The Beloved about Her Lover: All night long on my bed I longed for my lover. I longed for him but he never appeared.

His head is like the most pure gold. His hair is curly – black like a raven.

The Beloved about Her Lover: His left hand caresses my head, and his right hand stimulates me.

The Beloved: I was a wall, and my breasts were like fortress towers. Then I found favor in his eyes.

Men bow down to them in homage, they lie flat on the ground in worship. Don’t spare them!

For this reason the sovereign master, the Lord, says: “It will not take place; it will not happen.

With bow and arrow men will hunt there, for the whole land will be covered with thorns and briers.

The leaders and the highly respected people are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.

Those who enact unjust policies are as good as dead, those who are always instituting unfair regulations,

For very soon my fury will subside, and my anger will be directed toward their destruction.”

Sing to the Lord, for he has done magnificent things, let this be known throughout the earth!

Their children will be smashed to pieces before their very eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives raped.

Look, I am stirring up the Medes to attack them; they are not concerned about silver, nor are they interested in gold.

It furiously struck down nations with unceasing blows. It angrily ruled over nations, oppressing them without restraint.

For this is what the sovereign master has told me: “Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees.

The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again.”

The earth will be completely devastated and thoroughly ransacked. For the Lord has decreed this judgment.

O Lord, you make us secure, for even all we have accomplished, you have done for us.

Does a farmer just keep on plowing at planting time? Does he keep breaking up and harrowing his ground?

Or when they hand the scroll to one who can’t read and say, “Read this,” he says, “I can’t read.”