For tyrants will disappear, those who taunt will vanish, and all those who love to do wrong will be eliminated –

Lord, be merciful to us! We wait for you. Give us strength each morning! Deliver us when distress comes.

Highways are empty, there are no travelers. Treaties are broken, witnesses are despised, human life is treated with disrespect.

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

Their slain will be left unburied, their corpses will stink; the hills will soak up their blood.

Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch and her soil into brimstone; her land will become burning pitch.

He will go back the way he came – he will not enter this city,’ says the Lord.

I first decreed to Zion, ‘Look, here’s what will happen!’ I sent a herald to Jerusalem.

A crushed reed he will not break, a dim wick he will not extinguish; he will faithfully make just decrees.

You see many things, but don’t comprehend; their ears are open, but do not hear.”

“But you did not call for me, O Jacob; you did not long for me, O Israel.

I, I have spoken – yes, I have summoned him; I lead him and he will succeed.

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

But they rebelled and offended his holy Spirit, so he turned into an enemy and fought against them.

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

In light of all this, how can you still hold back, Lord? How can you be silent and continue to humiliate us?

I will give you leaders who will be faithful to me. They will lead you with knowledge and insight.

They will surround Jerusalem like men guarding a field because they have rebelled against me,” says the Lord.

The prophets will prove to be full of wind. The Lord has not spoken through them. So, let what they say happen to them.’”

If you stop doing these things, I will allow you to continue to live in this land which I gave to your ancestors as a lasting possession.