You will see a king in his splendor; you will see a wide land.

I know where you live and everything you do and how you rage against me.

Not even Lebanon could supply enough firewood for a sacrifice; its wild animals would not provide enough burnt offerings.

All the nations are insignificant before him; they are regarded as absolutely nothing.

He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy.

Who among you will pay attention to this? Who will listen attentively in the future?

Pick up millstones and grind flour! Remove your veil, strip off your skirt, expose your legs, cross the streams!

Your children hurry back, while those who destroyed and devastated you depart.

For your hands are stained with blood and your fingers with sin; your lips speak lies, your tongue utters malicious words.

Why are your clothes red? Why do you look like someone who has stomped on grapes in a vat?

I trampled nations in my anger, I made them drunk in my rage, I splashed their blood on the ground.”

For a short time your special nation possessed a land, but then our adversaries knocked down your holy sanctuary.

We existed from ancient times, but you did not rule over them, they were not your subjects.

When you performed awesome deeds that took us by surprise, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.

Our holy temple, our pride and joy, the place where our ancestors praised you, has been burned with fire; all our prized possessions have been destroyed.

Before she goes into labor, she gives birth! Before her contractions begin, she delivers a boy!

Be amazed at this, O heavens! Be shocked and utterly dumbfounded,” says the Lord.

“My, how good you have become at chasing after your lovers! Why, you could even teach prostitutes a thing or two!

“They cry, ‘Harvest time has come and gone, and the summer is over, and still we have not been delivered.’

They are dismayed because the ground is cracked because there has been no rain in the land. The farmers, too, are dismayed and bury their faces in their hands.