<p class="poetry">For you say,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;We have made a treaty with death,p> <p class="poetry">with Sheol<n id="1" /> we have made an agreement.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">it will not reach us.p> <p class="poetry">For we have made a lie our refuge,p> <p class="poetry">we have hidden ourselves in a deceitful word.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;Speak kindly to<n id="1" /> Jerusalem,<n id="2" /> and tell herp> <p class="poetry">that her time of warfare is over,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">that her punishment is completed.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> has made her pay double<n id="5" /> for all her sins.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Don&#8217;t be afraid, for you will not be put to shame!p> <p class="poetry">Don&#8217;t be intimidated,<n id="1" /> for you will not be humiliated!p> <p class="poetry">You will forget about the shame you experienced in your youth;p> <p class="poetry">you will no longer remember the disgrace of your abandonment.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">When you enter my presence,p> <p class="poetry">do you actually think I want this &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">animals trampling on my courtyards?<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">But if you refuse and rebel,p> <p class="poetry">you will be devoured<n id="1" /> by the sword.&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">Know for certain that the <sc>Lordsc> has spoken.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Indeed, they<n id="1" /> will be ashamed of the sacred treesp> <p class="poetry">you<n id="2" /> find so desirable;p> <p class="poetry">you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">where you choose to worship.p>

<p class="poetry">For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither,p> <p class="poetry">like an orchard<n id="1" /> that is unwatered.p>

<p class="poetry">Indeed, the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies has planned a day of judgment,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">for<n id="2" /> all the high and mighty,p> <p class="poetry">for all who are proud &#8211; they will be humiliated;p>

<p class="poetry">Stop trusting in human beings,p> <p class="poetry">whose life&#8217;s breath is in their nostrils.p> <p class="poetry">For why should they be given special consideration?p>

<p class="poetry">Indeed, a large vineyard<n id="1" /> will produce just a few gallons,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and enough seed to yield several bushels<n id="3" /> will produce less than a bushel.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

Syria has plotted with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah to bring about your demise.<n id="1" />

With bow and arrow<n id="1" /> men will hunt<n id="2" /> there, for the whole land will be covered<n id="3" /> with thorns and briers.

<p class="poetry">Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted!p> <p class="poetry">Issue your orders, but they will not be executed!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">For God is with us!<n id="2" />p>

The sovereign master, the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies, is certainly ready to carry out the decreed destruction throughout the land.<n id="1" />p>

For very soon my fury<n id="1" /> will subside, and my anger will be directed toward their destruction.&#8221;

<p class="poetry">At that time<n id="1" /> you will say:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I praise you, O <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">for even though you were angry with me,p> <p class="poetry">your anger subsided, and you consoled me.p>

<p class="poetry">Sing to the <sc>Lord,sc> for he has done magnificent things,p> <p class="poetry">let this be known<n id="1" /> throughout the earth!p>

<p class="poetry">Cry out and shout for joy, O citizens of Zion,p> <p class="poetry">for the Holy One of Israel<n id="1" /> acts mightily<n id="2" /> among you!&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Indeed,<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies has a plan,p> <p class="poetry">and who can possibly frustrate it?p> <p class="poetry">His hand is ready to strike,p> <p class="poetry">and who can possibly stop it?<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">How will they respond to the messengers of this nation?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Indeed, the <sc>Lordsc> has made Zion secure;p> <p class="poetry">the oppressed among his people will find safety in her.p>