But I replied, “Should a man like me run away? Would someone like me flee to the temple in order to save his life? I will not go!”

Let darkness and the deepest shadow claim it; let a cloud settle on it; let whatever blackens the day terrify it!

Far from where people live he sinks a shaft, in places travelers have long forgotten, far from other people he dangles and sways.

And surely, he drew you from the mouth of distress, to a wide place, unrestricted, and to the comfort of your table filled with rich food.

Yet its voice echoes throughout the earth; its words carry to the distant horizon. In the sky he has pitched a tent for the sun.

The roof of my mouth is as dry as a piece of pottery; my tongue sticks to my gums. You set me in the dust of death.

You allowed men to ride over our heads; we passed through fire and water, but you brought us out into a wide open place.

Be my protector and refuge, a stronghold where I can be safe! For you are my high ridge and my stronghold.

for there our captors ask us to compose songs; those who mock us demand that we be happy, saying: “Sing for us a song about Zion!”

Then our sons will be like plants, that quickly grow to full size. Our daughters will be like corner pillars, carved like those in a palace.

But it will not go well with the wicked, nor will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God.

Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin; not one of them is missing.

As when a pregnant woman gets ready to deliver and strains and cries out because of her labor pains, so were we because of you, O Lord.

Go, my people! Enter your inner rooms! Close your doors behind you! Hide for a little while, until his angry judgment is over!

Then the lame will leap like a deer, the mute tongue will shout for joy; for water will flow in the desert, streams in the wilderness.

Come through! Come through the gates! Prepare the way for the people! Build it! Build the roadway! Remove the stones! Lift a signal flag for the nations!

Yes, a time is coming when watchmen will call out on the mountains of Ephraim, “Come! Let us go to Zion to worship the Lord our God!”’”

ע (Ayin) Our eyes continually failed us as we looked in vain for help. From our watchtowers we watched for a nation that could not rescue us.

Violence has grown into a staff that supports wickedness. Not one of them will be left – not from their crowd, not from their wealth, not from their prominence.

They had sex with her as one does with a prostitute. In this way they had sex with Oholah and Oholibah, promiscuous women.