypt to err in all her works, As a drunkard staggereth in his vomit.


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There shall be nothing which can be done by Egypt, By the head, or the tail, the palm-branch, or the rush.


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In that day shall the Egyptians be like women; They shall tremble and fear On account of the shaking of the hand of Jehovah of hosts, Which he shall shake against them.


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The land of Judah shall be a terror to Egypt; Every one to whom it is mentioned shall tremble On account of the purpose of Jehovah of hosts, Which he hath determined against them.


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In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt Speaking the language of Canaan, And swearing by Jehovah of hosts; One of them shall be called the City of the Sun.


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In that day there shall be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, And in the border of it a pillar to Jehovah,


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Which shall be a sign and a witness For Jehovah of hosts in the land of Egypt, That they cried to Jehovah on account of their oppressors, And he sent them a saviour, and a defender, who delivered them.


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Thus shall Jehovah be made known to Egypt, And the Egyptians shall know Jehovah in that day, And shall offer him sacrifices and oblations; They shall make vows to Jehovah, and perform them.


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Thus Jehovah will smite Egypt; he will smite and heal her; They shall return to Jehovah; Therefore will he hear and heal them.


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In that day shall there he a highway from Egypt to Assyria, And the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, And the Egyptian into Assyria, And the Egyptians shall worship with the Assyrians.


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In that day shall Israel be the third In connection with Egypt and Assyria, A blessing in the midst of the earth.


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Jehovah of hosts shall bless them, and say, Blessed be Egypt, my people, And Assyria, the work of my hands, And Israel, my inheritance!<pb/>


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In the year in which Tartan, being sent by Sargon, the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod, and fought against Ashdod, and took it,


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at that time spake Jehovah through Isaiah the son of Amoz in this manner: Go, and loose the sackcloth from thy loins, and put off thy shoes from thy feet. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.


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And Jehovah said: As my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years, a sign and a token for Egypt and Ethiopia,


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so shall the king of Assyria lead the captives of Egypt, and prisoners of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their hind parts uncovered, to the shame of the Egyptians.


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The inhabitant of this coast shall say in that day, “Behold, so is it with them in whom we trusted, and to whom we fled for help, that we might be delivered from the king of Assyria. How then shall we escape?”<pb/>


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The prophecy concerning the desert of the sea. As storms which rush along through the south, So it cometh from the desert, From the terrible land.


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A grievous vision was revealed to me; The plunderer plundereth, and the destroyer destroyeth. “Go up, O Elam! Besiege, O Media! All sighing do I make to cease.”


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Therefore are my loins full of pain; Pangs have seized me, as the pangs of a woman in travail; For convulsions I cannot hear; For anguish I cannot see.


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The table is prepared; the watch is set; They eat; they drink; “Arise, ye princes! Anoint the shield!”


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And he saw a troop, horsemen in pairs, Riders on asses, and riders on camels, And he watched with the utmost heed.


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Then he cried like a lion: “My Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the daytime, And keep my post all the night;


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And behold, there cometh a troop, Horsemen in pairs.” Again also he lifted up his voice, and said: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon, And all the graven images of her gods are cast broken to the ground.”


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O my threshing, and the corn of my floor! What I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, That have I declared to you.


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The prophecy concerning Dumah. A voice came to me from Seir: “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?”


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The prophecy against the Arabians. In the thickets of Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedan!


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The inhabitants of the land of Tema Bring water to the thirsty; They come to meet the fugitive with bread.


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For thus saith the Lord to me: Within one year, according to the years of a hireling, Shall all the glory of Kedar be consumed.


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The remainder of the mighty bowmen of the sons of Kedar shall be diminished; For Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath said it.<pb/>


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The prophecy concerning the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, That all thine inhabitants are gone up to the house-tops?


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Thou that wast full of noise, A tumultuous city, a joyous city! Thy slain fall not by the sword; They are not slain in battle.


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All thy leaders flee together, By the bowmen are they bound; All found within thee are made captive together, Even they who have fled from afar.


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Therefore, say I, look away from me, that I may weep bitterly; Strive not to comfort me for the desolation of the daughter of my people!


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For a day of trouble, of desolation, and of perplexity cometh From the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, in the valley of vision. They break down the walls; The cry reacheth to the mountains.


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Thy fairest valleys, [[O Jerusalem,]] are full of chariots; The horsemen set themselves in array against the gate;


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The veil of Judah is torn from her. But in such a day ye look to the armor of the house of the forest;


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Ye make a reservoir between the two walls for the waters of the old pool; But ye look not to Him who hath done this; Ye regard not Him that hath prepared this from afar.


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The Lord, Jehovah of hosts, calleth you this day To weeping and to lamentation, To baldness and to girding with sackcloth.


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But, behold, joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating flesh and drinking wine! “Let us eat and drink, For to-morrow we die!”


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Therefore it hath been revealed in my ears by Jehovah of hosts; “This iniquity shall not be forgiven you, till ye die,” Saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.


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Thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts: Go in to this steward, To Shebna, who is over the household, and say,


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What hast thou here, and whom hast thou here, That thou here hewest thee out a sepulchre,—That thou hewest out thy sepulchre on high, And gravest out a habitation for thyself in the rock?


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He will violently roll thee together like a ball; Like a ball will he hurl thee into a wide country. There shalt thou die; And there shall be thy splendid chariots, Thou disgrace of the house of thy lord!


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I will clothe him with thy robe, And bind thy girdle around him; Thy government will I commit to his hand, And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, And to the house of Judah.


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I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder; He shall open, and none shall shut, And he shall shut, and none shall open.


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Upon him shall hang all the glory of his father's house, The offspring and the offshoots; Every small vessel, from the goblet even to all the pitchers.


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In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, The peg that was once fastened in a sure place shall be moved; It shall be cut down, and fall, And the burden which was upon it shall come to the ground. For Jehovah hath said it.<pb/>


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The prophecy concerning Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste; No house, no entrance is left! From the land of the Chittaeans were the tidings brought to them.


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Be amazed, ye inhabitants of the sea-coast, Which the merchants of Sidon, that pass over the sea, did crowd!


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Upon the wide waters, the corn of the Nile, The harvest of the river, was her revenue; She was the mart of the nations.


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Be thou ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea hath spoken, The fortress of the sea hath spoken thus: “I have not travailed, nor brought forth children; I have not nourished youths, nor brought up virgins.”


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When the tidings shall reach Egypt, They shall be filled with anguish at the tidings concerning Tyre.


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Is this your joyous city, Whose antiquity is of ancient days? Now her own feet bear her To sojourn far away.


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Who hath purposed this against Tyre, The dispenser of crowns, Whose merchants are princes, Whose traders the nobles of the earth?


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Jehovah of hosts hath purposed it, To bring down the pride of all glory, To humble the nobles of the earth.


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He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, He hath made the kingdoms tremble; Jehovah hath given commandment concerning Canaan To destroy her strong holds.


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He hath said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, Thou ravished virgin, daughter of Sidon! Arise, pass over to the Chittaeans; Yet even there shalt thou have no rest.


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Behold the land of the Chaldaeans, Who, not long ago, were not a people,—The Assyrian assigned it to the inhabitants of the wilderness,—They raise their watch-towers; They destroy her palaces; They make her a heap of ruins.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, That Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, According to the days of one king; But at the end of seventy years It shall be with Tyre as in the song of the harlot:


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“Take thy lyre, go about the city, O harlot, long forgotten; Make sweet melody; sing many songs, That thou mayst again be remembered!”


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At the end of seventy years shall Jehovah show regard to Tyre, And she shall return to her hire, And play the harlot with all the kingdoms of the world, That are upon the face of the earth.


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But her gain and her hire shall be holy to Jehovah; It shall not be treasured, nor laid up in store; But it shall be for them that dwell before Jehovah, For abundant food, and for splendid clothing.<pb/>


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Behold, Jehovah emptieth and draineth the land; Yea, he turneth it upside down, and scattereth its inhabitants.


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As with the people, so is it with the priest; As with the servant, so with the master; As with the maid, so with the mistress; As with the buyer, so with the seller; As with the borrower, so with the lender; As with the usurer, so with the giver of usury.


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The land mourneth, and withereth; The world languisheth, and withereth; The nobles of the people of the land do languish.


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The land was polluted under its inhabitants, Because they transgressed the law, they violated the statutes, They broke the everlasting covenant.


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Therefore a curse devoured the land; Its inhabitants suffered for their guilt; Therefore are the inhabitants of the land consumed with heat, And few of the men are left.


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The mirth of tabrets ceaseth; The noise of them that rejoice is at an end; The joy of the harp ceaseth.


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Yea, thus shall it be in the land, in the midst of the people, As when the olive-tree has been shaken; As the gleaning, when the vintage is ended.


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These shall lift up their voice, and sing; Yea, for the majesty of Jehovah they shall shout from the sea.


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Wherefore praise ye Jehovah in the East, The name of Jehovah, the God of Israel, in the isles of the sea!


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From the end of the earth we hear songs: “Glory to the righteous!” But I cry, Alas, my wretchedness, my wretchedness! woe is me! The plunderers plunder; the plunderers seize the spoil.


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Whoso fleeth from the terror shall fall into the pit, And whoso escapeth from the pit, He shall be taken in the snare; For the floodgates of heaven are opened, And the foundations of the earth tremble.


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The earth is utterly broken down; The earth is shattered in pieces; The earth is violently moved from her place.


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The earth reeleth like a drunkard, It moveth to and fro like a hammock; For her iniquity lieth heavy upon her, And she shall fall and rise no more.


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In that day will Jehovah punish the host of the high ones that are on high, And the kings of the earth upon the earth.


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They shall be thrown together bound into the pit, And shall be shut up in the prison, But after many days shall they be visited.


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The moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed, When Jehovah of hosts shall reign in mount Zion and Jerusalem, And his glory shall be before his ancients.<pb/>


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O Jehovah, thou art my God; I will exalt thee; I will praise thy name, For thou hast done wonderful things; Thine ancient purposes are faithfulness and truth.


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Thou hast made the city a heap; The fortified city a ruin. The palace of the barbarians is to be no more a city! It shall never be built again.


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For thou hast been a defence to the poor; A defence to the needy in his distress; A refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, When the rage of tyrants was like a storm against a wall.


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As heat in a dry land is made to vanish, So thou puttest down the tumult of the barbarians; As heat is allayed by a thick cloud, So the triumph of the tyrants is brought low.


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Then in this mountain shall Jehovah of hosts prepare for all nations A feast of fat things, and wines kept on the lees; Of fat things full of marrow, of wines kept on the lees well refined.


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He will destroy in this mountain the covering that was cast over all people, And the veil that was spread over all nations.


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He will destroy death forever; The Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces, And the reproach of his people will he take away from the whole earth; For Jehovah hath said it.


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In that day shall men say, “Behold, this is our God; We waited for him, and he hath saved us; This is Jehovah, for whom we waited; Let us rejoice and exult in his salvation.”


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For the hand of Jehovah shall rest upon this mountain, And Moab shall be trodden down in his place, As straw is trodden down in a dung-pool.


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And he shall stretch out his hands in the midst of it, As the swimmer stretcheth out his hands to swim, But God shall put down his pride, Together with the devices of his hands.


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And the high bulwarks of thy walls will he lay low; He will bring them down to the ground; he will lay them in the dust.<pb/>


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In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; His aid doth God appoint for walls and bulwarks.


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For he hath brought down the inhabitants of the fortress; The lofty city he hath laid low; He hath laid her low even to the ground; He hath levelled her with the dust.


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In the way of thy judgments, O Jehovah, we have waited for thee; The desire of our souls is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.


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My soul longeth for thee in the night, And my spirit within me seeketh thee in the morning; For when thy judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.


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Though favor be shown to the wicked, He will not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, And have no regard to the majesty of Jehovah.


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Thy hand, O Jehovah, is lifted up, yet do they not see; But they shall see with shame thy zeal for thy people; Yea, fire shall devour thine adversaries.


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O Jehovah, our God, other lords have had dominion over us besides thee; Only through thee do we call upon thy name.


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They are dead, they shall not live; They are shades, they shall not rise. For thou hast visited and destroyed them, And caused all the memory of them to perish.


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“Thou wilt enlarge the nation, O Jehovah! Thou wilt enlarge the nation; thou wilt glorify thyself; Thou wilt widely extend all the borders of the land.


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O Jehovah, in affliction they sought thee; They poured out their prayer, when thy chastisement was upon them.


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As a woman with child, when her delivery is near, Is in anguish, and crieth aloud in her pangs, So have we been, far from thy presence, O Jehovah!


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We have been with child; we have been in anguish, Yet have, as it were, brought forth wind. To the land we bring no deliverance; Nor are the inhabitants of the land born.


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O might thy dead live again, Might the dead bodies of my people arise! Awake, and sing, ye that dwell in the dust! For thy dew is like the dew upon plants, And the earth shall bring forth her dead.”


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Come, my people, enter into thy chambers, And shut thy doors behind thee; Hide thyself for a little moment, Until the indignation be overpast!


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For behold, Jehovah cometh forth from his place, To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; And the earth shall disclose her blood, And shall no longer cover her slain.<pb/>


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In that day will Jehovah punish with his sword, His hard, and great, and strong sword, The leviathan, that fleet serpent, Even the leviathan, that winding serpent; Yea, he will slay the monster, that is in the sea.


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“I, Jehovah, am its guardian; I will water it every moment; That no one may assault it, I will watch it day and night.


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There is no fury in me; But let me find the thorns and thistles in battle. I will go against them, And burn them up together,


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In coming days shall Jacob take root, And Israel flourish and bud forth, And fill the world with fruit.


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In measure, by sending her away, didst thou punish her, Taking her away in the rough tempest, in the day of the east wind.


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By this, therefore, is the iniquity of Jacob expiated, And this is wholly the fruit of the removal of his sin, That He has made the stones of the altar like limestones broken in pieces, And that the images of Astarte and the sun-pillars no more stand.


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For the fortified city is desolate, A habitation forsaken, deserted like a wilderness; There doth the calf feed, and there doth he lie down, And consume her branches.


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When her boughs are withered, they are broken off; Women come, and burn them; For it was a people of no understanding; Therefore he that made him had not mercy on him, And he that formed him showed him no favor.


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But it shall come to pass in that day, That Jehovah shall gather fruit From the stream of the Euphrates to the river of Egypt, And ye shall be gathered, one by one, ye children of Israel!


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In that day shall a great trumpet be sounded, And they shall come who are lost in the land of Assyria, And are outcasts in the land of Egypt, And shall worship Jehovah upon the holy mountain in Jerusalem.<pb/>


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Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, To the fading flower, his glorious beauty, At the head of the rich valley of a people stupefied with wine.


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Behold a strong, a mighty one from the Lord Like a storm of hail, like a destructive tempest, Like a flood of mighty, overflowing waters, With violence shall dash it to the ground.


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And the fading flower, their glorious beauty, At the head of the rich valley, Shall be as the early fig before the time of harvest, Which whoso seeth plucketh immediately, And swalloweth as soon as it is in his hand.


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In that day shall Jehovah of hosts Be a glorious crown, and a beautiful diadem to the residue of his people;


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A spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, And of strength to them that drive back the enemy to their gates.


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But even these stagger through wine, And reel through strong drink; The priest and the prophet stagger through strong drink; They are overpowered with wine; They stumble through strong drink; They reel in vision, They stagger in judgment.


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“Whom,” say they, “will he teach knowledge, And to whom will he impart instruction? To the weaned from the milk? To those just taken from the breast?


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For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Command upon command, command upon command, A little here, and a little there.”


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He that said to them, “This is the way of rest, give rest to the weary; This is the way of safety”; But they would not hear.


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Then shall the word of Jehovah be indeed to them “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Command upon command, command upon command, A little here, and a little there,” So that they shall go on, and fall backwards, and be broken, And be snared and caught.


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Since ye say, “We have entered into a covenant with death, And with the under-world have we made an agreement, The overflowing scourge, when it passeth through, shall not reach us; For we have made falsehood our refuge, And in deceit we have hidden ourselves.”


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Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I have laid in Zion as a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation; He that trusteth shall not flee away.


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I will make justice a line, And righteousness a plummet, And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of falsehood, And the waters shall overwhelm its hiding-place;


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And your covenant with death shall be broken, And your agreement with the under-world shall not stand; When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, By it shall ye be beaten down.


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As often as it passeth through, it shall bear you away; For every morning shall it pass through, By day and by night; Even to hear the rumor of it shall be terrible.


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Yea, the bed is too short for one to stretch himself on it, And the covering too narrow for one to wrap himself in it.


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For Jehovah will rise up, as in mount Perazim; He will be moved with anger, as in the valley of Gibeon, To perform his act, his strange act, And to execute his work, his strange work.


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Now, therefore, be ye no longer scoffers, Lest your bands become stronger; For destruction and punishment have been revealed to me From Jehovah of hosts concerning the whole land!


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When he hath made the face thereof even, Doth he not then scatter the dill, and cast abroad the cumin, And sow the wheat in rows, And the barley in its appointed place, And the spelt in his border?


