<p class="poetry">Though his<n id="1" /> officials are in Zoanp> <p class="poetry">and his messengers arrive at Hanes,<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies;p> <p class="poetry">they are a burdenp> <p class="poetry">that I am tired of carrying.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Bel<n id="1" /> kneels down,p> <p class="poetry">Nebo<n id="2" /> bends low.p> <p class="poetry">Their images weigh down animals and beasts.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">They will disappoint you,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">those you have so faithfully dealt with since your youth.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Each strays off in his own direction,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">leaving no one to rescue you.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Your chosen<n id="1" /> cities have become a desert;p> <p class="poetry">Zion has become a desert,p> <p class="poetry">Jerusalem<n id="2" /> is a desolate ruin.p>

<p class="poetry">Their residents are powerless;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">they are terrified and ashamed.p> <p class="poetry">They are as short-lived as plants in the fieldp> <p class="poetry">or green vegetation.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">They are as short-lived as grass on the rooftops<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">when it is scorched by the east wind.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">But these people are looted and plundered;p> <p class="poetry">all of them are trapped in pits<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and held captive<n id="2" /> in prisons.p> <p class="poetry">They were carried away as loot with no one to rescue them;p> <p class="poetry">they were carried away as plunder, and no one says, &#8220;Bring that back!&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Look, they are like straw,p> <p class="poetry">which the fire burns up;p> <p class="poetry">they cannot rescue themselvesp> <p class="poetry">from the heat<n id="1" /> of the flames.p> <p class="poetry">There are no coals to warm them,p> <p class="poetry">no firelight to enjoy.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God;p> <p class="poetry">your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.<n id="1" />p>