The Hebrew Prophets

The city of chaos is shattered, every house closed up; no one can enter.

In the streets they are crying over the wine; all joy has faded, cheer has left the land.

In the city, only desolation, its gates are battered beyond repair.

Around the earth, among the peoples, it will be as when beating an olive tree, as when gleaning the grapes at the end of the harvest.

They lift their voices, singing for joy, shouting from the west to honor ADONAI.

So in the east, honor ADONAI ; in the coastlands, honor the name of ADONAI, the God of Isra'el.

From the farthest part of the earth we have heard them sing, "Glory to the Righteous One!" But, I say, I'm wasting away, I am wasting away! Woe to me! Traitors betray! Oh, how the traitors betray and betray!

Terror, pit and trap are upon you, you who are living on earth.

He who flees at the sound of terror will fall into the pit. He who climbs up out of the pit will be caught in the trap. For the windows above have been opened, and the earth's foundations shake.

The earth cracks and breaks open, the earth crumbles to pieces, the earth trembles and totters.

The earth staggers to and fro like a drunk, sways back and forth like a watchman's shelter; its transgression weighs heavy upon it; it will fall and not rise again.

When that day comes, ADONAI will punish the armies of the high heaven on high, and the kings of the earth here on earth.

They will be assembled like prisoners in a dungeon and shut up in prison to be punished many years.

Then the moon will be confused and the sun ashamed, for ADONAI-Tzva'ot will rule on Mount Tziyon and in Yerushalayim, with his glory manifest to the rulers of his people.

ADONAI, you are my God. I exalt you, I praise your name. For you have accomplished marvels, [fulfilled] ancient plans faithfully and truly.

For you have made a city a heap of stones, turned a fortified city into rubble, made the foreigners' fortress a city that will never be rebuilt.

Therefore mighty peoples glorify you, the city of ruthless nations fears you.

For you have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in distress, shelter from the storm, shade from the heat for the blast from the ruthless was like a storm that could destroy a wall.

Like desert heat, you subdue the foreigners' uproar; like heat subdued by a cloud's shadow, the song of the ruthless dies away.

On this mountain ADONAI-Tzva'ot will make for all peoples a feast of rich food and superb wines, delicious, rich food and superb, elegant wines.

On this mountain he will destroy the veil which covers the face of all peoples, the veil enshrouding all the nations.

He will swallow up death forever. Adonai ELOHIM will wipe away the tears from every face, and he will remove from all the earth the disgrace his people suffer. For ADONAI has spoken.

On that day they will say, "See! This is our God! We waited for him to save us. This is ADONAI ; we put our hope in him. We are full of joy, so glad he saved us!"

For on this mountain the hand of ADONAI will rest. But Mo'av will be trampled down where they are, like straw trampled into a pile of manure.

They will spread out their hands in Mo'av, like a swimmer using his hands to tread water; but their pride will be humbled and sunk, no matter how clever the strokes of their hands.