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The dill is not beaten out with the thrashing-sledge, Nor is the wheel of the wain rolled over the cumin; But the dill is beaten out with a staff, And the cumin with a rod.


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Bread-corn is beaten out, Yet doth not the husbandman thrash it without limit. He driveth over it the wheels of the wain, And the horses, yet doth he not utterly crush it.


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Then will I distress Ariel; Mourning and sorrow shall be there; Yet shall she be to me as Ariel [[the lion of God]].


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I will encamp against thee round about, And I will lay siege against thee with a mound, And I will raise towers against thee.


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Thou shalt be brought down, and speak from the ground, And thy speech shall be low from the dust; Thy voice shall be like that of a spirit under ground, And thy speech shall chirp as from the dust.


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Yet shall the multitude of thine enemies be like fine dust; The multitude of the terrible like flying chaff; It shall take place suddenly, in a moment.


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From Jehovah of hosts cometh the visitation With thunder, and earthquake, and great noise, With storm and tempest, And flames of devouring fire.


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As a dream, a vision of the night, Shall be the multitude of all the nations That fight against Ariel, That fight against her and her fortress, And distress her.


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As a hungry man dreameth, and lo! he eateth, But awaketh and is still hungry; And as a thirsty man dreameth, and lo! he drinketh, But awaketh, and lo! he is faint and thirsty; So shall it be with the multitude of all the nations That fight against mount Zion.


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Be in amazement and be amazed! Be blinded and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; They stagger, but not with strong drink!


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For Jehovah hath poured upon you a spirit of slumber; He hath closed your eyes, the prophets, And covered your heads, the seers;


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And so every vision is to you as the words of a sealed book, Which is given to a man that is skilled in writing, Saying, “Read this, I pray thee”; But he answereth, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”


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Or, if he give it to one that is not skilled in writing, Saying, “Read this, I pray thee,” He answereth, “I am not skilled in writing.”


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Therefore saith the Lord, Since this people draweth near to me with their mouth, And honoreth me with their lips, While their heart is far from me, And their worship of me is according to the commandments of men,


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Therefore, behold, I will proceed to deal marvellously with this people; Marvellously and wonderfully, For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the prudence of the prudent shall be hid.


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Woe to them that hide deep their purposes from Jehovah, Whose work is in darkness; That say, Who seeth us? Who knoweth us?


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Alas, your perverseness! Is the potter to be esteemed as the clay, That the work should say of its maker, He made me not? And the thing formed say of him that formed it, He hath no understanding?


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Is it not yet a very little while, And Lebanon shall be changed to a fruitful field, And the fruitful field be esteemed a forest.


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And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, And out of mist and darkness shall the eyes of the blind see.


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The afflicted shall exceedingly rejoice in Jehovah, And the poor shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.


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For the oppressor hath come to naught; the scoffer is destroyed; And all that watched for iniquity are cut off;


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Who condemned a man in his cause, And laid snares for him who defended himself in the gate, And with falsehood caused the righteous to fail.


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Therefore concerning the house of Jacob thus saith Jehovah, He that redeemed Abraham: No more shall Jacob be ashamed, And no more shall his face grow pale.


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For when his children behold the work of my hands in the midst of them, They shall honor my name. They shall honor the Holy One of Jacob, And reverence the God of Israel.


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They that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, And the obstinate shall receive instruction.<pb/>


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Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, Who form plans, and not from me, And make covenants without my spirit, That they may add sin to sin!


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Who go down into Egypt, Without inquiring at my mouth, To seek refuge in Pharaoh's protection, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!


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But they are all ashamed of a people that do not profit them; That are no help and no profit, But only a shame and a reproach.


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The loaded beasts go southward. Through a land of anguish and distress, Whence come forth the lioness, and the fierce lion, The viper, and the flying fiery serpent; On the shoulders of young asses they carry their wealth, And on the bunches of camels their treasures, To a people that will not profit them!


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Go now, write this on a tablet before them; Note it down upon a book, That it may remain for future times, A testimony forever!


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Who say to the seers, “See not!” And to the prophets, “Prophesy not right things; Speak to us smooth things, Prophesy falsehood!


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Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel: Since ye despise this word, And trust in oppression and perverseness, And lean thereon,


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Therefore shall this iniquity be to you Like a breach ready to give way, That swelleth out in a high wall, Whose fall cometh suddenly, in an instant.


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It is broken like a potter's vessel, Which is dashed in pieces and not spared, So that among its fragments not a sherd is found to take up fire from the hearth, Or to dip water from the cistern.


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For thus said the Lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel: By a return and by rest shall ye be saved; In quietness and confidence is your strength;


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But ye would not. Ye said, “No! we will bound along upon horses”; Truly ye shall bound along in flight. “We will ride upon swift coursers”; But they shall be swift that pursue you.


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A thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one, And ten thousand at the rebuke of five, Till what remains of you shall be as a beacon on the top of a mountain, As a banner upon a hill.


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And yet will Jehovah wait to be gracious to you, And yet will he arise to have mercy upon you; For Jehovah is a righteous God; Happy are all they who wait for him!


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For, O people of Zion, that dwellest in Jerusalem, Thou shalt not always weep! He will be very gracious to thee at the voice of thy cry; No sooner shall he hear it, than he will answer thee.


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Though Jehovah hath given thee the bread of distress, and the water of affliction, Yet shall thy teachers be hidden from thee no more; But thine eyes shall see thy teachers.


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And thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee, Saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it!” When ye turn aside to the right hand, or to the left.


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Ye shall treat as defiled the silver coverings of your graven images, And the golden clothing of your molten images, Ye shall cast them away as an unclean thing; Away! shall ye say to them.


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Then will he give rain for thy seed, With which thou shalt sow the ground, And the bread-corn, the produce of the land, shall be rich and nourishing; Then shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.


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The oxen also, and the young asses, that till the ground, Shall eat well-seasoned provender, Which hath been winnowed with the shovel and the fan.


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And on every lofty mountain, And on every high hill, Shall be brooks and streams of water, In the day of the great slaughter, When the towers fall.


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Then shall the light of the moon be as the light of the sun, And the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, [[As the light of seven days,]] When Jehovah bindeth up the bruises of his people, And healeth the wound which they have received.


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Behold, the name of Jehovah cometh from afar, His anger burneth, and violent is the flame, His lips are full of indignation, And his tongue like a devouring fire.


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His breath is like an overflowing torrent, That reacheth even to the neck; He will toss the nation with the winnowing-fan of destruction; He will put a bridle upon the jaws of the people, that shall lead them astray.


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But ye shall then sing as in the night of a solemn festival; Your heart shall be glad, like his who marcheth with the sound of the pipe To the mountain of Jehovah, to the rock of Israel.


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Jehovah will cause his glorious voice to be heard, And the blow of his arm to be seen, With furious anger, and flames of devouring fire; With flood, and storm, and hailstones.


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And as often as the appointed rod shall strike, Which Jehovah shall lay heavily upon him, It shall be accompanied with tabrets and harps; And with fierce battles will he fight against him.


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For long hath the burning place been prepared; Yea, for the king hath it been made ready; The pile is made deep and broad; There is fire and wood in abundance; The breath of Jehovah, like a stream of brimstone, kindle it.<pb/>


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Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, And put their trust in horses, And confide in chariots, because they are many, And in horsemen, because their number is great, But look not to the Holy One of Israel, And resort not to Jehovah.


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Yet he, too, is wise; He will bring evil, and not take back his words; He will arise against the house of the evil-doers, And against the help of them that do iniquity.


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The Egyptians are men, and not God, And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When Jehovah shall stretch forth his hand, Then shall the helper fall, and the helped be overthrown; And they shall all perish together.


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For thus hath Jehovah said to me: As when the lion and the young lion growl over their prey, And a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, By their noise he is not terrified, Nor by their tumult disheartened; So shall Jehovah of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and her hill.


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As birds hover over their young, So shall Jehovah of hosts defend Jerusalem; He will defend and deliver, spare and save.


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Turn, O ye children of Israel, To him from whom ye have so deeply revolted! For in that day shall every one cast away his idols of


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The Assyrian shall fall by a sword not of man, Yea, a sword not of mortal shall devour him; He shall flee before the sword, And his young warriors shall be slaves.


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Through fear shall he pass beyond his stronghold, And his princes shall be afraid of the standard. Thus saith Jehovah, who hath his fire in Zion, And his furnace in Jerusalem.<pb/>


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Every one of them shall be a hiding-place from the wind, And a shelter from the tempest; As streams of water in a dry place, As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.


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For the vile will still utter villany, And his heart will devise iniquity; He will practise deception, and speak impiety against God; He will take away the food of the hungry, And deprive the thirsty of drink.


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The instruments also of the niggard are evil; He plotteth mischievous devices, To destroy the poor with lying words, Even when the cause of the needy is just.


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One year more, and ye shall tremble, ye careless women! For the vintage shall fail; the harvest shall not come.


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Tremble, O ye that are at ease! Be in dismay, ye careless ones! Strip you, make you bare, gird ye sackcloth upon your loins!


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They shall smite themselves on their breasts, On account of the pleasant fields, On account of the fruitful vine.


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Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; Yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city.


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For the palace shall be forsaken; The tumult of the city shall be solitary; The fortified hill and the tower shall be dens forever; The joy of wild-asses, the pasture of flocks;


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Until the spirit from on high be poured upon us, And the wilderness become a fruitful field, And the fruitful field be esteemed a forest.


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And the effect of righteousness shall be peace, And the fruit of righteousness quiet and security forever.


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Woe to thee, thou spoiler, who hast not been spoiled! Thou plunderer, who hast not been plundered! When thou hast ceased to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; When thou hast finished plundering, they shall plunder thee.


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O Jehovah, have mercy upon us! in thee do we trust; Be thou our strength every morning, Our salvation in the time of trouble.


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Your spoil shall be gathered, as the locust gathereth; As the locust runneth, so shall they run upon it.


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There shall be security in thy times; Wisdom and knowledge shall be thy store of prosperity, And the fear of Jehovah, this shall be thy treasure!


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The highways are desolate; The traveller ceaseth; He breaketh the covenant; he despiseth the cities; Of men he maketh no account.


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The land mourneth and languisheth; Lebanon is put to shame, and withered away; Sharon is like a desert, And Bashan and Carmel are stripped of their leaves.


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Ye shall conceive chaff, and bring forth stubble; Your own wrath is the fire which shall devour you.


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The sinners in Zion are struck with dread; Terror hath seized upon the unrighteous: “Who among us can dwell in devouring fire? Who among us can dwell in everlasting flames?”


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He that walketh in righteousness, And speaketh that which is right, That despiseth the gain of oppression, And shaketh his hands from bribery, That stoppeth his ears, so as not to hear of blood, And shutteth his eyes, so as not to behold iniquity.


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He shall dwell on high; The strongholds of rocks shall be his defence; His bread shall be given him; His water shall not fail.


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Thy heart shall meditate on the past terror: “Where now is the scribe? Where the weigher of tribute? Where he that numbered the towers?”


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Thou shalt see no more a fierce people, A people of a dark language, which thou couldst not hear, And of a barbarous tongue, which thou couldst not understand;


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Thou shalt see Zion, the city of our solemn feasts; Thine eyes shall behold Jerusalem, as a quiet habitation. A tent that shall never be moved, Whose stakes shall never be taken away, And whose cords shall never be broken.


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For there the glorious Jehovah will be to us Instead of rivers and broad streams, Which no oared galley shall pass, And no gallant ship go through.


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Thy ropes hang loose; They cannot hold the mast-socket, Nor can they spread the sail. Then shall a great spoil be divided; Even the lame shall take the prey.


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No inhabitant shall say, I am sick; The people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.<pb/>


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Draw near, O ye nations, and hear! Attend, O ye people! Let the earth hear, and all that is therein; The world, and all that springs from it!


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For the wrath of Jehovah is kindled against all the nations, And his fury against all their armies; He hath devoted them to destruction; He hath given them up to slaughter.


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Their slain shall be cast out; From their carcasses their stench shall ascend, And the mountains shall flow down with their blood.


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And all the hosts of heaven shall melt away; And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll, And all their host shall fall down, As the withered leaf faileth from the vine, As the blighted fruit from the fig-tree.


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For my sword hath become drunk in heaven; Behold, upon Edom shall it descend, Upon the people under my curse, for vengeance.


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The sword of Jehovah is full of blood; It is covered with fat, With the blood of lambs and goats, With the fat of the kidneys of rams; For Jehovah holdeth a sacrifice in Bozrah, And a great slaughter in the land of Edom.


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The wild buffaloes shall fall down with them. And the bullocks with the bulls; The hind shall be drunk with blood, And the ground enriched with fat.


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Her streams shall be turned into pitch, And her dust into brimstone, And her whole land shall become burning pitch.


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Day and night it shall not be quenched; Its smoke shall ascend forever; From generation to generation it shall lie waste; None shall pass through it for ever and ever.


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The pelican and the hedgehog shall possess it; The heron and the raven shall dwell in it; Over it will he draw the measuring-line of destruction. And the plummet of desolation.


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Thorns shall spring up in her palaces; Nettles and thistles in her strongholds. She shall become a habitation for jackals, A court for ostriches.


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The wild-cats shall fall upon the wolves, And the satyr shall call to his fellow; There also shall the night-spectre light, And find a place of rest.


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There also shall the arrow-snake make her nest, and lay her eggs; She shall hatch them, and gather her young under her shadow: There also shall the vultures be gathered together, Every one with her mate.


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Search ye the book of Jehovah, and read! Not one of these shall fail; Not one shall want her mate; For His mouth, it shall command, And His spirit, it shall gather them.


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He shall cast the lot for them; His hand shall divide it for them with a line; They shall possess it forever; From generation to generation shall they dwell therein.<pb/>


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It shall blossom abundantly, and exult with joy and singing; The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it; The beauty of Carmel and Sharon; They shall behold the glory of Jehovah, The majesty of our God;


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Say ye to the faint-hearted, “Be ye strong; fear ye not; Behold your God! Vengeance cometh, the retribution of God; He will come and save you!”


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Then shall the lame leap like the hart, And the tongue of the dumb shall sing; For in the wilderness shall waters break forth, And streams in the desert.


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The glowing sands shall become a pool, And the thirsty ground springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where they lie, Shall be a place for reeds and rushes.


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And a path shall be there, and a highway, And it shall be called the holy way; No unclean person shall pass over it; it shall be for them alone; He that therein goeth in this way, though a fool, shall not err therein.


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No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon; It shall not be found there; But the redeemed shall walk there.


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Yea, the ransomed of Jehovah shall return; They shall come to Zion with songs: Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.<pb/>


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In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.


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And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem, with a great army, against King Hezekiah, and he halted at the aqueduct of the upper pool, in the highway to the fuller's field.


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Then came forth to him Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, who was over the palace, and Shebna the scribe, and Josh, the son of Asaph, the annalist.


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And Rabshakeh said to them, Say ye to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria: What a confidence is this which thou cherishest!


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Thou sayest, (but it is vain talk,) “I have counsel and strength for war.” In whom, then, dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?


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Behold, thou trustest in that broken reed-staff, Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will pierce his hand, and go through it. Such is Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all that trust in him.


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But if ye say to me, “We trust in Jehovah, our God,”—is it not he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem to worship before this altar?


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Engage, now, with my master, the king of Assyria! and I will give thee two thousand horses, when thou art able to provide for thyself riders for them.


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How, then, canst thou resist a single captain, one of the least of the servants of my master? Yet thou trustest in Egypt, on account of her chariots and her horsemen.


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And am I now come up without Jehovah against this land to destroy it? Jehovah hath said to me, “Go up against this land and destroy it!”


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Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Josh to Rabshakeh: Speak, we beseech thee, to thy servants in the Aramaic language, for we understand it; and speak not to us in the Jewish language, in the hearing of the people that are upon the wall.


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But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to speak these words to thy master and to thee only, and not to the people who sit upon the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own urine with you?


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Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jewish language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.


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And let not Hezekiah persuade you to trust in Jehovah, saying, “Jehovah will certainly deliver us. This city shall not be delivered into the hands of the king of Assyria.”


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Hearken not to Hezekiah; for thus saith the king of Assyria: Make peace with me, and come out to me; and ye shall every one eat of his own vine, and every one of his own fig-tree, and ye shall every one drink the waters of his own cistern,


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until I come, and take you to a land like your own land; a land of corn, and of new wine, a land of bread and of vineyards.


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Be not persuaded by Hezekiah, when he saith, “Jehovah will deliver us.” Have the gods of the nations delivered every one his own land from the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and of Arphad?


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Who is there among all the gods of these lands, that hath delivered his land out of my hand, that Jehovah should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?


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But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's command was, “Answer him not.”


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Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the palace, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the annalist, to Hezekiah, with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.<pb/>


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And when the king, Hezekiah, heard it, he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Jehovah.


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And he sent Eliakim, who was over the palace, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.


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And they said to him, Thus saith Hezekiah: This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of contempt; for the children have come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.


