<p class="poetry">Indeed, they are barely planted;p> <p class="poetry">yes, they are barely sown;p> <p class="poetry">yes, they barely take root in the earth,p> <p class="poetry">and then he blows on them, causing them to dry up,p> <p class="poetry">and the wind carries them away like straw.p>

<p class="poetry">A blacksmith works with his tool<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and forges metal over the coals.p> <p class="poetry">He forms it<n id="2" /> with hammers;p> <p class="poetry">he makes it with his strong arm.p> <p class="poetry">He gets hungry and loses his energy;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">he drinks no water and gets tired.p>

<p class="poetry">Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love;p> <p class="poetry">they, they are the object of your devotion.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">You pour out liquid offerings to them,p> <p class="poetry">you make an offering.p> <p class="poetry">Because of these things I will seek vengeance.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Even these men<n id="1" /> stagger because of wine,p> <p class="poetry">they stumble around because of beer &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">priests and prophets stagger because of beer,p> <p class="poetry">they are confused<n id="2" /> because of wine,p> <p class="poetry">they stumble around because of beer;p> <p class="poetry">they stagger while seeing prophetic visions,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">they totter while making legal decisions.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">For<n id="1" /> the burial place is already prepared;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">it has been made deep and wide for the king.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">The firewood is piled high on it.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s breath, like a stream flowing with brimstone,p> <p class="poetry">will ignite it.p>

<p class="poetry">Indeed,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;captives will be taken from a warrior;p> <p class="poetry">spoils will be rescued from a conqueror.p> <p class="poetry">I will oppose your adversaryp> <p class="poetry">and I will rescue your children.p>

<p class="poetry">The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog&#8217;s neck;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">the one who presents an offering includes pig&#8217;s blood with it;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">the one who offers incense also praises an idol.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">They have decided to behave this way;<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">they enjoy these disgusting practices.<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">So I will choose severe punishment<n id="1" /> for them;p> <p class="poetry">I will bring on them what they dread,p> <p class="poetry">because I called, and no one responded,p> <p class="poetry">I spoke and they did not listen.p> <p class="poetry">They did evil before me;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">they chose to do what displeases me.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Who has ever heard of such a thing?p> <p class="poetry">Who has ever seen this?p> <p class="poetry">Can a country<n id="1" /> be brought forth in one day?p> <p class="poetry">Can a nation be born in a single moment?p> <p class="poetry">Yet as soon as Zion goes into labor she gives birth to sons!p>