<p class="poetry">Does an ax exalt itself over the one who wields it,p> <p class="poetry">or a saw magnify itself over the one who cuts with it?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">As if a scepter should brandish the one who raises it,p> <p class="poetry">or a staff should lift up what is not made of wood!p>

<t /><p class="poetry">At that time<n id="1" /> this song will be sung in the land of Judah:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;We have a strong city!p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s<n id="2" /> deliverance, like walls and a rampart, makes it secure.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">the one who led chariots and horses to destruction,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">together with a mighty army.p> <p class="poetry">They fell down,<n id="2" /> never to rise again;p> <p class="poetry">they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:p>

<p class="poetry">Your children faint;p> <p class="poetry">they lie at the head of every streetp> <p class="poetry">like an antelope in a snare.p> <p class="poetry">They are left in a stupor by the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s anger,p> <p class="poetry">by the battle cry of your God.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">You will no longer see a defiant<n id="1" /> peoplep> <p class="poetry">whose language you do not comprehend,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">whose derisive speech you do not understand.<n id="3" />p>

<t /><n id="1" /><p class="poetry">This is a message about Babylon that God revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz:<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">At that time<n id="1" /> a root from Jesse<n id="2" /> will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to him for guidance,<n id="3" /> and his residence will be majestic.

<p class="poetry">Then a trustworthy king will be established;p> <p class="poetry">he will rule in a reliable manner,p> <p class="poetry">this one from David&#8217;s family.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">He will be sure to make just decisionsp> <p class="poetry">and will be experienced in executing justice.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Here is a message about Egypt:p> <p class="poetry">Look, the <sc>Lordsc> rides on a swift-moving cloudp> <p class="poetry">and approaches Egypt.p> <p class="poetry">The idols of Egypt tremble before him;p> <p class="poetry">the Egyptians lose their courage.<n id="1" />p>

&#8220;This is what Hezekiah says:<n id="1" /> &#8216;This is a day of distress, insults,<n id="2" /> and humiliation,<n id="3" /> as when a baby is ready to leave the birth canal, but the mother lacks the strength to push it through.<n id="4" />

<p class="poetry">No foreigner who becomes a follower of<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc> should say,p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;The <sc>Lordsc> will certainly<n id="2" /> exclude me from his people.&#8217;p> <p class="poetry">The eunuch should not say,p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Look, I am like a dried-up tree.&#8217;&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">So my heart constantly sighs for Moab, like the strumming of a harp,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">my inner being sighs<n id="2" /> for Kir Hareseth.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">who led them through the deep water?p> <p class="poetry">Like a horse running on flat land<n id="1" /> they did not stumble.p>

<p class="poetry">This is a message<n id="1" /> about the animals in the Negev:p> <p class="poetry">Through a land of distress and danger,p> <p class="poetry">inhabited by lionesses and roaring lions,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">by snakes and darting adders,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">they transport<n id="4" /> their wealth on the backs of donkeys,p> <p class="poetry">their riches on the humps of camels,p> <p class="poetry">to a nation that cannot help them.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">Look what&#8217;s coming!p> <p class="poetry">A charioteer,p> <p class="poetry">a team of horses.&#8221;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">When questioned, he replies,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Babylon has fallen, fallen!p> <p class="poetry">All the idols of her gods lie shattered on the ground!&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">For a moth will eat away at them like clothes;p> <p class="poetry">a clothes moth will devour them like wool.p> <p class="poetry">But the vindication I provide<n id="1" /> will be permanent;p> <p class="poetry">the deliverance I give will last.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Instead of shame, you will get a double portion;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">instead of humiliation, they will rejoice over the land they receive.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Yes,<n id="3" /> they will possess a double portion in their landp> <p class="poetry">and experience lasting joy.p>

<p class="poetry">So a treaty curse<n id="1" /> devours the earth;p> <p class="poetry">its inhabitants pay for their guilt.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">This is why the inhabitants of the earth disappear,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and are reduced to just a handful of people.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">all will be put to shame<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">because of a nation that cannot help them,p> <p class="poetry">who cannot give them aid or help,p> <p class="poetry">but only shame and disgrace.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">I first decreed to Zion, &#8216;Look, here&#8217;s what will happen!&#8217;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I sent a herald to Jerusalem.<n id="2" />p>