The Babylonian Exile

With the hoofs of his horses he will trample your streets. He will put your people to the sword and pull to the ground your massive standing-stones.

They will seize your wealth, loot your wares, break down your walls, destroy your fine houses; then they will throw your stones and timber and even your dust into the sea.

I will put an end to your singing, the sound of your lyres will be heard no more.

I will reduce you to bare rock, you will be a place for drying fish nets, you will never be built again, for I, ADONAI, have spoken,' says Adonai ELOHIM."

To Tzor Adonai ELOHIM says: "How the coastlands will shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, when the slaughter takes place in you!

Then all the princes of the sea will step down from their thrones; they will put aside their robes and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit on the ground, trembling all the time, appalled at your condition.

Then they will raise this lament for you: "'How you have been destroyed, you who were peopled from the seas, city so renowned, once so strong at sea, you and your inhabitants, who used to spread terror over all [the mainland's] inhabitants!

Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your downfall, and the islands in the sea are in shock at your end.'

"For here is what Adonai ELOHIM says: 'When I make you a ruined city, like other uninhabited cities; when I bring the deep sea over you, and its mighty waters cover you;

then I will bring you down with those who descend to the pit, to the people of long ago, and make you live in underworld places like those who were ruined long ago, with those who descend to the pit, so that you will be uninhabited when I give glory to the land of the living.

I will make you horrible; you will cease to exist. People will seek you but never more find you,' says Adonai ELOHIM."

The word of ADONAI came to me:

"You, human being, raise this lament for Tzor;

say to Tzor, located at the gateways to the sea, merchant for peoples to many coastlands, that Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Tzor, you have said, "My beauty is perfect."

Your borders are in the heart of the sea, your builders perfected your beauty.

They used cypress logs from S'nir to fashion all your planking. They took cedars from the L'vanon to make masts for you.

Out of oaks from Bashan they made your oars. Your deck they made of ivory inlaid in larch from the coasts of Kittim.

Richly woven linen from Egypt was used for your sail, which was also your banner. Blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was used to cover your deck-tent.

The people of Tzidon and Arvad served as your oarsmen. Your own skilled men, Tzor, were there as your pilots.

The leaders and craftsmen of G'val sealed the cracks between your boards. "'Every seagoing ship and its crew came to you to trade in your wares.

Men from Paras, Lud and Put were [mercenaries] in your army; hanging shield and helmet on you, they showed off your splendor.

Men from Arvad and your own army were posted around on your walls. The Gamadim were in your towers; they hung their shields all around your walls, making your beauty perfect.

"'Tarshish did business with you because of the quantity and variety of your resources; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your goods.

Greece, Tuval and Meshekh traded with you, exchanging slaves and articles of bronze for your wares.

The people of Togarmah traded for your merchandise with horses, horsemen and mules.