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It may be that Jehovah, thy God, will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria, his master, hath sent to reproach the living God, and to revile him with the words which Jehovah, thy God, hath heard. Do thou, therefore, lift up thy prayer for the remnant of the people, that is yet left.


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And Isaiah said to them, Thus shall ye say to your master: Thus saith Jehovah: Be not afraid on account of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.


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Behold, I will put a spirit within him, so that he shall hear a rumor, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.


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Then Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he had heard that he had departed from Lachish.


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Then he heard concerning Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia, that it was said, “He is come forth to war against thee.” And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah and said,


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Thus shall ye say to Hezekiah, the king of Judah: Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.


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Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands; how they have utterly destroyed them. And shalt thou be delivered?


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Did the gods of the nations which my father destroyed, deliver them? Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden in Telassar?


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Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Henah, and of Ivah?


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And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it. Then he went up to the house of Jehovah, and spread it before Jehovah.


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O Jehovah of hosts, God of Israel, who sittest between the cherubs, thou alone art the God of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.


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Incline thine ear, O Jehovah, and hear; open thine eyes, O Jehovah, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he hath sent to reproach the living God.


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and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone; and they have destroyed them.


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But do thou, O Jehovah, our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou alone art Jehovah.


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Then Isaiah, the son of Amoz, sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Whereas thou hast prayed to me on account of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria,


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This is the word which Jehovah hath spoken against him. The virgin, the daughter of Zion, despiseth thee; she laugheth thee to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem shaketh her head after thee.


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Whom hast thou reproached, and reviled, And against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, And lifted up thine eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel.


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By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and said: “With the multitude of my chariots have I ascended the heights of the mountains, the extremities of Lebanon; I have cut down its tall cedars, and its choice cypress-trees; I have come to its utmost height, to its garden forest.


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Hast thou not heard, that of old I ordained it, And from ancient times purposed it? Now have I brought it to pass, That thou shouldst convert fortified cities into ruinous heaps.


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Therefore were their inhabitants of little strength; They were dismayed and confounded; They were as the grass of the field, and the green herb; As grass upon the house-top, and as corn blasted, before it is grown up.


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Because thy rage against me, and thy insolence, is come up into my ears, I will put my ring into thy nose, And my bridle into thy lips, And turn thee back by the way in which thou camest.


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And this shall be the sign to thee; Eat this year that which groweth of itself, And in the second year that which groweth of itself, And in the third year ye shall sow and reap, And plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.


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And the remnant of the house of Judah, that have escaped, Shall again strike root downward, And bear fruit upward.


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For from Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, And they that have escaped from mount Zion. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.


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Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts concerning the king of Assyria; He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow into it; He shall not present a shield before it, Nor cast up a mound against it.


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By the way in which he came, by the same shall he return, And into this city shall he not come, saith Jehovah.


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Then an angel of Jehovah went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand men; and when the people arose early in the morning, behold they were all dead corpses.


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And as he was worshipping in the temple of Nisroch, his god, he was slain with the sword by his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer, who escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon, his son, reigned in his stead.<pb/>


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In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death; and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, Set thy house in order, for thou shalt die, and not live.


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And he said, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thine eyes! And Hezekiah wept bitterly.


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Go in and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father: I have heard thy prayer; I have seen thy tears. Behold, I will add to thy life fifteen years.


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And I will deliver thee and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.


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Behold, I will cause the shadow upon the dial, which hath gone down upon the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to go back ten degrees. So the sun went back ten degrees, which degrees it had gone down.


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I said: “Now, in the quiet of my days, shall I go down to the gates of the under-world; I am deprived of the residue of my years.”


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I said: “No more shall I see Jehovah, Jehovah in the land of the living. I shall behold man no more Among the inhabitants of stillness.


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My habitation is torn away and removed from me, Like a shepherd's tent; My life is rolled up as by the weaver; He cutteth me off from the thrum; Between morning and night wilt thou make an end of me!”


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I waited till morning, and like a lion Did he crush all my bones; “Between morning and night wilt thou make an end of me!”


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Like a swallow or a crane, so did I twitter; I did mourn as a dove; Mine eyes failed with looking upward; “O Lord, I am in distress; O, deliver me!”


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What shall I say? He promised it, and he hath done it; I will walk humbly all my life On account of the bitterness of my soul.


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Lord, it is thus that men live; From thee alone cometh the life of my spirit; Thou hast restored me, and caused me to live.


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Behold, my anguish is changed into ease; In love thou hast delivered me from the pit of destruction; Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.


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For the under-world cannot praise thee; The realms of death cannot celebrate thee; They that go down to the pit cannot wait for thy faithfulness.


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The living, the living praise thee, as I do this day; The father to the children shall make known thy faithfulness.


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Jehovah hath saved me; Therefore will we sing our songs with stringed instruments, All the days of our life, In the house of Jehovah.


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Now Isaiah had said, let them take a lump of figs, and bruise them, and lay them upon the ulcer, and he shall recover.


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At that time Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent a letter and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that he had been sick and was recovered.


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And Hezekiah was delighted with them, and showed the embassy his treasure-house, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and his whole armory, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, which Hezekiah did not show them.


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Then came Isaiah the prophet to King Hezekiah, and said to him, What did these men say, and whence did they come to thee? And Hezekiah said, They came to me from a distant country, from Babylon.


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Then said he, What have they seen in thy house? And Hezekiah answered: All that is in my house have they seen. There is nothing in my treasures which I have not shown them.


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Behold, the days shall come, when all that is in thy house, and that thy fathers have treasured up to this day, shall be carried away to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, saith Jehovah.


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And of thy sons, which shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away, and they shall he eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.


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(39:7) Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of Jehovah, which thou hast spoken. For, said he, there shall be peace and security in my days.<pb/>


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Speak ye encouragement to Jerusalem, and declare to her, That her hard service is ended; That her iniquity is expiated; That she hath received from the hand of Jehovah Double for all her sins.


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A voice crieth: “Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of Jehovah; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God!


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Every valley shall be exalted, And every mountain and hill be made low; The crooked shall become straight, And the rough places plain.


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For the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it!”


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A voice said, Proclaim! And I said, What shall I proclaim? All flesh is grass, And all its comeliness as the flower of the field.


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The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, When the breath of Jehovah bloweth upon it. Truly the people is grass.


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Get thee up on the high mountain, O thou that bringest glad tidings to Zion; Lift up thy voice with strength, thou that bringest glad tidings to Jerusalem; Lift it up; be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, Behold your God!


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Behold, the Lord Jehovah shall come with might, And his arm shall rule for him; Behold, his reward is with him, And his recompense before him.


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He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; He shall gather up the lambs in his arms, And carry them in his bosom, And gently lead the nursing ewes.


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Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, And meted out the heavens with his span, And gathered the dust of the earth into a measure, And weighed the mountains in scales, And the hills in a balance?


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With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, And taught him the path of justice, And taught him knowledge, And showed him the way of understanding?


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Behold, the nations are as a drop from a bucket, And are accounted as the small dust of the balance; Behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing,


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All the nations are as nothing before him; They are accounted by him as less than nothing, and vanity.


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The workman casteth an image, And the smith overlayeth it with gold, And casteth for it silver chains.


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He that is too poor to make an oblation Chooseth a piece of wood that will not rot; He seeketh for himself a skilful artificer, To prepare an image that shall not be moved.


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Do ye not know? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have ye not considered the foundations of the earth?


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It is He that sitteth above the circle of the earth, And the inhabitants are to him as grasshoppers; That stretcheth out the heavens as a canopy, And spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in;


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Yea, scarcely are they planted, scarcely are they sown, Scarcely hath their stem taken root in the ground, When He bloweth upon them and they wither, And the whirlwind beareth them away like stubble.


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Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and behold! Who hath created these? He draweth forth their host by number, He calleth them all by name; Through the greatness of his strength and the mightiness of his power, Not one of them faileth to appear.


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Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, “My way is hidden from Jehovah, My cause passeth by before my God”?


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Do ye not know? Have ye not heard? Jehovah is an everlasting God, The creator of the ends of the earth; He fainteth not, nor is he weary; His understanding is unsearchable.


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But they that trust in Jehovah shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles; They shall run and not be weary; They shall walk and not faint.<pb/>


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Keep silence, and hear me, ye distant lands. Ye nations, gather your strength! Let them come near; then let them speak; Let us go together into judgment.


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Who hath raised up from the region of the East Him whom victory meeteth in his march? Who hath subdued nations before him, And given him dominion over kings? Who made their swords like dust, And their bows like driven stubble?


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Who hath wrought and done it? I, who have called the generations from the beginning, I, Jehovah, the first; And with the last also am I.


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Distant nations saw it, and were afraid; The ends of the earth, and trembled; They drew near, and came together.


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The carpenter encouraged the smith, He that smoothed with the hammer him that smote on the anvil, And said, “The soldering is good,” And he fastened it with nails that it might not fall.


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Thou, whom I have led by the hand from the ends of the earth, And called from the extremities thereof, And said to thee, “Thou art my servant, I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away!”


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Fear not, for I am with thee; Faint not, for I, thy God, will strengthen thee; I will help thee, and sustain thee, with my right hand of salvation!


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Behold, all who are enraged against thee Shall be ashamed and confounded; All that contend with thee Shall come to nothing and perish.


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Thou shalt seek and not find Them that contend with thee; They shall come to nothing, and be no more, Who make war against thee.


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For I, Jehovah, am thy God, that holdeth thee by the right hand, That saith to thee, “Fear not, I am thy helper!”


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Fear not, thou worm Jacob, thou feeble people of Israel! I am thy helper, saith Jehovah; Thy redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.


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Behold, I will make thee a thrashing-wain, sharp and new, With double edges; Thou shalt thrash the mountains, and beat them small, And make the hills as chaff.


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Thou shalt winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, And the whirlwind shall scatter them. But thou shalt rejoice in Jehovah, And glory in the Holy One of Israel.


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When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, And their tongue is parched with thirst, I, Jehovah, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.


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I will open rivers upon the bare hills, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water.


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I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia, The myrtle and the olive-tree; I will place in the desert the cypress, The plane-tree and the larch together.


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That they may see, and know, And consider, and understand together, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this, And that the Holy One of Israel hath created it.


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Let them produce them, and show us what shall happen! Tell us what ye have predicted in times past, That we may consider, and know its fulfilment! Or declare to us things that are to come!


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Let us hear what shall happen in future times, That we may know whether ye are gods; Do something, be it good or evil, That we may be astonished, and see it together!


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Behold, ye are less than nothing, And your work is less than naught; An abomination is he that chooseth you!


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I have raised up one from the north, and he cometh; From the rising of the sun he calleth upon my name; He trampleth upon princes as upon mortar; As the potter treadeth down the clay.


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Who hath declared this from the beginning, that we might know it, And long ago, that we might say, It is true? There was not one that foretold it, not one that declared it, Not one that heard your words.


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I looked, but there was no man; Even among them, but there was none that gave counsel; I inquired of them that they might give an answer;


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But behold, they are all vanity; Their works are nothing; Wind and emptiness are their molten images.<pb/>


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Behold my servant, whom I uphold, My chosen, in whom my soul delighteth, I have put my spirit upon him; He shall cause law to go forth to the nations.


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The bruised reed shall he not break, And the glimmering flax shall he not quench; He shall send forth law according to truth.


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He shall not fail, nor become weary, Until he shall have established justice in the earth. And distant nations shall wait for his law.


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Thus saith God Jehovah, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth, and that which springeth forth from it, Who gave breath to the people upon it, And spirit to them that walk thereon:


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I, Jehovah, have called thee for salvation; I will hold thee by the hand; I will defend thee, and make thee a covenant to the people, A light to the nations;


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To open the blind eyes, To bring out the prisoners from the prison, And them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.


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I am Jehovah, that is my name; And my glory will I not give to another, Nor my praise to graven images.


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The former things, behold! they are come to pass, And new things do I now declare; Before they spring forth, I make them known to you.


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Sing to Jehovah a new song; His praise to the ends of the earth; Ye that go down upon the sea, and all that fill it; Ye distant coasts, and ye that dwell therein!


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Let the desert cry aloud, and the cities thereof; The villages, that Kedar inhabiteth; Let the inhabitants of the rock sing; Let them shout from the top of the mountains!


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Jehovah shall march forth like a hero; Like a mighty warrior shall he rouse his indignation, He shall cry aloud; he shall shout the war-cry, And show himself mighty against his enemies.


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“I have long held my peace; I have been still and refrained myself; But now will I cry like a woman in travail; I will destroy and swallow up at once.


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I will lay waste mountains and hills, And dry up all their herbs. I will make the river solid land, And dry up the pools of water.


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Then will I lead the blind in a way which they know not, And in unknown paths will I guide them; I will make darkness light before them, And crooked paths straight; These things will I do for them, and not forsake them.”


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Then shall they be turned back, and be put to shame, Who trust in graven images; Who say to molten images, “Ye are our gods!”


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Who is blind, if not my servant? And who so deaf as my messenger, whom I send? Who so blind as the friend of God, So blind as the servant of Jehovah?


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And yet it is a robbed and plundered people; They are all of them bound in prisons, And hid in dungeons; They have become a spoil, and none delivereth; A prey, and none saith, “Restore!”


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Who is there among you that will give ear to this, That will listen and attend for the time to come?


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Who gave Jacob to be a spoil, And Israel to plunderers? Was it not Jehovah, against whom we sinned, In whose ways we would not walk, And whose laws we would not obey?


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Therefore hath he poured out upon Israel the fury of his wrath, and the violence of war; It kindled a flame around about him, yet he did not regard it; It set him on fire, yet he laid it not to heart.<pb/>


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But now thus saith Jehovah, that created thee, O Jacob, That formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by name; thou art mine!


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When thou passest through waters, I will be with thee; And through rivers, they shall not overflow thee; When thou walkest through fire, thou shalt not be burned, And the flame shall not consume thee.


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For I am Jehovah, thy God, The Holy One of Israel, thy saviour. I will give Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee;


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Because thou art precious in my sight, Because thou art honored, and I love thee, Therefore will I give men for thee, And nations for thy life.


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Fear not, for I am with thee! I will bring thy children from the East, And gather thee from the West.


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I will say to the North, “Give them up!” And to the South, “Withhold them not! Bring my sons from afar, And my daughters from the ends of the earth;


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Every one that is called by my name, That I have created for my glory, That I have formed and made!”


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Let all the nations be gathered together, And the kingdoms be assembled! Who among them hath declared this, And can show us former predictions? Let them produce their witnesses that they are right; That men may hear, and say, It is true!


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Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, And my servant whom I have chosen, That ye may know and believe me, And understand that I am He. Before me was no god formed, And after me there shall be none.


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I have declared and have saved; I made it known, when there was no strange god among you; Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, That I am God.


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Even from the beginning of time I have been He, And none can rescue from my hand; I undertake, and who can hinder?


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Thus saith Jehovah, Your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sakes have I sent to Babylon, And caused all her fugitives, And the Chaldeans, to descend to the ships of their delight.


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That caused the chariot and the horse, the army and the forces, to march forth; There they lay down together; they rose no more; They were extinguished; they were quenched like a torch;—


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Behold, I do a new thing; Now shall it spring forth; yea, ye shall see it. Behold, I make a way in the wilderness, And streams in the desert;


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The beasts of the forest shall honor me, The jackals and the ostriches; For I make rivers in the wilderness And streams in the desert, To give drink to my people, my chosen.


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Thou hast not brought me thy lambs for a burnt-offering, Nor honored me with thy sacrifices; I have not burdened thee with oblations, Nor wearied thee with incense;


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Thou hast bought me no sweet-smelling reed with silver, Neither hast thou satisfied me with the fat of thy sacrifices; With thy sins hast thou burdened me, And wearied me with thine iniquities.


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Therefore have I profaned the princes of the sanctuary, And given up Jacob to a curse, And Israel to reproach.<pb/>


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Thus saith Jehovah, thy Creator, He that formed thee, and hath helped thee from thy birth, Fear not, O Jacob, my servant, O Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.


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For I will pour water upon the thirsty land, And streams upon the dry ground. I will pour out my spirit on thy children, And my blessing on thine offspring;


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One shall say, “I belong to Jehovah”; Another shall call upon the name of Jacob; Another shall write upon his hand, Jehovah's! And praise the name of Israel.


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Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel, His redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first, and I the last, And besides me there is no God.


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Who like me hath proclaimed the future,—Let him declare it, and set it in order before me!— Since I established the people of old? Let them make known the future, even that which is to come!


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Fear ye not, neither be ye afraid! Have I not declared and made it known to you of old? Ye are my witnesses; Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no other rock; I know not any.


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They that make a graven image are all of them vanity, And their valued works are profitable for nothing; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor understand, So that they may be ashamed.


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Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed; The workmen are themselves mortal men; They shall all be assembled; they shall stand up; They shall tremble, and be put to shame together!


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The smith prepareth an axe in the coals, And fashioneth it with hammers, And worketh it with his strong arm; He becometh hungry, and his strength faileth; He drinketh no water, and is faint.


