<p class="bodytext">A proclamation<n id="1" /> was circulated<n id="2" /> throughout Judah and Jerusalem<n id="3" /> that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem.

<p class="bodytext">All the assembly replied in a loud voice: &#8220;We will do just as you have said!<n id="1" />

<p class="poetry">After that a voice roars;p> <p class="poetry">he thunders with an exalted voice,p> <p class="poetry">and he does not hold back his lightning bolts<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">when his voice is heard.p>

<p class="poetry">In excitement and impatience it consumes the ground;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">it cannot stand still<n id="2" /> when the trumpet is blown.p>

<p class="poetry">Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">for the <sc>Lordsc> has heard the sound of my weeping!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help,p> <p class="poetry">when I lift my hands<n id="1" /> toward your holy temple!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s shout is heard over the water;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">the majestic God thunders,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">the <sc>Lordsc> appears over the surging water.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s shout breaks<n id="1" /> the cedars,p> <p class="poetry">the <sc>Lordsc> shatters<n id="2" /> the cedars of Lebanon.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s shout bends<n id="1" /> the large trees<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and strips<n id="3" /> the leaves from the forests.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">Everyone in his temple says, &#8220;Majestic!&#8221;<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">to the one who rides through the sky from ancient times!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Look! He thunders loudly.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">The clouds poured down rain;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">the skies thundered.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Yes, your arrows<n id="3" /> flashed about.p>

<p class="poetry">Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind;p> <p class="poetry">the lightning bolts lit up the world;p> <p class="poetry">the earth trembled and shook.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">They celebrate deliverance in the tents of the godly.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s right hand conquers,<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">I say to the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;You are my God.&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">O <sc>Lordsc>, pay attention to my plea for mercy!p>

<t /><p class="sosspeaker"><b><i>The Beloved about Her Lover:i>b>p> <p class="poetry">Listen!<n id="1" /> My lover is approaching!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Look!<n id="3" /> Here he comes,p> <p class="poetry">leaping over the mountains,p> <p class="poetry">bounding over the hills!p>

<p class="poetry">A voice cries out,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;In the wilderness clear a way for the <sc>Lordsc>;p> <p class="poetry">construct in the desert a road for our God.p>

<p class="poetry">Jerusalem will bring me joy,p> <p class="poetry">and my people will bring me happiness.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">The sound of weeping or cries of sorrowp> <p class="poetry">will never be heard in her again.p>

<p class="poetry">Listen to the cries of anguish of the leaders.p> <p class="poetry">Listen to the wails of the shepherds of the flocks.p> <p class="poetry">They are wailing because the <sc>Lordsc>p> <p class="poetry">is about to destroy their lands.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Yes,<n id="1" /> here is what he says:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;You hear cries of panic and of terror;p> <p class="poetry">there is no peace in sight.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Then there was a voice from above the platform over their heads when they stood still.<n id="1" />