“Now I will rise up,” says the Lord. “Now I will exalt myself; now I will magnify myself.

You who are far away, listen to what I have done! You who are close by, recognize my strength!”

No one invokes your name, or makes an effort to take hold of you. For you have rejected us and handed us over to our own sins.

headdresses, ankle ornaments, sashes, sachets, amulets,

The Lord has broken the club of the wicked, the scepter of rulers.

Though his officials are in Zoan and his messengers arrive at Hanes,

the one who led chariots and horses to destruction, together with a mighty army. They fell down, never to rise again; they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:

For he says: “By my strong hand I have accomplished this, by my strategy that I devised. I invaded the territory of nations, and looted their storehouses. Like a mighty conqueror, I brought down rulers.

Fortified cities will disappear from Ephraim, and Damascus will lose its kingdom. The survivors in Syria will end up like the splendor of the Israelites,” says the Lord who commands armies.

Go up into the rocky cliffs, hide in the ground. Get away from the dreadful judgment of the Lord, from his royal splendor!

captains of groups of fifty, the respected citizens, advisers and those skilled in magical arts, and those who know incantations.

Assyria, the club I use to vent my anger, is as good as dead, a cudgel with which I angrily punish.

This is the plan I have devised for the whole earth; my hand is ready to strike all the nations.”

Those who put their hope in Cush and took pride in Egypt will be afraid and embarrassed.

unless they became my subjects and made peace with me; let them make peace with me.

The mind that acts rashly will possess discernment and the tongue that stutters will speak with ease and clarity.

Shake off the dirt! Get up, captive Jerusalem! Take off the iron chains around your neck, O captive daughter Zion!

Look, I made him a witness to nations, a ruler and commander of nations.”

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

Does an ax exalt itself over the one who wields it, or a saw magnify itself over the one who cuts with it? As if a scepter should brandish the one who raises it, or a staff should lift up what is not made of wood!