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The carpenter stretcheth out the line; He marketh out the form of it with the sharp tool; He formeth it with planes; He marketh it with the compass; He maketh it in the figure of a man, With the beauty of a man, To dwell in a house.


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He heweth him down cedars; He taketh the ilex and the oak; He chooseth for himself among the trees of the forest; He planteth the ash, and the rain matureth it;


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These are fuel for man; He taketh thereof and warmeth himself; He kindleth with it, and baketh bread; A god also he formeth of it, and worshippeth it; A graven image, and falleth down before it.


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Half of it he burneth with fire; With half of it he eateth flesh; He roasteth meat, and satisfieth himself; He also warmeth himself, and saith, Aha! I am warm; I feel the fire.


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Of the residue he maketh a god, even his graven image; He falleth down before it and worshippeth it, And prayeth to it, and saith, “Deliver me, for thou art my God!”


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They know not, neither understand; For their eyes are closed up, that they cannot see, And their hearts, that they cannot understand.


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None considereth in his mind, Or hath knowledge and understanding to say: “Half of it I have burned with fire; I have also baked bread on the coals of it; I have roasted flesh and have eaten; And shall I make the remnant an abomination? Shall I fall down before the stock of a tree?”


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He toileth for ashes; A deluded heart turneth him aside, So that he cannot deliver himself, and say “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”


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Remember these things, O Jacob, O Israel, for thou art my servant! I formed thee; thou art my servant; O Israel, I will not forget thee.


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I have caused thy transgressions to vanish like a cloud, And thy sins like a mist; Return to me, for I have redeemed thee!


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Sing, O ye heavens, for Jehovah hath done it; Shout, O ye depths of the earth! Break forth into song, ye mountains! Thou forest, and every tree therein! For Jehovah hath redeemed Jacob, And glorified himself in Israel.


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Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, Even he that formed thee from the womb; I am Jehovah, who made all things; Who stretched out the heavens alone; Who spread out the earth by myself;


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Who frustrateth the signs of deceivers, And maketh the diviners mad; Who putteth the wise men to shame, And maketh their knowledge folly;


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Who establisheth the word of his servant, And performeth the purpose of his messengers; Who saith of Jerusalem, “She shall be inhabited,” And of the cities of Judah, “They shall be built,” And, “Her desolated places I will restore.”


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Who saith of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd; He shall perform all my pleasure”; Who saith of Jerusalem, “She shall be built,” And of the temple, “Her foundation shall be laid.”<pb/>


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Thus saith Jehovah to his anointed, To Cyrus, whom I hold by his right hand, To subdue nations before him, And ungird the loins of kings; To open before him the two-leaved gates, And the doors shall not be shut.


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I will go before thee, And make the high places plain; I will break in pieces the gates of brass, And cut in sunder the bars of iron.


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I will give thee the treasures of darkness, And hidden riches of secret places, That thou mayst know that I am Jehovah Who calleth thee by name, the God of Israel.


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For the sake of Jacob, my servant, And Israel, my chosen, I have called thee by thy name; I have spoken to thee as a friend, though thou hast not known me.


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I am Jehovah, and none else; There is no God besides me; I have girded thee, though thou hast not known me.


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That men may know from the rising of the sun, And from the West, that there is none besides me; I am Jehovah, and none else.


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I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I, Jehovah, do all these things.


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Pour forth, ye heavens, from above; Ye clouds, shower down prosperity! Let the earth open, and bring forth salvation; Yea, let righteousness spring up together! I, Jehovah, create it.


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Woe to him that contendeth with his Maker! A potsherd of the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? Or thy work say of thee, He hath no hands?


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Woe to him that saith to his father, Why dost thou beget? Or to his mother, Why dost thou bring forth?


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Thus saith Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask of me concerning things to come; My children, the work of my hands, leave them to me!


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I made the earth, And created man upon it; My hands spread out the heavens, And all their host did I arrange.


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I have raised him up for salvation, And I will make all his ways plain; He shall build my city, and release my captives, Not for price, and not for ransom, Saith Jehovah of hosts.


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Thus saith Jehovah: The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of the Ethiopians and Sabeans, men of stature, Shall come over to thee, and be thine; They shall follow thee; in chains shall they pass along; They shall fall down to thee, and make supplication to thee: “In thee alone is God, and there is none else; There is no other God.”


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They shall all be ashamed and confounded, They shall go to confusion together, That are makers of idols.


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But Israel shall be saved by Jehovah with an everlasting salvation; Ye shall never be ashamed, nor confounded.


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For thus saith Jehovah, who created the heavens; The God that formed the earth and made it; he that made it firm; He created it not in vain; he formed it to be inhabited: I am Jehovah, and none else.


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I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I have not said to the race of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain! I, Jehovah, speak truth; I declare that which is right.


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Assemble yourselves and come; Gather yourselves together, ye that are escaped of the nations! They are without understanding, who carry about with them the wood of their graven image, And pray to a god that cannot save.


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Proclaim ye, and bring them near, And let them take counsel together: Who hath made this known from ancient time? Who hath declared it of old? Is it not I, Jehovah, besides whom there is no God? A God that uttereth truth, and giveth salvation; there is none besides me.


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By myself have I sworn, The truth hath gone from my mouth, The word, that shall not return, That to me every knee shall bow, That to me every tongue shall swear.


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“Only in Jehovah,” shall men say, “Is salvation and strength; To him shall come and be put to shame, All that are incensed against him.”


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Bel sinketh down; Nebo falleth; Their images are laid upon beasts and cattle; Those that ye once bore are packed upon them; A burden to the weary beast!


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They sink down; they fall together; They cannot rescue the burden; They themselves go into captivity.


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Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel; Ye that have been borne by me from your birth, That have been carried by me from your earliest breath!


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Even to your old age I am the same; Even to hoar hairs I will carry you; I have done it, and I will still bear you; I will carry, and will deliver you.


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They lavish gold out of the bag, And weigh silver in the balance; They hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god; They fall down, yea, they worship it.


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They lift him upon the shoulder, and carry him; They set him in his place, and there he standeth; From his place he moveth not; Yea, one may cry to him, yet doth he not answer, Nor save him out of his distress.


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Remember the former things in ancient times! For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.


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Declaring the end from the beginning; From ancient times the things that were not yet done; Saying, My purpose shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure;


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Calling from the East the eagle, The man that executeth my purpose from a far country; I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.


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I have brought near my deliverance; it is not far off; My salvation shall not tarry; I will give to Zion salvation, To Israel, my glory.<pb/>


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Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin, daughter of Babylon! Sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldaeans! For thou shalt no longer be called the tender and delicate!


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Take the mill-stones and grind meal; Raise thy veil, lift up thy train; Make bare the leg, wade through the streams!


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Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, And thy shame shall be seen. I will take vengeance; I will make peace with none.


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Sit thou in silence; go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldaeans! For thou shalt no more be called the mistress of kingdoms.


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I was angry with my people; I profaned my inheritance, And gave them into thy hand; Thou didst show them no mercy; Even upon the aged didst thou lay a very grievous yoke.


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Thou saidst, “I shall be mistress forever”; So that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, Nor consider what would be the end of them.


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But hear thou this, thou that art given to pleasure! That sittest in security, And sayest in thy heart, “I am, and there is none besides me; I shall not be a widow, Nor see myself childless!”


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Behold, both these things shall come upon thee suddenly, in one day, Loss of children, and widowhood; In full measure shall they come upon thee, In spite of thy many sorceries, And the great abundance of thy enchantments.


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Thou didst trust in thy wickedness, and saidst, “No one seeth me”; Thy wisdom and thy knowledge have led thee astray; Thou saidst in thy heart, “I am, and there is none besides me”;


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Therefore shall evil come upon thee, of which thou shalt not know the dawn; And mischief shall fall upon thee, which thou shalt not be able to expiate; Suddenly shall desolation come upon thee, when thou thinkest not of it.


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Persevere now in thy enchantments; In the multitude of thy sorceries, in which thou hast labored from thy youth; Perhaps thou mayst be profited by them! Perhaps thou mayst make thyself feared!


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Art thou wearied with thy many devices? Let them stand up, then, and save thee, The observers of the heavens, the star-gazers, They that prognosticate at every new moon The things that shall come upon thee!


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Behold, they shall be like stubble; the fire shall burn them up; They shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; Not a coal shall be left of them to warm one, Nor a spark of fire to sit by.


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Thus shall it be with them with whom thou hast labored; Thus with them with whom thou hast trafficked from thy youth; They shall go every one his own way; None shall help thee.<pb/>


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Hear this, O house of Jacob! Ye that are called by the name of Israel; Ye that have come forth from the fountain of Judah; Ye that swear by the name of Jehovah, And praise the God of Israel, But not in truth and sincerity!


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For they call themselves of the holy city, And stay themselves on the God of Israel, Whose name is Jehovah of hosts:—


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What hath happened I declared to you long ago; From my mouth it proceeded, and I made it known; On a sudden I effected it, and it came to pass.


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Because I knew that thou art obstinate, And that thy neck is a bar of iron, And that thy brow is brass,


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I declared it to thee long ago; Before it came to pass, I made it known to thee; Lest thou shouldst say, My idol effected it, And my graven image, and my molten image ordained it.


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Thou hast heard it; now see it all! And will ye not confess it? From this time I make you hear a new thing, Even a hidden thing, which thou hast not known.


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It is produced now, and not long ago; Before this day thou hast not heard of it, Lest thou shouldst say, Behold, I knew it.


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Yea, thou heardest it not; yea, thou knewest it not; Yea, it was not disclosed to thee long ago; For I knew that thou wast wholly faithless, And wast called rebellious from thy birth.


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For the sake of my name I will defer my anger, And for the sake of my praise I will restrain it from thee, That I may not utterly cut thee off.


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For mine own sake will I do it; For how would my name be blasphemed? And my glory will I not give to another.


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Yea, my hand hath founded the earth, And my right hand hath spread out the heavens; I called them; they stood forth together.


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Assemble yourselves, all of you, and hear! Who among you hath declared these things? He whom Jehovah loveth will execute his pleasure upon Babylon, And his power upon the Chaldaeans.


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I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him; I have brought him, and his way shall be prosperous.


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Draw near to me, and hear ye this! I spake not in secret from the beginning; And since it began to be, I have been there; And now hath the Lord Jehovah sent me with his spirit.


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Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am Jehovah, thy God, who teacheth thee what will profit thee; Who leadeth thee in the way thou shouldst go.


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O that thou wouldst hearken to my commandments! Then shall thy peace be as a river, And thy prosperity as the waves of the sea;


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Then shall thy posterity be as the sand, And the fruit of thy body as the offspring of the sea; Thy name shall not be cut off, nor destroyed before me.


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Come ye forth from Babylon, flee ye from the land of the Chaldaeans with the voice of joy! Publish ye this, and make it known; Let it resound to the ends of the earth! Say: “Jehovah hath redeemed his servant Jacob;


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They thirst not in the deserts through which he leadeth them; Waters from the rock he causeth to flow for them; He cleaveth the rock, and the waters gush forth.


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Listen to me, ye distant lands! Attend, ye nations from afar! Jehovah called me at my birth; In my very childhood he called me by name.


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He made my mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of his hand did he hide me. He made me a polished shaft; In his quiver did he hide me.


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Then I said, I have labored in vain; For naught, for vanity, have I spent my strength; Yet my cause is with Jehovah, And my reward with my God.


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And now thus saith Jehovah, Who formed me from my birth to be his servant To bring Jacob to him again, And that Israel might be gathered to him,—For I am honored in the eyes of Jehovah, And my God is my strength,—


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He said, It is a small tiling that thou shouldst be my servant, To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved of Israel; I will also make thee the light of the nations, That my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.


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Thus saith Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, To him that is despised by men, abhorred by the people, To the servant of tyrants; Kings shall see, and stand up, Princes, and they shall pay homage, On account of Jehovah, who is faithful, The Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee.


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Thus saith Jehovah; In the time of favor will I hear thee; In the day of deliverance will I help thee; I will preserve thee, and make thee a mediator for the people, To restore the land, to distribute the desolated inheritances;


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To say to the prisoners, Go forth! To them that are in darkness, Come to the light! They shall feed in the ways, And on all high places shall be their pasture.


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They shall not hunger, neither shall they thirst; Neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them; For he that hath compassion on them shall lead them; To springs of water shall he guide them.


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Behold! these shall come from far; And behold! these from the North and from the West, And these from the land of Sinim.


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Sing, O ye heavens, and rejoice, O earth! Break forth into singing, ye mountains! For Jehovah comforteth his people, And hath compassion on his afflicted ones.


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Can a woman forget her sucking child, So as not to have compassion on the son of her womb? Yet, should they forget, I will never forget thee!


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Lift up thine eyes around, and see! They all assemble themselves, and come to thee. As I live, saith Jehovah, Thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with a rich dress; Thou shalt bind them on thee, as a bride her jewels.


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For thy waste and desolate places, and thy land laid in ruins, Shall now be too narrow for the inhabitants; And they that devoured thee shall be far away.


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Thou, that hast been childless, shalt yet hear thy sons exclaim: “The place is too narrow for me; make room for me that I may dwell.”


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And thou shalt say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these? I surely was childless and unfruitful, An exile, and an outcast; who then hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, then, where were they?


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Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will lift up my hand to the nations, And set up my standard to the kingdoms; They shall bring thy sons in their arms, And thy daughters upon their shoulders.


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And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, And queens thy nursing mothers; Upon their faces shall they bow down before thee, And lick the dust of thy feet. Thus shalt thou know that I am Jehovah; And they who trust in me shall not be put to shame.


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Yea, thus saith Jehovah, The prey shall be taken away from the mighty, And the spoil of the terrible shall be rescued; For with him that contendeth with thee will I contend, (49:26) And I will save thy children.


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(49:27) And I will cause thine oppressors to eat their own flesh; With their own blood shall they be drunk, as with new wine; And all flesh shall know that I Jehovah am thy saviour; That thy redeemer is the Mighty One of Jacob.<pb/>


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Thus saith Jehovah: Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, By which I dismissed her? Or who is he among my creditors To whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities are ye sold, And for your transgressions was your mother dismissed.


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Wherefore, when I came, was no man at hand? When I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand too short to redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, And make the rivers a desert. Their fish putrefy for want of water, And die with thirst.


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The Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of the learned, That I might know how to strengthen with my words them that are weary; He wakeneth me every morning, He wakeneth mine ear, That I may hear in the manner of the learned.


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The Lord Jehovah opened mine ear, And I was not disobedient, Neither did I withdraw myself backward.


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I gave my back to the smiters, And my cheeks to them that pluck the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.


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But the Lord Jehovah is my helper, Therefore shall I not be confounded; Therefore have I made my face like a flint, For I know that I shall not be put to shame.


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He that defendeth my cause is near; Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together! Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me!


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Behold, the Lord Jehovah is my defender; Who is he that shall condemn me? Behold, they shall all waste away like a garment; The moth shall consume them.


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Who is there among you that feareth Jehovah, That hearkeneth to the voice of his servant, That walketh in darkness and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of Jehovah, And lean upon his God.


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Behold, all ye who kindle a fire, Who gird yourselves with burning arrows! Walk ye in the light of your fire, And in the burning arrows which ye have kindled. This shall ye have from my hand; Ye shall lie down in sorrow.<pb/>


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Hearken to me, ye that pursue righteousness. Ye that seek Jehovah! Look to the rock whence ye were hewn, To the pit-quarry whence ye were digged!


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Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah that bore you! For I called him when only one, And blessed him, and multiplied him.


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Thus will Jehovah have pity upon Zion; He will have pity upon all her desolations. He will make her wilderness like Eden, Her desert like the garden of Jehovah. Joy and gladness shall be found therein; Thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.


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Hearken to me, O my people! And give ear to me, O my nation! For a law shall proceed from me, And I will establish my statutes for the light of the nations.


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My help is near; my salvation goeth forth; My arm shall judge the nations; Distant lands shall wait for me, And in my arm shall they trust.


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Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look down upon the earth beneath! For the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, And the earth shall decay like a garment, And its inhabitants shall perish like flies. But my salvation shall endure forever, And my goodness shall not decay.


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Hearken to me, ye that know righteousness, The people in whose heart is my law! Fear ye not the reproach of men, Nor be disheartened by their revilings!


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For the moth shall consume them like a garment, And the worm shall eat them like wool. But my goodness shall endure forever, And my salvation from generation to generation.


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Awake! awake! clothe thyself with strength, O arm of Jehovah! Awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old!


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Art thou not the same that smote Rahab, And wounded the dragon? Art thou not the same that dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep,—That made the depths of the sea a path for the redeemed to pass through?


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Thus shall the ransomed of Jehovah return; They shall come to Zion with singing; Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; They shall obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.


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I, even I, am he that hath pity upon you; Who art thou, that thou art afraid of man, that shall die, Of the son of man, that shall perish like grass,


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And forgettest Jehovah thy maker, That stretched out the heavens, And founded the earth, And fearest continually every day, On account of the fury of the oppressor, As if he were taking aim to destroy thee? Where now is the fury of the oppressor?


