“I will provoke civil strife in Egypt, brothers will fight with each other, as will neighbors, cities, and kingdoms.

If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression and be cheerful,’

I will thank the Lord for his justice; I will sing praises to the sovereign Lord!

I will sing a song that imparts wisdom; I will make insightful observations about the past.

I will thank the Lord profusely, in the middle of a crowd I will praise him,

I will bless her and will give you a son through her. I will bless her and she will become a mother of nations. Kings of countries will come from her!”

Out of those places you will hear songs of thanksgiving and the sounds of laughter and merriment. I will increase their number and they will not dwindle away. I will bring them honor and they will no longer be despised.

I will satisfy him with long life, and will let him see my salvation.

I will have nothing to do with a perverse person; I will not permit evil.

The one who suffers will soon be released; he will not die in prison, he will not go hungry.

Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed –

When I extinguish you, I will cover the sky; I will darken its stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not shine.

Therefore I will act with fury! My eye will not pity them nor will I spare them. When they have shouted in my ears, I will not listen to them.”

They will wear sackcloth, terror will cover them; shame will be on all their faces, and all of their heads will be shaved bald.

Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand.

When he calls out to me, I will answer him. I will be with him when he is in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him honor.

But I will throw my net over him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans (but he will not see it), and there he will die.

Will you stay mad at us forever? Will you remain angry throughout future generations?

For justice will prevail, and all the morally upright will be vindicated.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you.