<p class="poetry">When you pass through the waters, I am with you;p> <p class="poetry">when you pass<n id="1" /> through the streams, they will not overwhelm you.p> <p class="poetry">When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;p> <p class="poetry">the flames will not harm<n id="2" /> you.p>

<p class="poetry">Yet do not depart quicklyp> <p class="poetry">or leave in a panic.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> goes before you;p> <p class="poetry">the God of Israel is your rear guard.p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;Indeed, the <sc>Lordsc> will call you backp> <p class="poetry">like a wife who has been abandoned and suffers from depression,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">like a young wife when she has been rejected,&#8221; says your God.p>

<p class="poetry">For I will not be hostile<n id="1" /> foreverp> <p class="poetry">or perpetually angry,p> <p class="poetry">for then man&#8217;s spirit would grow faint before me,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">the life-giving breath I created.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">He sees there is no advocate;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he is shocked<n id="2" /> that no one intervenes.p> <p class="poetry">So he takes matters into his own hands;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">his desire for justice drives him on.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">For you are our father,p> <p class="poetry">though Abraham does not know usp> <p class="poetry">and Israel does not recognize us.p> <p class="poetry">You, <sc>Lordsc>, are our father;p> <p class="poetry">you have been called our protector from ancient times.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Whoever pronounces a blessing in the earth<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">will do so in the name of the faithful God;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">whoever makes an oath in the earthp> <p class="poetry">will do so in the name of the faithful God.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">For past problems will be forgotten;p> <p class="poetry">I will no longer think about them.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">But be happy and rejoice forevermorep> <p class="poetry">over what I am about to create!p> <p class="poetry">For look, I am ready to create Jerusalem<n id="1" /> to be a source of joy,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and her people to be a source of happiness.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Too bad for the wicked sinners!p> <p class="poetry">For they will get exactly what they deserve.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Wail, for the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s day of judgment<n id="1" /> is near;p> <p class="poetry">it comes with all the destructive power of the sovereign judge.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">You keep completely safe the people who maintain their faith,p> <p class="poetry">for they trust in you.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Indeed, all the tables are covered with vomit;p> <p class="poetry">no place is untouched.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">For the bed is too short to stretch out on,p> <p class="poetry">and the blanket is too narrow to wrap around oneself.<n id="1" />p>

<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">Indeed, the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s shout will shatter Assyria;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he will beat them with a club.p>

<p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> has planned a day of revenge,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">a time when he will repay Edom for her hostility toward Zion.<n id="2" />p>

Hezekiah said, &#8220;What is the confirming sign that I will go up to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple?&#8221;

<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;But you did not call for me, O Jacob;p> <p class="poetry">you did not long<n id="1" /> for me, O Israel.p>

<p class="poetry">For I looked forward to the day of vengeance,p> <p class="poetry">and then payback time arrived.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="bodytext">I said, &#8220;Too bad for me! I am destroyed,<n id="1" /> for my lips are contaminated by sin,<n id="2" /> and I live among people whose lips are contaminated by sin.<n id="3" /> My eyes have seen the king, the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies.&#8221;<n id="4" />