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I have put my words into thy mouth, And have covered thee with the shadow of my hand, To establish the heavens, and to found the earth. And to say to Zion, “Thou art my people!”


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Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem! Thou that hast drunk from the hand of Jehovah the cup of his fury, Thou that hast drunk to the dregs the cup of giddiness!


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There is not one to lead her, of all the sons which she hath brought forth, Nor is there one to take her by the hand, of all the sons which she hath nurtured.


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These two things have come upon thee, And who bemoaneth thee? Desolation and destruction, and famine and the sword; How shall I comfort thee?


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Thy sons have fainted; they lie at the head of all the streets, Like a deer in the net; They are full of the wrath of Jehovah, Of the rebuke of thy God.


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Thus saith thy Lord, Jehovah, And thy God, that defendeth the cause of his people. Behold, I will take from thy hand the cup of giddiness, The cup of my wrath; Thou shalt drink no more of it.


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And I will put it into the hand of them that have afflicted thee; That have said to thee, “Bow down, that we may pass over!” And thou madest thy body as the ground, And as the street, to them that passed over.<pb/>


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Awake, awake, put on thy majesty, O Zion! Put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For no more shall come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.


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Shake thyself from the dust, Arise and sit erect, O Jerusalem! Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion!


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For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: My people went down to Egypt formerly to sojourn there, And the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.


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And now, what have I here to do, saith the Lord, When my people is taken away for naught, And their tyrants exult, saith Jehovah, And all the day long my name is blasphemed.


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Therefore shall my people know my name; Therefore in that day shall they know That I am he that said, Behold, here am I!


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How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, of him that proclaimeth peace! That bringeth good tidings, that proclaimeth salvation! That saith to Zion, “Thy God is king!”


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Hark! the voice of thy watchmen! They lift up the voice together; yea, they shout! For eye to eye shall they behold, When Jehovah returneth to Zion.


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Break forth into joy; shout together, ye ruins of Jerusalem! For Jehovah hath pity on his people; he redeemeth Jerusalem.


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Jehovah maketh bare his holy arm In the sight of all the nations; All the ends of the earth Behold the salvation from our God.


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Depart, depart ye; go ye out from thence; Touch no unclean thing! Go ye out from the midst of her; Be ye clean, ye that bear the vessels of Jehovah!


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For not in haste shall ye go forth, Nor in flight shall ye pass along; For Jehovah shall march in your front, And the God of Israel bring up your rear.


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As many were amazed at the sight of him,—So disfigured and scarcely human was his visage, And so unlike that of a man was his form,—


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So shall he cause many nations to exult on account of him; Kings shall shut their mouths before him. For what had never been told them shall they see, And what they never heard shall they perceive.<pb/>


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For He grew up before him like a tender plant, Like a sucker from a dry soil; He had no form, nor comeliness, that we should look upon him, Nor beauty, that we should take pleasure in him.


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He was despised, and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows, and acquainted with disease; As one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed him not.


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But he bore our diseases, And carried our pains, And we esteemed him stricken from above, Smitten of God, and afflicted.


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But he was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; For our peace was the chastisement upon him, And by his stripes are we healed.


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All we, like sheep, were going astray; We turned every one to his own way, And Jehovah laid upon him the iniquity of us all.


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He was oppressed, that was already afflicted. Yet he opened not his mouth; As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, He opened not his mouth.


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By oppression and punishment he was taken away, And who in his generation would consider That he was cut off from the land of the living, That for the transgression of my people he was smitten?


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His grave was appointed with the wicked, And with the rich man was his sepulchre, Although he had done no injustice, And there was no deceit in his mouth.


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It pleased Jehovah severely to bruise him; But when he hath made his life a sacrifice for sin, He shall see posterity; he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand.


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Free from his sorrows, he shall see and be satisfied; By his knowledge shall my righteous servant lead many to righteousness, And he shall bear their iniquities.


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Therefore will I give him his portion with the mighty, And with heroes shall he divide the spoil, Because he poured out his soul unto death, And was numbered with transgressors; Because he bore the sin of many, And made intercession for transgressors.<pb/>


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Sing, O thou barren, that didst not hear! Break forth into singing, and shout for joy, thou that wast not in travail! For more are the children of the desolate Than of the married woman, saith Jehovah.


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Enlarge the place of thy tent, And let the canopy of thy habitation be extended! Spare not; lengthen thy cords, And make fast thy stakes!


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For on the right hand and on the left shalt thou burst forth with increase; And thy posterity shall inherit the nations, And people the desolate cities.


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Fear not, for thou shalt not be confounded; Blush not, for thou shalt not be put to shame. For thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, And the reproach of thy widowhood thou shalt remember no more.


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For thy husband is thy Maker; Jehovah of hosts is his name. Thy redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.


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For as a woman forsaken, and deeply afflicted, hath Jehovah recalled thee, And as a wife wedded in youth, that hath been rejected, saith thy God.


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In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment. But with everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon thee, Saith thy redeemer, Jehovah.


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As in the time of the waters of Noah, so shall it be now; As I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, So do I swear that I will not be angry with thee, nor rebuke thee.


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For the mountains shall depart, And the hills be overthrown, But my kindness shall not depart from thee, Nor shall my covenant of peace be overthrown, Saith Jehovah, that hath pity on thee.


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O thou afflicted, beaten with the storm, destitute of consolation! Behold, I lay thy stones in cement of vermilion, And thy foundations with sapphires.


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And I will make thy battlements of rubies, And thy gates of carbuncles, And all thy borders fill of precious stones.


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By righteousness shalt thou be established; Be thou far from anxiety, for thou shalt have nothing to fear, And from terror, for it shall not come near thee.


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If any be leagued against thee, it is not by my command; Whoever shall be leagued against thee shall come over to thee.


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Behold, I create the smith, Who bloweth up the coals into a fire, And produceth an instrument for his work; I also create the destroyer to lay waste.


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Whatever weapon is formed against thee, it shall not prosper; And against every tongue that contendeth with thee, thou shalt obtain thy cause. This is the inheritance of the servants of Jehovah, And the blessing which they receive from me, saith Jehovah.<pb/>


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Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters! Even ye that have no money, come ye, buy and eat! Yea, come, buy wine and milk, Without money and without price.


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Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread, And your substance for that which doth not satisfy? Listen attentively to me; so shall ye eat that which is good, And your soul shall delight itself with delicacies.


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Incline your ear, and come to me; Hear, and your soul shall live! And I will make with you an everlasting covenant; I will give you the sure mercies of David.


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Behold, the nation which thou knowest not thou shalt call; And the nation which knew not thee shall run to thee, For the sake of Jehovah, thy God, And of the Holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee.


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Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him, And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.


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For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.


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For as the rain and the snow descend from heaven, And return not thither, But water the earth, and make it bear and put forth its increase, That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater;


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So shall my word be, that goeth forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void; But it shall bring to pass that which is my pleasure, And it shall accomplish that for which I send it.


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For ye shall go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.


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Instead of the thorn shall grow up the cypress-tree, And instead of the bramble shall grow up the myrtle-tree, And it shall be to Jehovah for a name; For an everlasting memorial, that shall not pass away.<pb/>


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Thus saith Jehovah: Keep ye justice, and practise righteousness; For the coming of my salvation is near, And my deliverance is soon to be revealed.


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Happy the man that doeth this, And the son of man that holdeth it fast; That keepeth the sabbath, and profaneth it not, And restraineth his hand from doing evil.


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And let not the stranger that joineth himself to Jehovah say, Jehovah hath wholly separated me from his people. And let not the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree!


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For thus saith Jehovah concerning the eunuchs: They that keep my sabbaths, And take pleasure in doing my will, And hold fast my covenant,


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To them will I give in my house, and within my walls, a portion and a name, Better than of sons and daughters; An everlasting name will I give them, That shall never fade away.


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The strangers, also, that join themselves to Jehovah, to serve him, To love the name of Jehovah, and to be his servants. Every one that keepeth the sabbath, and profaneth it not, And holdeth fast my covenant,


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Them will I bring to my holy mountain, And I will make them rejoice in my house of prayer; Their burnt-offerings and sacrifices shall be accepted on mine altar; For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.


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Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, That gathereth the outcasts of Israel; Yet will I gather others to him, Besides those that are already gathered.


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His watchmen are all blind; they know nothing; They are all dumb dogs, that cannot bark, Dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber;


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Yet are they greedy dogs that cannot be satisfied; The shepherds themselves will not attend; They all turn aside to their own way, Every one of them to their own gain.


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“Come on, let me bring wine, And let us fill ourselves with strong drink, And to-morrow shall be as to-day, And even much more abundant.”<pb/>


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The righteous man perisheth, and no one layeth it to heart; And pious men are taken away, and none considereth That because of the evil the righteous man is taken away.


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Of whom do ye make your sport, And at whom do ye make wide the mouth, And draw out the tongue? Are ye not rebellious children, a treacherous brood?


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Burning with lust for idols Under every green tree, Slaying children in the valleys, Under the clefts of the rocks?


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With the smooth stones of the valley is thy portion; These, these are thy lot; Here thou pourest out thy drink-offering, And presentest thy meat-offering; Can I see such things, and be at rest?


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Behind the doors and the posts dost thou place thy memorial; Thou departest from me, and uncoverest, and ascendest, and enlargest thy bed. Thou makest an agreement with them; Thou desirest their bed; Thou choosest a place.


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Thou goest to the king with oil, And takest much precious perfume; Thou sendest thine ambassadors afar, Yea, down to the under-world.


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In the length of thy journeys thou hast wearied thyself, But thou sayest not, “I will desist”; Thou yet findest life in thy hand, Therefore thou art not discouraged.


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On account of whom art thou anxious, and of whom art thou afraid, that thou hast proved false, And hast not remembered me, nor laid it to heart? Behold, I have been silent a long time; Therefore thou fearest me not.


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When thou criest, let thy host of idols deliver thee! But the wind shall bear them all away; A breath shall take them off; But he that putteth his trust in me Shall possess the land, And shall inherit my holy mountain.


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Men shall say, Cast up, cast up, prepare the road; Remove every obstruction from the way of my people!


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For thus saith the high and lofty One That inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place; With him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit; To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.


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For I will not contend forever, Nor will I be always angry; For life would fail before me, And the souls which I created.


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For the guilt of his covetousness I was angry; I smote him, I hid myself, and was angry; But yet he went on perversely in the way of his heart.


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I have seen his ways, yet will I heal him; I will guide him, and I will restore comfort To him and to his mourners;


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I create the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is nigh, Saith Jehovah; I will heal him.


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Cry aloud, spare not, Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, And show my people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins!


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Yet they seek me daily, And desire to know my ways, As a nation that hath done righteousness, And hath not forsaken the ordinances of their God; They inquire of me concerning the judgments which bring salvation; They long for the coming of God.


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“Wherefore do we fast, and thou seest not? Wherefore do we afflict our souls, and thou dost not regard it?” Behold, in the day of your fasts ye pursue your pleasure, And exact all your labors.


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Behold, ye fast in strife and contention, And smiting with the fist of wickedness. Ye do not fast now So that your voice shall be heard on high.


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Is this the fast that I approve, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it that he should bow down his head like a bulrush, And lie down in sackcloth and ashes? Wilt thou call this a fast, And a day acceptable to Jehovah?


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Is not this the fast that I approve,—To loose the bands of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And to break in pieces every yoke?


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Is it not to break thy bread to the hungry, And to bring the poor, that are cast out, to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou clothe him, And that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?


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Then shall thy light break forth like the morning, And thy health shall spring forth speedily; Thy salvation shall go before thee, And the glory of Jehovah shall bring up thy rear.


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Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; Thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Lo, here I am! If thou remove from the midst of thee the yoke, The pointing of the finger, and the injurious speech.


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If thou bring forth thy bread to the hungry, And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then in obscurity shall light arise to thee; Yea, thy darkness shall become as noonday;


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Jehovah shall lead thee continually, And satisfy thee in the time of drought, And strengthen thy bones; Thou shalt be like a watered garden, and a spring of water, Whose waters never fail.


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Thy people shall build the ancient desolations, The ruins of many generations shall they restore; Thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of ways for inhabitants.


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If thou restrain thy foot from the sabbath, From doing thy pleasure on my holy day, If thou shalt call the sabbath a delight, The holy day of Jehovah honorable, And shalt honor it by refraining from thy work, From doing thy pleasure, and speaking vain words,


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Then shalt thou delight thyself in Jehovah. And I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, And cause thee to enjoy the inheritance of Jacob, thy father; For the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.<pb/>


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Behold, Jehovah's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, Nor is his ear heavy, that it cannot hear;


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But your iniquities have separated you from your God, And your sins have hidden his face from you, that he doth not hear.


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For your hands are polluted with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips speak falsehood, And your tongue muttereth wickedness.


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No one bringeth his suit with justice, And no one pleadeth with truth; They trust in vain words, and speak lies; They conceive mischief, and bring forth destruction.


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They hatch the eggs of the basilisk, And weave the web of the spider; He that eateth of their eggs dieth, And when one of them is crushed, a viper breaketh forth.


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Of their webs no garment is made, Nor can one cover himself with their work; Their works are works of iniquity, And the deed of violence is in their hands.


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Their feet run to evil; They make haste to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; Oppression and destruction are in their paths.


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The way of peace they know not, Nor is there any justice in their steps; They have made for themselves crooked paths; Whoso goeth in them knoweth not peace.


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Therefore is judgment far from us, And deliverance doth not overtake us. We look for light, and behold obscurity; For brightness, and we walk in darkness.


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We grope for the wall, like the blind; We feel our way, like those that are deprived of sight; We stumble at noonday as in the night; In the midst of fertile fields we are like the dead.


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We groan, all of us, like bears, And like doves we make a continued moan; We look for judgment, and it cometh not; For salvation, and it is far from us.


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For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, And our sins testify against us! For our transgressions are not hidden from us, And our iniquities we know.


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We have rebelled, and proved false to Jehovah; We have departed from our God; We have spoken violence and rebellion; Our hearts have conceived and brought forth words of falsehood.


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And justice is turned back, And equity standeth afar off, For truth falleth in the gate, And rectitude cannot enter.


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Truth is not to be found, And he that departeth from evil is plundered; And Jehovah saw it, And it displeased him that there was no justice.


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He saw that there was none to help, And wondered that there was none to interpose; Then his own arm wrought salvation for him, And his righteousness it supported him.


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He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And the helmet of salvation upon his head; He put on garments of vengeance for his clothing, And clad himself with zeal, as with a mantle.


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According to their deeds will he repay them,—Wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; To the distant coasts will he repay a recompense.


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They in the west shall fear the name of Jehovah, And they in the rising of the sun his glory, When he cometh like a river straitened in its course, Which a strong wind driveth along.


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Yet shall a redeemer come to Zion, For them that turn from their transgressions in Jacob, saith Jehovah.


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And as for me, this is my covenant with them, saith Jehovah: My spirit, which is upon thee, And my words, which I have put in thy mouth, They shall not depart from thy mouth, Nor from the mouth of thy sons, Nor from the mouth of thy sons' sons, saith Jehovah, From this time forth forever.<pb/>


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For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, And gross darkness the nations; But upon thee shall Jehovah arise, And his glory shall be seen upon thee.


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Lift up thine eyes round about and see! They all gather themselves together, and come to thee; Thy sons come from afar, And thy daughters are carried at thy side.


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Then shalt thou see, and be bright with joy; Thy heart shall throb, and swell with delight, When the riches of the sea shall be turned toward thee, And the wealth of the nations shall come to thee.


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A multitude of camels shall cover thee, Dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; From Sheba shall they all come. Gold and frankincense shall they bring, And proclaim the praises of Jehovah.


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All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to thee, And the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to thee; They shall ascend mine altar, an acceptable offering, And my glorious house I will adorn.


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Behold, the distant coasts shall wait for me, And the ships of Tarshish among the first, To bring thy sons from afar, And their silver and their gold with them, Because of the name of Jehovah thy God, Of the Holy One of Israel, for he glorifieth thee.


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The sons of the stranger shall build up thy walls, And their kings shall minister to thee; For in my wrath I smote thee, But in my mercy will I have pity upon thee.


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Thy gates shall be open continually; They shall not be shut by day or by night, That the treasures of the nations may be brought to thee, And that their kings may come with their retinues.


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For that nation and that kingdom Which will not serve thee shall perish; Yea, those nations shall be utterly destroyed.


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The glory of Lebanon shall come to thee, The cypress, the plane-tree, and the larch together, To adorn the place of my sanctuary, That I may make the place where my feet rest glorious.


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The sons of thine oppressors shall come bending before thee; They that despised thee shall fall down at thy feet; And they shall call thee the city of Jehovah, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.


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Instead of being forsaken and hated, So that no one passed through thee, I will make thee an everlasting glory; The joy of many generations.


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Thou shalt also suck the milk of the nations, And be nursed from the breast of kings; And thou shalt know that I, Jehovah, am thy saviour, That thy redeemer is the Mighty One of Jacob.


