<p class="poetry">I will do this so<n id="1" /> people<n id="2" /> will observe and recognize,p> <p class="poetry">so they will pay attention and understandp> <p class="poetry">that the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s power<n id="3" /> has accomplished this,p> <p class="poetry">and that the Holy One of Israel has brought it into being.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Predict how future events will turn out,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">so we might know you are gods.p> <p class="poetry">Yes, do something good or bad,p> <p class="poetry">so we might be frightened and in awe.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">All who form idols are nothing;p> <p class="poetry">the things in which they delight are worthless.p> <p class="poetry">Their witnesses cannot see;p> <p class="poetry">they recognize nothing, so they are put to shame.p>

<p class="poetry">Half of it he burns in the fire &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">over that half he cooks<n id="1" /> meat;p> <p class="poetry">he roasts a meal and fills himself.p> <p class="poetry">Yes, he warms himself and says,p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Ah! I am warm as I look at the fire.&#8217;p>

<p class="poetry">You were complacent in your evil deeds;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">you thought,<n id="2" /> &#8216;No one sees me.&#8217;p> <p class="poetry">Your self-professed<n id="3" /> wisdom and knowledge lead you astray,p> <p class="poetry">when you say, &#8216;I am unique! No one can compare to me!&#8217;<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Look all around you!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">All of them gather to you.p> <p class="poetry">As surely as I live,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;you will certainly wear all of them like jewelry;p> <p class="poetry">you will put them on as if you were a bride.p>

<p class="poetry">Listen,<n id="1" /> your watchmen shout;p> <p class="poetry">in unison they shout for joy,p> <p class="poetry">for they see with their very own eyes<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s return to Zion.p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> reveals<n id="1" /> his royal power<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">in the sight of all the nations;p> <p class="poetry">the entire<n id="3" /> earth seesp> <p class="poetry">our God deliver.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">his form was so marred he no longer looked human<n id="1" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">so now<n id="2" /> he will startle<n id="3" /> many nations.p> <p class="poetry">Kings will be shocked by his exaltation,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">for they will witness something unannounced to them,p> <p class="poetry">and they will understand something they had not heard about.p>

<p class="poetry">He sprouted up like a twig before God,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">like a root out of parched soil;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">no special appearance that we should want to follow him.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Though the <sc>Lordsc> desired to crush him and make him ill,p> <p class="poetry">once restitution is made,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he will see descendants and enjoy long life,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s purpose will be accomplished through him.p>

<p class="poetry">They lament,<n id="1" /> &#8216;Why don&#8217;t you notice when we fast?p> <p class="poetry">Why don&#8217;t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?&#8217;p> <p class="poetry">Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">you oppress your workers.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">I want you<n id="1" /> to share your food with the hungryp> <p class="poetry">and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">When you see someone naked, clothe him!p> <p class="poetry">Don&#8217;t turn your back on your own flesh and blood!<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Honesty has disappeared;p> <p class="poetry">the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed.p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> watches and is displeased,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">for there is no justice.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, look, darkness covers the earthp> <p class="poetry">and deep darkness covers<n id="1" /> the nations,p> <p class="poetry">but the <sc>Lordsc> shines on you;p> <p class="poetry">his splendor<n id="2" /> appears over you.p>

<p class="poetry">Look all around you!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">They all gather and come to you &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">your sons come from far awayp> <p class="poetry">and your daughters are escorted by guardians.p>

<p class="poetry">Then you will look and smile,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">you will be excited and your heart will swell with pride.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">For the riches of distant lands<n id="3" /> will belong to youp> <p class="poetry">and the wealth of nations will come to you.p>

<p class="poetry">Their descendants will be known among the nations,p> <p class="poetry">their offspring among the peoples.p> <p class="poetry">All who see them will recognize thatp> <p class="poetry">the <sc>Lordsc> has blessed them.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Nations will see your vindication,p> <p class="poetry">and all kings your splendor.p> <p class="poetry">You will be called by a new namep> <p class="poetry">that the <sc>Lordsc> himself will give you.<n id="1" />p>