<p class="poetry">Indeed,<n id="1" /> you have made the city<n id="2" /> into a heap of rubble,p> <p class="poetry">the fortified town into a heap of ruins;p> <p class="poetry">the fortress of foreigners<n id="3" /> is no longer a city,p> <p class="poetry">it will never be rebuilt.p>

<p class="poetry">For the fortress is neglected;p> <p class="poetry">the once-crowded<n id="1" /> city is abandoned.p> <p class="poetry">Hill<n id="2" /> and watchtowerp> <p class="poetry">are permanently uninhabited.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Wild donkeys love to go there,p> <p class="poetry">and flocks graze there.<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> says,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I will restore the ruined houses of the descendants of Jacob.p> <p class="poetry">I will show compassion on their ruined homes.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Every city will be rebuilt on its former ruins.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Every fortified dwelling will occupy its traditional site.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1492; (<i>Hei>)p> <p class="poetry">The Lord,<n id="1" /> like an enemy,p> <p class="poetry">destroyed<n id="2" /> Israel.p> <p class="poetry">He destroyed<n id="3" /> all her palaces;p> <p class="poetry">he ruined her<n id="4" /> fortified cities.p> <p class="poetry">He made everyone in Daughter Judahp> <p class="poetry">mourn and lament.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1494; (<i>Zayini>)p> <p class="poetry">The Lord<n id="1" /> rejected<n id="2" /> his altarp> <p class="poetry">and abhorred his temple.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">He handed over to the enemy<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">her palace walls;p> <p class="poetry">the enemy<n id="5" /> shouted<n id="6" /> in the <sc>Lord&#8217;ssc> templep> <p class="poetry">as if it were a feast day.<n id="7" />p>

<p class="poetry">Israel has forgotten his Maker and built royal palaces,p> <p class="poetry">and Judah has built many fortified cities.p> <p class="poetry">But I will send fire on their cities;p> <p class="poetry">it will consume their royal citadels.p>

<p class="poetry">Therefore,&#8221; says the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;an enemy will encircle the land.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">He will take away your power;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">your fortresses will be looted.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">The sovereign <sc>Lordsc> confirms this oath by his very own life.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc>, the God who commands armies, is speaking:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I despise Jacob&#8217;s arrogance;p> <p class="poetry">I hate their<n id="2" /> fortresses.p> <p class="poetry">I will hand over to their enemies<n id="3" /> the city of Samaria<n id="4" /> and everything in it.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">He will give us peace.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Should the Assyrians try to invade our landp> <p class="poetry">and attempt to set foot in our fortresses,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">we will send<n id="3" /> against them seven<n id="4" /> shepherd-rulers,<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">make that eight commanders.<n id="6" />p>

His officer Pekah son of Remaliah conspired against him. He and fifty Gileadites assassinated Pekahiah, as well as Argob and Arieh, in Samaria in the fortress of the royal palace.<n id="1" /> Pekah then took his place as king.p>

But you must obey me and set the Sabbath day apart to me. You must not carry any loads in through<n id="1" /> the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. If you disobey, I will set the gates of Jerusalem on fire. It will burn down all the fortified dwellings in Jerusalem and no one will be able to put it out.&#8217;&#8221;p>