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Instead of brass will I bring gold; And instead of iron will I bring silver, And instead of wood, brass, And instead of stones, iron; I will make thine officers peace, And thy magistrates righteousness.


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Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, Wasting or destruction within thy borders; Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, And thy gates Praise.


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No more shall the sun be thy light by day, Nor with her brightness shall the moon enlighten thee: But Jehovah shall be to thee an everlasting light, And thy God thy glory.


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Thy sun shall no more go down, Neither shall thy moon be hid; For Jehovah shall be thine everlasting light, And the days of thy mourning shall be ended.


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Thy people shall be all righteous; Forever shall they possess the land, The scion of my planting, The work of my hands, that I may be glorified.


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The little one shall become a thousand, And the small one a strong nation; I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time.<pb/>


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The spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me, For Jehovah hath anointed me; He hath sent me to publish good tidings to the distressed, To bind up the broken-hearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to them that are bound;


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To proclaim the year of mercy from Jehovah, And the day of vengeance from our God; To comfort all that mourn;


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To give gladness to the mourners in Zion; To give them a beautiful crown instead of ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, So that they shall be called blessed terebinth-trees, The plantation of Jehovah for his glory.


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They shall build up the old ruins; They shall raise up the ancient desolations; They shall repair the cities laid waste, The desolations of many generations.


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Strangers shall stand up and feed your flocks, And the sons of the alien shall be your ploughmen and vine-dressers;


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But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah, Men shall call you the ministers of our God. Ye shall eat the riches of the nations, And in their glory shall ye make your boast.


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For your shame shall ye have a double reward; And for ignominy ye shall rejoice in your portion; Therefore in your land ye shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be your portion.


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For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate rapine and iniquity, I will give them their reward with faithfulness, And an everlasting covenant will I make with them.


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Their race shall be illustrious among the nations, And their offspring among the people; All that see them shall acknowledge That they are a race which Jehovah hath blessed.


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“I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah; My soul shall exult in my God; For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation; He hath covered me with the mantle of deliverance. As the bridegroom decketh himself with his turban, And as the bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”


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For as the earth putteth forth her shoots, And as a garden causeth its plants to spring forth, So shall the Lord Jehovah cause salvation to spring forth; And praise before all the nations.<pb/>


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For Zion's sake I will not keep silence, And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, Until her deliverance break forth like the shining light, And her salvation like a blazing torch.


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Then shall the nations see thy prosperity, And all the kings thy glory; Thou shalt be called by a new name, Which the mouth of Jehovah shall give thee.


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No more shalt thou be called the Desolate, And thy land, the Forsaken. But thou shall be named My-delight-is-in-her. And thy land the wedded Matron. For Jehovah shall delight in thee, And thy land shall be married.


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For as a young man weddeth a virgin. So shall thy children wed thee. And as a bridegroom rejoiceth in his bride, So shall thy God rejoice in thee.


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Upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, have I set watchmen; All the day, and all the night, shall they not keep silence; O ye that praise Jehovah, keep not silence,


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Jehovah hath sworn by his right hand, and his mighty arm: No more will I give thy corn to be food for thine enemies, Nor shall the sons of the stranger drink thy wine, for which thou hast labored.


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But they that reap the harvest shall eat it, And praise Jehovah; And they that gather the vintage shall drink it, In my holy comets.


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Pass ye, pass ye through the gates; Prepare the way for the people; Cast ye up, cast ye up the highway, Clear it from the stones; Lift up on high a standard for the tribes!


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Behold, Jehovah proclaimeth to the end of the earth: “Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy Deliverer cometh! Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him!”


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They shall be called, The holy people, The redeemed of Jehovah. And thou shalt be called, The Sought out, The Not forsaken City.<pb/>


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Who is this that cometh from Edom? In scarlet garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, Proud in the greatness of his strength? I that proclaim deliverance, And am mighty to save.


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I have trodden the wine-vat alone, And of the nations there was none with me. And I trod them in mine anger, And I trampled them in my fury, So that their life-blood was sprinkled upon my garments. And I have stained all my apparel.


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And I looked, and there was none to help, And I wondered, that there was none to uphold; Therefore my own arm wrought salvation for me, And my fury, it sustained me.


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I trod down the nations in my anger; I crushed them in my fury, And spilled their blood upon the ground.


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I will celebrate the mercy of Jehovah, the glory of Jehovah, According to all that he hath done for us; His great goodness to the house of Israel, Which he hath bestowed on it in his tender mercy, and his great kindness.


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In all their straits they had no distress; An angel of his presence saved them; In his love and compassion he redeemed them, He took them up and bore them all the days of old.


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But they rebelled, and grieved his holy spirit; Then did he change himself into their enemy; He himself fought against them.


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Then remembered his people the ancient days, the days of Moses, [[saying,]] Where is he that brought them up from the sea with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he that put his holy spirit within him?


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That caused his glorious arm to accompany the right hand of Moses, That divided the water before them, To make to himself an everlasting name?


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As the herd descendeth into the valley, The spirit of Jehovah led them to rest. So didst thou lead thy people, To make for thyself a glorious name.


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Look down from heaven, and behold from thy holy and glorious habitation! Where is thy zeal and thy might? Thy pity and compassion for me, are they restrained?


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Thou, surely, art our father; Abraham is ignorant of us, And Israel knoweth us not. Thou, O Jehovah, art our father; Our deliverer wast thou of old.


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Why, O Jehovah, dost thou suffer us to wander from thy ways, And harden our hearts against thy fear? Return, for thy servants' sake, The tribes of thine inheritance!


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But a little while did thy holy people possess the land; Then our enemies trampled upon thy sanctuary.


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It has been with us as if thou hadst never ruled over us, As if we had not been called by thy name.<pb/>


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O that thou wouldst rend the heavens, and come down; That the mountains might tremble at thy presence,


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As fire kindleth the dry stubble, As fire causeth water to boil, To make known thy name to thine adversaries, That the nations might tremble at thy presence;


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As thou once didst wonderful things, which we looked not for, And camest down, so that the mountains trembled at thy presence.


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For never have men heard, nor perceived by the ear, Nor hath eye seen, a God beside thee. Who doeth such things for those that trust in him.


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Thou art the friend of those who joyfully do righteousness, Those who remember thee in thy ways. Behold, thou art angry, and we are punished; Long doth the punishment endure, before we are delivered.


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We are all of us an unclean thing; Like a filthy garment is all our righteousness; We are all withered like a leaf, And our sins, like a storm, have blown us away.


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There is none that calleth upon thy name, That stirreth himself up to cleave to thee; For thou hidest thy face from us, And lettest us perish by our iniquities.


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But now, O Jehovah, thou art our father; We are the clay, and thou hast formed us; We are all of us the work of thy hands.


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Be not wroth, O Jehovah, to the uttermost, Nor remember our iniquity forever! Behold, look upon us, we beseech thee, we are all thy people!


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Our holy and glorious house, Where our fathers praised thee, Is burned with fire, And all our precious things are laid waste.


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Wilt thou contain thyself at these things, O Jehovah, Wilt thou keep silence, and still grievously afflict us?<pb/>


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I have heard those that made no supplication; I have been found by those who sought me not; I said, Here I am, here I am, To a people that called not upon my name.


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I have spread out my hands all the day To a rebellious people, That walketh in an evil way, According to their own devices;


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To a people that provoke me to my face continually; That sacrifice in gardens, And burn incense on tiles;


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That sit in sepulchres, And lodge in caverns; That eat swine's flesh, And have broth of unclean things in their vessels;


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Who yet say: Stand by thyself! come not near to me, For I am holier than thou! These are a smoke in my nose, A fire that burneth continually.


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Behold, it stands recorded before me; I will not keep silence, but will requite; I will requite it into their bosoms;


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Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith Jehovah, Who burnt incense on the mountains, And dishonored me on the hills, I will pour the full recompense of their former deeds into their bosom.


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Thus saith Jehovah: As when juice is found in a cluster, Men say, “Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it”; So will I do, for the sake of my servants, and will not destroy the whole;


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I will cause a stem to spring forth from Jacob, And from Judah a possessor of my mountains; My chosen shall possess the land, And my servants shall dwell there.


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And Sharon shall be a fold for flocks, And the valley of Achor a resting-place for herds, For my people that have sought me.


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But ye, who have forsaken Jehovah, And have forgotten my holy mountain, That prepare a table for Fortune, And fill the cup for Destiny,


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Yourselves do I destine to the sword, And all of you shall bow down before the slaughter; Because I called, and ye answered not, I spake, and ye would not hear, But did that which is evil in my sight, And chose that in which I had no delight.


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Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, my servants shall eat, and ye shall be hungry; Behold, my servants shall drink, and ye shall be thirsty; Behold, my servants shall rejoice, and ye shall be confounded;


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Behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, But ye shall shriek for sorrow of heart, And howl for anguish of spirit.


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And ye shall leave your name for a curse to my chosen, And the Lord Jehovah shall slay you; But his servants will he call by another name.


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Whoso blesseth himself in the land Shall bless by the true God; And he that sweareth in the land shall swear by the true God; For the former troubles are forgotten, And they are hid from mine eyes.


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For behold! I create new heavens, and a new earth; The former ones shall not be remembered, Nor shall they be brought to mind any more.


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But ye shall be glad and exult forever In that which I create; For behold! I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, And her people a joy.


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And I will exult in Jerusalem, And rejoice in my people; No more shall be heard therein The voice of weeping and the cry of distress.


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There shall not be there an infant child, nor an old man, That hath not filled the measure of his years; For he that dieth a hundred years old shall die a youth, And the sinner dying a hundred years old shall be held accursed.


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They shall not build, and another inhabit; They shall not plant, and another eat; For as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people, Yea, long shall my chosen enjoy the work of their hands.


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They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for early death; For they are a race blessed by Jehovah, And their offspring shall remain to them.


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The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, And the lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the food of the serpent. They shall not hurt, nor destroy, in all my holy mountain, Saith Jehovah.<pb/>


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Thus saith Jehovah: Heaven is my throne, And the earth my footstool; Where is the house that ye can build me, And where is the place of my rest?


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For all these things hath my hand made; By it do all these things exist, saith Jehovah. But to this man will I look, Even to him who is humble and of a contrite spirit, And who trembleth at my word.


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He that slayeth an ox killeth a man; He that sacrificeth a lamb beheadeth a dog; He that maketh an oblation offereth swine's blood; He that burneth incense blesseth an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, And in their abominations their souls delight.


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I also will choose their calamities; What they dread I will bring upon them; Because I called, and no one answered, I spake, and they did not hear; But they did what is evil in my sight, And chose that in which I have no delight.


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Hear the word of Jehovah, Ye that tremble at his word! “Your brethren that hate you, And thrust you out for my name's sake, have said, “May Jehovah be glorified, that we may see your joy!” But they shall be confounded.


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A voice of tumult from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of Jehovah, rendering recompense to his enemies!


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Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Is a country brought forth in a day? Is a nation born at once? For as soon as Zion was in travail, she brought forth her children.


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Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth, saith Jehovah; Shall I, who beget, restrain the birth? saith thy God.


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Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, And exult for her, all ye that love her! Be very joyful with her, all ye that mourn for her!


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That ye may suck, and be satisfied, from the breast of her consolations, That ye may suck and be delighted with the fulness of her glory.


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For thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will bring prosperity to her like a river, And the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream; Ye shall suck at the breast, Ye shall be carried on the arm, And on the knees shall ye be dandled.


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Ye shall see, and your heart shall rejoice, And your bones shall flourish like a green plant, And the hand of Jehovah shall be manifested to his servants, And be moved with indignation against his enemies.


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For behold, Jehovah cometh with fire, Like a whirlwind are his chariots, To breathe forth his anger in a glowing heat, And his rebuke in flames of fire.


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For with fire will Jehovah contend, And with his sword, with all flesh, And many shall be the slain of Jehovah.


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They who sanctify and purify themselves in the groves, Following one in the midst, Who eat swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse. They shall all perish together, saith Jehovah.


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For I know their works, and their thoughts; The time cometh to gather all nations and tongues together; They shall come, and behold my glory.


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And I will give a sign among them, And of those that escape I will send to the nations, To Tarshish, Phul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, To the distant coasts, who never heard my name, And who never saw my glory; And they shall declare my glory among the nations.


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And they shall bring all your brethren From all the nations, an offering to Jehovah, Upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules and dromedaries, To my holy mountain, Jerusalem, saith Jehovah, As the sons of Israel bring their gifts In pure vessels to the house of Jehovah.


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For as the new heavens, And the new earth, which I make, Endure before me, saith Jehovah, So shall your race and your name endure.


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And it shall be, from new moon to new moon, And from sabbath to sabbath, That all flesh shall come and worship before me, saith Jehovah.


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Then shall they go forth and see The dead bodies of the men that rebelled against me! For their worm shall not die, And their fire shall not be quenched, And they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.


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The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests, who dwelt in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin;


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to whom the word of Jehovah came in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign;


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to whom it also came in the days of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the carrying away of Jerusalem into captivity in the fifth month.


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Before I formed thee in the womb, I knew thee; and before thou camest into the world, I chose thee; I appointed thee to be a prophet to the nations.


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But Jehovah said to me, Say not, I am a child; but go to whomever I send thee, and speak whatever I command thee!


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Then Jehovah put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. Jehovah also said to me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.


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Behold, I have set thee this day over nations and over kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to overthrow; and to build, and to plant.


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Then the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, I see a rod of almond-wood.


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And the word of Jehovah came to me a second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a boiling pot, whose face is turned from the north.


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For, behold, I will call all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, saith Jehovah; and they shall come, and shall set every one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all her walls around, and against all the cities of Judah.


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And I will pronounce my judgments against them for all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, and worshipped the work of their own hands.


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Thou, therefore, gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak to them all that I command thee; be not afraid of them, lest I confound thee before them.


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For, behold, I make thee this day a fortified city, and a pillar of iron, and a wall of brass against all this land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.


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They shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee; for I will be with thee, saith Jehovah, to help thee.<pb/>


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Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, Thus saith Jehovah: I remember the kindness shown thee in thy youth, The love with which I espoused thee, When thou wast led by me through the wilderness, Through a land that was not sown.


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Israel was a sacred thing to Jehovah, His first ripe fruit. All that devoured him were held guilty; Evil came upon them, saith Jehovah.


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Thus saith Jehovah: What fault did your fathers find in me, That they went far from me, And walked after vanity, and practised folly?


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They said not, Where is Jehovah, Who brought us up from the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and pits, Through a land of drought and deathlike gloom, Through a land which no man passed through, And where no man dwelt?


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I brought you to a land of fruitful fields, To eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof; But when ye had come in, ye defiled my land, And made my inheritance an abomination.


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The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? And the teachers of the law knew me not; The rulers also rebelled against me; The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal, And walked after things that could not profit.


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Therefore I will yet contend with you, saith Jehovah; Yea, with your children's children will I contend.


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For pass over to the islands of the Chittaeans, and see; Send ye to Kedar, and inform yourselves well; And see if such a thing hath been done!


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Hath any nation changed their gods, even those that are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which cannot profit.


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For my people have committed two evils; Me have they forsaken, the fountain of living water, And they have hewn out for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns, that can hold no water.


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The young lions roar over him; They lift up their voice; They have made his land a desolation; His cities are burned so as to be without an inhabitant.


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Hath not this come upon thee, Because thou didst forsake Jehovah thy God, When he would have led thee in the way?


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And now what hast thou to do with the way of Egypt, To drink the waters of the Nile? Or what hast thou to do with the way of Assyria, To drink the waters of the Euphrates?


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Thy wickedness shall chasten thee, And thy transgressions reprove thee; And thou shalt know and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, And that the fear of me is not with thee, Saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.


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Of old hast thou broken thy yoke, And burst thy bands, And said, “I will not be in subjection!” For upon every high hill, And under every green tree, Hast thou reclined, playing the harlot.


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Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, Wholly a genuine seed; How then art thou changed to the degenerate shoot of a strange vine?


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For though thou wash thee with nitre, And take thee much soap, Yet is thine iniquity black before me, saith Jehovah.


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How canst thou say, “I am not polluted,” “I have not gone after Baals”? Behold thy way in the valley! Know what thou hast done, A swift young camel, traversing her ways.


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A wild ass, used to the wilderness, That in her desire snuffeth up the wind, In her occasion, who can turn her aside? All that seek her do not weary themselves; In her month they will find her.


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Withhold thy feet from being unshod, And thy throat from thirst! But thou sayest, There is no remedy! No! For I love strangers, And after them I will go.


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As a thief is ashamed when he is taken, So is the house of Israel ashamed, They, their kings, and their princes, And their priests, and their prophets;


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That say to a stock, Thou art my father, And to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth! For they turn the back to me, and not the face. Yet in the time of their trouble they say, Arise and save us!


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But where are thy gods, which thou hast made thee? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble! For according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah!


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In vain have I smitten your children; They would receive no correction; Your own sword hath devoured your prophets, Like a destroying lion.


