The Hebrew Prophets

And the book is given to him who hath not known books, Saying, `Read this, we pray thee,' And he hath said, `I have not known books.'

And the Lord saith: Because drawn near hath this people, with its mouth, And with its lips they have honoured Me, And its heart it hath put far off from Me, And their fear of Me is--A precept of men is taught!

Therefore, lo, I am adding to do wonderfully with this people, A wonder, and a marvel, And perished hath the wisdom of its wise ones, And the understanding of its intelligent ones hideth itself.'

Woe to those going deep from Jehovah to hide counsel, And whose works have been in darkness. And they say, `Who is seeing us? And who is knowing us?'

Your perversion! as clay is the potter esteemed? That the work saith of its maker, `He hath not made me?' And the framed thing said of its framer, `He did not understand?'

Is it not yet a very little, And turned hath Lebanon to a fruitful field, And the fruitful field for a forest is reckoned?

And heard in that day have the deaf the words of a book, And out of thick darkness, and out of darkness, The eyes of the blind do see.

And the humble have added joy in Jehovah, And the poor among men In the Holy One of Israel rejoice.

For ceased hath the terrible one, And consumed hath been the scorner, And cut off have been all watching for iniquity,

Causing men to sin in word, And for a reprover in the gate lay a snare, And turn aside into emptiness the righteous.

Therefore, thus said Jehovah, Who ransomed Abraham, Concerning the house of Jacob: `Not now ashamed is Jacob, Nor now doth his face become pale,

For in his seeing his children, The work of My hand, in his midst, They sanctify My name, And have sanctified the Holy One of Jacob, And the God of Israel they declare fearful.

And the erring in spirit have known understanding, And murmurers learn doctrine!'

Woe to apostate sons, The affirmation of Jehovah! To do counsel, and not from Me, And to spread out a covering, and not of My spirit, So as to add sin to sin.

Who are walking to go down to Egypt, And My mouth have not asked, To be strong in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt.

And the strength of Pharaoh Hath been to you for shame, And the trust in the shadow of Egypt confusion,

For in Zoan were his princes, And his messengers reach Hanes.

All he made ashamed of a people that profit not, Neither for help, not for profit, But for shame, and also for reproach!

The burden of the beasts of the south. Into a land of adversity and distress, Of young lion and of old lion, Whence are viper and flying saraph, They carry on the shoulder of asses their wealth, And on the hump of camels their treasures, Unto a people not profitable.

Yea, Egyptians are vanity, and in vain do help, Therefore I have cried concerning this: `Their strength is to sit still.'

No, go in, write it on a tablet with them, And on a book engrave it, And it is for a latter day, for a witness unto the age,

That a rebellious people is this, sons--liars, Sons not willing to hear the law of Jehovah.

Who have said to seers, `Ye do not see,' And to prophets, `Ye do not prophesy to us Straightforward things, Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits,

Turn aside from the way, decline from the path, Cause to cease from before us the Holy One of Israel.'

Therefore, thus said the Holy One of Israel, Because of your kicking against this word, And ye trust in oppression, And perverseness, and rely on it,