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O generation! Behold ye the word of Jehovah! Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of darkness? Why then say my people, “We will rove at pleasure, We will come no more to thee”?


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Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her belt? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number!


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Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? On this account hast thou accustomed thy ways to wickedness.


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Upon thy skirts is found the blood of the innocent poor, Whom thou didst not find committing violence.


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But notwithstanding all this, thou sayest, I am innocent; Surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, Because thou sayest, “I have not sinned.”


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Why dost thou run so eagerly, changing thy way? By Egypt also shalt thou be put to shame, Even as thou hast been put to shame by Assyria.


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From Egypt also shalt thou go forth With thy hands upon thy head. For Jehovah hath rejected the objects of thy confidence, Therefore shalt thou not prosper in them.<pb/>


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It is said, if a man put away his wife, And she go from him, and become another man's, Shall he return to her again? Shall not that land be polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; And shalt thou return to me, saith Jehovah?


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Lift up thine eyes to the high places, and see! Where hast thou not been defiled? In the ways hast thou sat waiting, As the Arabian in the desert, And hast polluted the land by thy lewdness and thy wickedness.


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And although the showers have been withholden, And there hath been no latter rain, Yet thou hast had a harlot's forehead; Thou hast refused to be ashamed.


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Will he retain his anger forever? Will he keep it forevermore? Behold, thus dost thou speak, But thou doest evil with all thy might.


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Jehovah said to me, in the time of King Josiah, Hast thou heard what rebellious Israel hath done? She hath gone upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.


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And I said, after she had done all these things, Return thou to me! But she returned not. And her faithless sister Judah saw it.


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And I saw, when, for all the adulteries which rebellious Israel had committed, I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce, that her faithless sister Judah was not afraid, but went and played the harlot also herself.


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And when by the fame of her lewdness she had polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and wood,


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yet for all this did not her faithless sister Judah return to me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith Jehovah.


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Go and proclaim these words toward the north:—Return, O rebellious Israel, saith Jehovah! I will not turn a frowning face upon you; For I am merciful, saith Jehovah, I retain not anger forever.


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Only acknowledge thine iniquity, That thou hast rebelled against Jehovah thy God, And hast roved about to strangers Under every green tree, And hast not obeyed my voice, saith Jehovah.


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Return, ye rebellious children! saith Jehovah; Though I have rejected you, Yet will I receive you again, One from a city, and two from a nation, And I will bring you to Zion.


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And when ye shall have multiplied and increased in the land, saith Jehovah, Then shall ye no more speak of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, Nor shall it come into your mind. None shall remember it; None shall care for it; It shall not be made any more.


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For then shall Jerusalem be called the throne of Jehovah, And all the nations shall resort to it; They shall resort to Jehovah, to Jerusalem, And shall no more walk after the perverseness of their evil hearts.


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In those days shall the house of Judah unite themselves with the house of Israel, And they shall come together from the north country, To the land which I caused your fathers to inherit.


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Then I said, how will I place thee among my children, And give thee a pleasant land, A goodly inheritance among the hosts of nations! And I said, Thou wilt call me thy father; Thou wilt not turn aside from following me.


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Yet as a woman is faithless to her husband, So have ye been faithless to me, O house of Israel! saith Jehovah.


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A voice is heard upon the hills, The weeping and supplications of the children of Israel! For they have perverted their way; They have forgotten Jehovah their God.


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Return, O revolted children! I will heal your rebellion. Behold, we come to thee, For thou art Jehovah our God!


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Truly in vain from the hills, In vain from the mountains do we seek abundance; Only from Jehovah our God cometh salvation for Israel.


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For the things of shame have devoured the substance of our fathers from our youth, Their sheep and their oxen, Their sons and their daughters.


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We lie down in our shame, And our ignominy covereth us; For we have sinned against Jehovah our God, We and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, And have not obeyed the voice of Jehovah our God.<pb/>


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If thou wilt return to me, O Israel, saith Jehovah, Thou shalt return [[to thy land]]; If thou wilt put away thy abominations from my sight, Thou shalt no more be a wanderer [[in a foreign land]].


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If thou wilt swear, As Jehovah liveth! In truth, in justice, and in righteousness, Then shall the nations bless themselves by thee, And in thee shall they glory.


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Thus saith Jehovah to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up your fallow ground, And sow not among thorns!


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Circumcise yourselves to Jehovah; Yea, circumcise your hearts, Ye men of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Lest, for the evil of your doings, My fury break forth like fire, And burn so that none can quench it.


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Declare ye in Judah, And proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land; Cry ye aloud, and say, Gather yourselves together, And let us go into the fortified cities;


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Set up a standard toward Zion, Flee, make no stand! For I am about to bring evil from the north, Even great destruction.


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The lion goeth up from his thicket, The destroyer of nations is on his way; He goeth forth from his place to make thy land desolate; Thy cities shall be laid waste so as to be without an inhabitant.


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For this cause gird on sackcloth, Lament and howl! For the fierce anger of Jehovah is not turned away from us.


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In that day, saith Jehovah, Shall the heart of the king perish, And the heart of the princes; The priests shall be amazed, And the prophets confounded.


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Then said I, Alas, O Lord Jehovah! Surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem; Thou hast said, “Ye shall have peace”; And the sword reacheth to the very life!


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At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A dry wind cometh from the hills of the desert, It cometh toward my people, Not to fan, nor to cleanse.


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Behold, he cometh up like clouds, And his chariots are like a whirlwind; His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! for we are laid waste!


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Wash thy heart from wickedness, O Jerusalem, That thou mayst be saved! How long shall thy evil devices lodge within thee?


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Proclaim ye to the nations, Behold, publish ye to Jerusalem, “Watchmen are coming from a far country, And lift their voice against the cities of Judah.”


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Like keepers of fields are they round about her Because she hath rebelled against me, saith Jehovah.


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Thy way and thy doings have brought this upon thee; This is the fruit of thy wickedness; It is bitter; it reacheth to thy heart.


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O my breast, my breast! I am pained in the walls of my heart; My heart trembleth within me; I cannot be silent; For thou hearest, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, The alarm of war!


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There is a cry of destruction upon destruction; Yea, the whole land is laid waste; Suddenly are my tents destroyed, And my canopies in an instant.


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My people is foolish, They have no regard to me; Stupid children are they, And have no understanding; They are wise to do evil, But for doing good they have no knowledge.


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I look, and lo! Carmel is a desert, And all its cities are thrown down, Before the presence of Jehovah, Before the heat of his anger.


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Therefore shall the earth mourn, And the heavens above be black, Because I have spoken, and I will not repent; I have purposed, and I will not recede from it.


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At the noise of the horsemen and bowmen every city fleeth; They go into thickets, And climb up upon the rocks; All the cities are forsaken, And not a man dwelleth in them.


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And thou, destined to perish, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothe thyself in scarlet, And deck thyself with ornaments of gold, And rend thine eyes with paint, In vain dost thou adorn thyself; Thy lovers despise thee; They seek thy life.


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I hear a cry, as of a woman in travail, Anguish, as of her that bringeth forth her first child. The voice of the daughter of Zion. She sobbeth, she spreadeth out her hands, “Ah! woe is me! I am dying by murderers!”<pb/>


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Run ye through the streets of Jerusalem, [[saith Jehovah,]] And see now, and know, and seek in her broad places If ye can find a single man, If there be one that doeth justice, That seeketh uprightness, And I will forgive her.


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Are not thine eyes upon the truth, O Jehovah! Thou hast smitten them, but they have not grieved; Thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction; They have made their faces harder than a rock; They have refused to return.


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Then I said, These are only the poor; They are foolish, because they know not the way of Jehovah, The law of their God.


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I will get me to the great ones, And I will speak to them; For they know the way of Jehovah, The law of their God. But these also have together broken the yoke; They have burst the bands.


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Therefore the lion out of the forest shall slay them, And the evening wolf shall destroy them. The leopard shall keep watch upon their cities; Every one that goeth out from them shall be torn in pieces; Because their transgressions are multiplied, Their rebellions are increased.


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How can I pardon thee for this? [[saith Jehovah;]] Thy children have forsaken me, And sworn by them that are no gods. I have fed them to the full, yet do they commit adultery, And assemble themselves in crowds in the house of the harlot.


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Shall I not punish for these things, saith Jehovah? Shall I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?


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Go ye up upon her walls and destroy! Yet make ye not a full end! Take ye away her branches, For they belong not to Jehovah!


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They have denied Jehovah, And have said, “It is not He; Evil shall not come upon us, Nor shall we see sword or famine.


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Therefore thus saith Jehovah, God of hosts: Because ye say such things, Behold, I will make thy words in thy mouth fire, And this people wood, And it shall devour them.


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Behold, I will bring against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah; It is a mighty nation; It is an ancient nation; A nation whose language thou dost not know, And whose words thou canst not understand.


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They shall consume thy harvest and thy bread; They shall consume thy sons and thy daughters; They shalt consume thy sheep and thy oxen; They shall consume thy vine and thy fig-tree; They shall destroy with the sword thy fortified cities, In which thou placest thy trust.


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And when they shall say, Wherefore hath Jehovah our God brought all these things upon us? Then shalt thou say to them, “As ye have forsaken me, And served strange gods in your land, So shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.”


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Hear ye now this, O foolish people and without understanding, Who have eyes and see not, Who have ears and hear not!


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Will ye not fear me, saith Jehovah? Will ye not tremble before me, Who appointed the sand a bound to the sea, A perpetual barrier, which it cannot pass? Though the waves thereof toss themselves, Yet do they not prevail, Though they roar, yet can they not pass over it.


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Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear Jehovah our God, Who giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in its season, And secureth to us the appointed weeks of the harvest.


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Your iniquities have turned away these things, And your sins have withholden that which is good from you.


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For among my people are found wicked men, Who lie on the watch like fowlers; They set a trap that they may catch men.


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As a cage is full of birds, So are their houses full of fraud. Therefore are they grown great and rich;


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They have become fat and shine; Yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked; They maintain no cause, No cause of the fatherless, and they prosper; And the right of the needy do they not defend.


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Shall I not punish for these things, saith Jehovah? Shall I not be avenged on such a nation as this?


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The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule under their guidance, And my people love to have it so. But what will ye do in the end of it?<pb/>


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Flee, O ye sons of Benjamin, from Jerusalem, And blow ye the trumpet in Tekoa, And lift up the banner in Beth-haccerem! For evil threateneth from the North; Yea, great destruction.


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The shepherds with their flocks shall come to her; They shall pitch their tents against her round about; They shall feed each one in his place.


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“Prepare ye war against her, [[shall they say;]] Arise, and let us go up at noonday; Alas for us! for the day goeth away, For the shadows of evening are lengthened.


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For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Hew ye down trees, And raise a mound against Jerusalem! She is a city to be punished; She is full of oppression.


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As a fountain sendeth forth its waters, So she sendeth forth her wickedness. Violence and rapine are heard within her; Before me continually are bruises and wounds.


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Receive correction, O Jerusalem, Lest my soul be alienated from thee, Lest I make thee a desolation, A land not inhabited!


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Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine; Turn thy hand like a grape-gatherer again to the baskets!


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To whom shall I speak? To whom give warning, so that they shall hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, so that they cannot hearken; Behold, the word of Jehovah is to them a derision; They have no delight in it.


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Therefore I am full of the fury of Jehovah; I am weary of holding it; I will pour it out alike upon the children in the street, And upon the assembly of the young men. Yea, also the husband with the wife shall be taken, The old man, and he that is full of days.


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Their houses also shall be transferred to others, Their fields and their wives together, For I will stretch out my hand over the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah.


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For from the least of them even to the greatest, Every one is greedy of gain; Prophet and priest alike, Every one of them practiseth deceit.


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Are they ashamed that they have done abominable things? Nay, they are not at all ashamed; They know not how to blush; Therefore shall they fall with them that fall; At the time when I punish them, They shall be cast down, saith Jehovah.


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Thus saith Jehovah: Stand ye upon the ways and look; And ask for the old paths, “Where is the good way?” Walk ye in it, and ye shall find for yourselves rest. But they say, We will not walk in it.


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I have also set watchmen over you, [[saying,]] Hearken to the sound of the trumpet! But they say, We will not hearken.


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Hear thou, O earth! Behold, I bring evil upon this people, The fruit of their devices; Because they have not hearkened to my words, And have even rejected my law.


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To what purpose is incense brought to me from Sheba, And the sweet-smelling reed from a far country? Your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, Nor are your sacrifices sweet to me.


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Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I lay stumbling-blocks before this people, Upon which fathers and sons shall stumble together, The neighbor and his friend, and shall perish.


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Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, a people cometh from the land of the North; A great nation riseth up from the extremities of the earth.


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They bear the bow and the spear; They are cruel and show no mercy; Their voice roareth like the sea; And upon horses do they ride, Arrayed as a warrior against thee, O daughter of Zion.


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We have heard the report thereof; Our hands lose their strength; Anguish hath taken hold of us, Pain, as of a woman in travail.


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Go not forth into the field, Nor walk ye in the highway! For the sword of the enemy And terror are on every side.


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O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, And roll thyself in ashes! Make thee mourning as for an only son, Most bitter lamentation! For suddenly shall the spoiler come upon us.


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I have set thee, like a tower, for an assayer among my people, That thou mayst know and try their way.


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The bellows burn; The lead is consumed by the fire; The refiner hath melted in vain, For the bad are not separated.


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Stand in the gate of the house of Jehovah, and proclaim these words, and say:—Hear the word of Jehovah, all ye of Judah, Who enter in at these gates to worship Jehovah!


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Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your doings, And I will suffer you to dwell in this place!


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Trust ye not in lying words, when they say, “The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, The temple of Jehovah are these.”


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Yet if ye will thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, And dispense justice between man and man,


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If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, And shed not innocent blood in this place, And go not after other gods to your own hurt,


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Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, In the land which I gave to your fathers, For ever and ever.


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Ye steal, and murder, and commit adultery, And swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, And go after strange gods, which ye know not,


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And then come and stand before me in this house, Which is called by my name, And say, “We are delivered!” Whilst ye practise all these abominations.


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Is this house, which is called by my name, Become a den for robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, saith Jehovah.


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But go now to my place, which was in Shiloh, Where I caused my name to dwell at the first, And see what I have done to it On account of the wickedness of my people Israel.


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And now because ye have done all these works, saith Jehovah, And I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, But ye hearkened not, And I have called to you, But ye answered not,


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Therefore will I do to the house which is called by my name, In which ye place your confidence, And to the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, As I have done to Shiloh.


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I will cast you out from my presence, As I have cast out all your brethren, The whole race of Ephraim.


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And as for thee, pray not for this people, Nor lift up a cry or a prayer for them, Nor make intercession to me for them; For I will not hear thee.


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The sons gather the wood, And the fathers kindle the fire, And the women knead dough, To make cakes for the queen of heaven, And to pour out libations to strange gods, That they may vex me.


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But do they vex me, saith Jehovah? Do they not rather vex themselves, to the confusion of their own faces?


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Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold my anger and my fury shall be poured out on this place, Upon man and upon beast; Upon the trees of the field, And upon the fruit of the ground; It shall burn and not be quenched.


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Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Add your burnt-offerings to your sacrifices, And eat ye the flesh.


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For I spake not to your fathers, nor commanded them Concerning burnt-offerings and sacrifices, At the time when I brought them out of the land of Egypt;


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But this command gave I to them: “Hearken,” said I, “to my voice, And I will be your God, And ye shall be my people. And walk ye in all the ways which I command you, That it may go well with you.”


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But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, But walked in the devices and obstinacy of their evil heart, Turning their backs and not their faces toward me.


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From the day when your fathers came forth from the land of Egypt, Even to this day, I have also sent to you all my servants, the prophets, Daily rising early and sending.


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But they have not hearkened to me, Nor have they inclined their ear; But they have hardened their neck, And acted more wickedly than their fathers.


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And when thou shalt speak all these things to them, They will not hearken to thee; And when thou shalt call to them, They will make thee no answer.


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Therefore shalt thou say to them, This is the nation that hearkeneth not to the voice of Jehovah their God, And taketh no correction; Truth hath failed, and is cut off from their mouth.


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Cut off thy locks, O Jerusalem, and cast them away! Set up a lamentation upon the high place! For Jehovah hath rejected and forsaken the children Against which his wrath hath been kindled.


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For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith Jehovah, They have set their abominations in the house Which is called by my name, to pollute it.


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They have built the high places of Tophet, Which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, To burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, Which I commanded not, Which even came not into my mind.


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Therefore behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, That it shall no more be called Tophet, Or the valley of the son of Hinnom, But the Valley of Slaughter; For they shall bury in Tophet till there be no room left.


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And the dead bodies of this people shall be for meat To the birds of the air and to the beasts of the earth; And none shall scare them away.


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And I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah, And from the streets of Jerusalem, The voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, The voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride; For the land shall be desolate.<pb/>


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At that time, saith Jehovah, Shall the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of the princes, The bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, And the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Be cast forth from their graves;


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And they shall be spread before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, Which they have loved, and which they have served, and after which they have walked; Which they have consulted and have worshipped; They shall not be gathered, nor be buried; They shall be as dung upon the face of the ground.


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And death shall be chosen rather than life By all the residue of them that remain of this evil race, Which remain in all the places whither I have driver them, Saith Jehovah of hosts.


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Thou shalt also say to them, Thus saith Jehovah, Doth a man fall, and not rise again? Doth one turn aside from the way, and not return,


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Why then hath this people, Why hath Jerusalem, completely revolted? They hold fast deceit; They refuse to return.


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I have listened and heard, But they speak not aright; No one repenteth of his wickedness, Saying, “What have I done?” Every one runneth at full speed in his rebellion, As a horse rusheth to the battle.


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Even the stork in the heavens knoweth her times, And the turtle-dove and the swallow and the crane observe the season of their coming, But my people regard not the laws of Jehovah.


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How is it that ye say, “We are wise, We possess the law of Jehovah”? Behold, the false pen of the scribes Hath turned it into falsehood.


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The wise men shall be confounded; They shall be dismayed and ensnared; Behold, they have rejected the word of Jehovah, And what wisdom is there in them?


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Therefore will I give their wives to others, And their fields to plunderers. For from the least of them even to the greatest, Every one is greedy of gain, Prophet and priest alike, Every one of them practiseth deceit.


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Are they ashamed, that they have done abominable things? Nay, they are not at all ashamed; They know not how to blush. Therefore shall they fall with them that fall; At the time when I punish them, They shall be cast down, saith Jehovah.


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I will utterly consume them, saith Jehovah; There shall be no grapes on the vine, Nor shall there be from the fig-tree; Even the leaf shall be withered; For I will send those that shall overrun them.


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“Why do we remain here?” [[shall they say.]] “Assemble yourselves and let us go into the fortified cities. And let us there wait in silence! For Jehovah our God hath put us to silence, And given us the water of hemlock to drink, Because we have sinned against Jehovah.


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From Dan is heard the snorting of their horses, At the sound of the neighing of their steeds the whole land trembleth; They come and devour the land, and all that is in it; The city, and them that dwell therein.


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Behold I send against you serpents, Basilisks, which cannot be charmed, And they shall bite you, saith Jehovah.


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Behold, the cry of the daughter of my people from a far country! “Is not Jehovah in Zion? Is her King there no more?” Why then have they provoked me by their graven images, And their foreign vanities?


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Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then are not the wounds of my people healed?<pb/>


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O that my head were waters, And mine eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!


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O that I had a traveller's lodge in the wilderness, That I might leave my people, and go from them! For they are all adulterers; An assembly of revolters.


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They bend their tongues, like their bows, for lies, And not by truth do they grow mighty in the earth; They proceed from wickedness to wickedness, And have no regard to me, saith Jehovah.


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Be on your guard each one against his neighbor, And trust ye not in any brother; For every brother will supplant, And every neighbor will slander.


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They deceive every one his neighbor, And do not speak the truth; They have accustomed their tongues to speak lies; They weary themselves in doing iniquity.


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Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit, [[O prophet!]] Through deceit they refuse to know me, saith Jehovah.


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Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold I will melt them and try them; For what else can I do on account of the daughter of my people?


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Their tongue is a deadly arrow; Every one of them speaketh treachery; With their mouth they speak peace to their neighbor, But in their heart they lay snares for him.


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Shall I not punish them for these things? saith Jehovah; Shall I not be avenged on such a nation as this?


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For the mountains will I lift up a weeping and wailing, And for the pastures of the plains a lamentation, For they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; No more is heard the voice of the cattle; Both the birds of the heavens and the beasts have fled, and are gone.


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I will make Jerusalem heaps of stones, The dwelling-place of jackals; And I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.


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Who is the wise man, that he may understand this, And he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken, that he may declare it? Why is it that the land perisheth, That it is burned up like a desert, which none passeth through?


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Jehovah himself hath said: It is because they have forsaken my law, Which I set before them, And have not hearkened to my voice, Nor walked according to it;


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But have walked after the obstinacy of their own heart, And after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.


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Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will feed this people with wormwood, And give them water of hemlock to drink.


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I will also scatter them among nations Which neither they nor their fathers have known, And I will send after them the sword, Till I have made an end of them.


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Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come, And send to the skilful ones, that they may come;


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Let them make haste, and lift up a wailing for us, That our eyes may run down with tears, And our eyelids gush forth with waters.


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Behold, a voice of wailing is heard from Zion: “How are we spoiled! How are we put to shame! We must leave our native land; They have cast down our habitations.”


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Hear, O ye women, the word of Jehovah! Let your ear receive the word of his mouth! Teach your daughters a lamentation, And every one her companion a mournful dirge!


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For death cometh in through our windows, It entereth our palaces; It cutteth off the children from the street, And the young men from the public places.


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Declare it, saith Jehovah! The dead bodies of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, And as the handful behind the reaper, Which none gathereth up.


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Thus saith Jehovah: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Nor let the mighty glory in his might, Nor let the rich glory in his riches!


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But let him that glorieth glory in this, That he hath regard to me, and knoweth me, That I am Jehovah, who exercise loving-kindness, Justice, and righteousness upon the earth; For in these do I delight, saith Jehovah.


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Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, And the sons of Ammon and Moab, And all with shaven cheeks, that dwell in the wilderness. For all the nations are uncircumcised, And all the house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.<pb/>


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Thus saith Jehovah: Conform ye not to the way of the heathen, And be not dismayed at the signs of the heavens, Because the heathen are dismayed at them!


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The customs of the nations are vanity. For a tree of the wood is cut down, It is wrought by the hands of the artificer with the axe,


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It is decked with silver and gold, And with nails and with hammers is it fastened, That it may not totter.


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They are like a turned palm-tree pillar, and cannot speak; They must be borne by men, for they cannot walk. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot hurt, Nor is it in their power to do good.


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Who shall not fear thee, O king of nations, For to thee doth it belong! For among all the wise men of the nations, And in all their kingdoms, there is none like thee.


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Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, And gold from Uphaz, The work of the artificer and the founder; Blue and purple is their clothing; The work of the skilful is it all.


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But Jehovah is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting king; At his wrath the earth trembleth, And the nations are not able to abide his indignation.


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[[Thus shall ye say to them: The gods, that have not made the heavens and the earth, Shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.]]


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He made the earth by his power; He established the world by his wisdom, And by his understanding he spread out the heavens.


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When he uttereth his voice there is an abundance of water in the heavens; He causeth clouds to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings with rain; He bringeth the wind from his storehouses.


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Brutish is every one who hath not this knowledge; By his image is every founder put to shame, For his molten-work is deceit; There is no breath in it.


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Not like them is He who is the portion of Jacob; He is the former of all things, And Israel is his allotted inheritance; Jehovah of hosts is his name.


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For thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will sling forth the inhabitants of the land at this time; I will distress them, so that they shall be taken.


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“Ah me! my wound!” [[saith the daughter of Zion;]] “My bruise is deadly; Yet I say, This is my affliction, and I must bear it!


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My tent is torn down, And all my cords broken. My children are gone forth from me, and are no more; There is none to stretch forth my tent any more, Or to set up my curtains.


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For the shepherds have become brutish; They have not sought Jehovah; Therefore have they not prospered, And all their flock is dispersed.”


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[[Hark!]] the sound of tiding! Behold it cometh, And a great tumult from the land of the North, To make the cities of Judah desolate, A dwelling-place for jackals.


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“I know, O Jehovah, that the way of a man is not within his power, That it is not within the power of a man that walketh to establish his steps.


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Pour out thy wrath on the nations which acknowledge thee not, And on the kingdoms which call not on thy name! For they have devoured Jacob; They have devoured and consumed him, And laid waste his dwelling-place.”<pb/>


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Hear ye the words of this covenant, And speak ye to the men of Judah, And the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


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And say thou to them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Cursed is the man who will not obey the words of this covenant,


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Which I commanded your fathers, When I brought them forth from the land of Egypt, From the iron furnace, saying, “Obey ye my voice, And do all which I command you; So shall ye be my people, And I will be your God;


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So that I may perform the oath, Which I made to your fathers, To give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.” Then answered I, and said, So may it be, O Jehovah!


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Then said Jehovah to me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, And the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them!


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For I have earnestly admonished your fathers, From the time when I brought them up from the land of Egypt to this day, Rising early and admonishing them, saying, “Obey ye my voice!”


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Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, But walked every one in the obstinacy of his evil heart; Therefore have I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, Which I commanded them to obey, And they obeyed not.


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Jehovah also said to me: A conspiracy hath been found among the men of Judah, And the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


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They turn back to the iniquities of their forefathers, Who refused to hearken to my words; They go after strange gods and serve them; The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant Which I made with their fathers.


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Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold I bring upon them a calamity, From which they shall not be able to escape; And though they cry to me, I will not hear them.


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Then may the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go, And cry to the gods to whom they burn incense; But they shall not save them at all in the time of their calamity.


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For according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah! According to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to a thing of shame, Altars for burning incense to Baal.


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Therefore pray not thou for this people, Nor lift up a cry or a prayer for them; For I will not hear when they cry to me On account of their calamity.


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What hath my beloved to do in my house, While many pollute it with wickedness? The holy flesh shall pass away from thee, For when thou doest evil, thou rejoicest.


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Jehovah hath called thee an olive-tree, Green, fair, and of goodly fruit; With the noise of a great crackling doth he kindle a fire upon it, And the branches of it shall be broken.


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For Jehovah of hosts, who planted thee, Hath pronounced evil against thee, On account of the wickedness of the house of Israel and of Judah, which they have committed In provoking me to anger by burning incense to Baal.


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For I was like a tame lamb, that is led to the slaughter, And knew not that they had formed plots against me, [[saying,]] “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, Let us cut him off from the land of the living, That his name may no more be remembered!”


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But, O Jehovah of hosts, the righteous judge, Who triest the reins and the heart, I shall see thy vengeance on them, For to thee have I revealed my cause!


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Therefore thus saith Jehovah against the men of Anathoth, Who seek thy life, and say, “Prophesy not in the name of Jehovah, Lest thou die by our hand!”


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Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will punish them; Their young men shall die by the sword; Their sons and their daughters shall die by famine,


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There shall be none of them left; For I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, At the time of their punishment.<pb/>


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Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, when I contend with thee, Yet will I enter into controversy with thee. Why doth the way of the wicked prosper? Why are all the men of treachery at ease?


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Thou hast planted them; yea, they have taken root; They grow, yea, they bring forth fruit; Thou art near to their mouth, But far from their hearts.


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But thou, O Jehovah, knowest me; Thou hast seen me, and tried my heart, Whether it be devoted to thee. Tear them away, as sheep for slaughter; Separate them for the day of slaughter!


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How long shall the land mourn, And the grass of every field wither? For the wickedness of them that dwell therein, The beasts are consumed, and the birds; For they say, “He will not see our latter end.”


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If thou hast run with footmen, and they have wearied thee, Then how canst thou contend with horses? If it be so with thee in a land of peace, in which thou art secure, What wilt thou do in the glory of Jordan?


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For even thy brethren and the house of thy father, Even these are treacherous toward thee, And raise a full cry after thee; Trust them not, though they speak fair words to thee!


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I have forsaken my house, I have abandoned my inheritance, I have given the darling of my soul into the hand of her enemies.


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My inheritance is become to me like a lion of the forest; She lifteth up her voice against me; Therefore do I hate her.


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A rapacious beast, a hyena, is my inheritance become to me; Therefore shall the rapacious beasts rush upon her on all sides. Come, gather all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour!


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Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard; They have trodden my portion under foot; My pleasant portion have they made a desolate wilderness.


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They have made it a desolation; Desolate it mourneth on account of me; The whole land is desolate, Because no man layeth my word to heart.


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Upon all the high places in the desert do the plunderers come; Behold, the sword of Jehovah devoureth from one end of the land to the other; No man hath peace.


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They sow wheat, but they reap thorns; They weary themselves, and are not profited; They shall be ashamed of their harvest, Because of the fierce anger of Jehovah.


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Thus saith Jehovah against all my evil neighbors, Who seize the inheritance which I gave my people, Israel: Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, And the house of Judah will I pluck out from among them.


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Yet after I have plucked them out of their land, I will again have compassion on them, and bring them back, Every one to his own possession, And every one to his own land.


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And if they will indeed learn the ways of my people, And swear by my name, saying, As Jehovah liveth! As they taught my people to swear by Baal, Then shall they be built up in the midst of my people;


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Thus saith Jehovah to me: Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it on thy loins, and put it not into water!


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Take the girdle which thou hast gotten, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.


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And after many days Jehovah said to me. Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take thence the girdle which I commanded thee to hide there.


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Then I went to the Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hidden it; and, behold, the girdle was marred, so that it was good for nothing.


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Thus saith Jehovah: After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, And the great pride of Jerusalem.


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This evil people, Who refuse to hearken to my words, Who walk after the obstinacy of their heart, And walk after strange gods, To serve them and to worship them, Shall be like this girdle, Which is good for nothing.


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For as a girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, So have I caused to cleave to me the whole house of Israel, And the whole house of Judah, saith Jehovah, That they might be to me a people, And a name, and a praise, and a glory; But they hearkened not to me.


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Then shalt thou speak to them in this manner. Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Every flagon shall be filled with wine. And they will say to thee, “Do we not know that every flagon shall be filled with wine?”


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Then shalt thou say to them, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, And the kings that sit upon David's throne, And the priests, and the prophets, And all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.


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And I will dash them one against another, Even fathers and children together, saith Jehovah; I will not pity, nor spare, Nor show mercy, so as not to destroy them.


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Give glory to Jehovah, your God, Before he bring darkness, And your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, And, while ye look for light, He turn it into deathlike shade, And make it gross darkness.


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But if ye will not hear, I will mourn in secret places for your pride, I will weep continually, And my eyes shall run down with tears, Because the flock of Jehovah is carried away captive.


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Say to the king and to the queen, Sit ye down upon the ground, For your beautiful crown shall fall from your heads.


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The cities of the South are shut up, and none openeth them; Judah is carried away captive, all of it, Every man of it is carried away captive.


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Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the North! Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?


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What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? For thou thyself hast taught them to be lords over thee. Shall not sorrows seize thee, as a woman in travail?


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And if thou say in thine heart, “Wherefore are these things coming upon me?” For the greatness of thy iniquity are thy skirts uncovered, And thy heels made bare.


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Can the Ethiopian change his skin, Or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, Who have been accustomed to do evil.


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This is thy lot, The portion measured out for thee by me, saith Jehovah, Because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.


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Thine adulteries, thy neighings, The lewdness of thy whoredom on the hills, in the fields, All thy abominations, have I seen. Woe to thee, O Jerusalem! How long ere thou wilt become pure!<pb/>


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Judah mourneth, And the gates thereof languish; They are in deep mourning upon the ground. And the cry of Jerusalem goeth up.


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The nobles send their younger ones for water; They come to the wells, they find none; They return with their vessels empty; They are ashamed and confounded; They cover their heads.


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Because of the ground, which is in consternation, No rain falling upon the earth, The husbandmen are ashamed, They hide their heads.


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The wild asses stand upon the hills, They snuff up the wind like jackals; Their eyes fail, Because there is no grass.


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Though our iniquities testify against us, Yet do thou, O Jehovah, act from a regard to thine own name. For our transgressions have been many; We have sinned against thee.


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O thou hope of Israel, His saviour in the time of trouble, Why wilt thou be as a stranger in the land, As a traveller who spreadeth his tent to pass the night?


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Why wilt thou be as a man that is amazed, As a hero that cannot save? Thou art in the midst of us, O Jehovah, And we are called by thy name; Do not forsake us!


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Thus saith Jehovah concerning this people: Thus they love to wander, They restrain not their feet; Therefore Jehovah doth not accept them; Now will he remember their iniquities, And punish their sins.


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Though they fast, I will not hear their cry; Though they offer burnt-offerings and flour-offerings, I will not accept them; But by the sword, and by famine, and by pestilence, I will make an end of them.


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Then said I, Alas! O Lord Jehovah! Behold, the prophets say to them, “Ye shall not see the sword, Nor shall famine come upon you; But Jehovah will give you lasting peace in this place.”


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Then said Jehovah to me: The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I have not sent them, nor commissioned them, nor spoken to them; A false vision, and divination, and vanity, And the fraud of their hearts, do they prophesy to you.


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Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets Who prophesy in my name, though I sent them not, But who themselves say, “The sword and famine shall not be in this land”: By the sword and by famine shall those prophets be consumed.


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And the people to whom they prophesy Shall be cast forth in the streets of Jerusalem By means of famine and the sword; And they shall have none to bury them,—They, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters; For I will pour their wickedness upon them.


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Thus also shalt thou speak to them: My eyes shall run down with tears night and day; They shall not cease; For a deep wound hath she received, The virgin daughter of my people, A deadly blow.


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If I go forth into the fields, Then behold them that are slain by the sword! And if I enter the city, Then behold them that pine with famine! Both prophet and priest wander about the land, they know not whither.


