And I will choose some of them as priests and Levites,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>.

<p class="poetry">You did not hear,p> <p class="poetry">you do not know,p> <p class="poetry">you were not told beforehand.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">For I know that you are very deceitful;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">you were labeled<n id="3" /> a rebel from birth.p>

<p class="poetry">I have given orders to my chosen soldiers;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I have summoned the warriors through whom I will vent my anger,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">my boasting, arrogant ones.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">The evergreens also rejoice over your demise,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">as do the cedars of Lebanon, singing,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Since you fell asleep,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">no woodsman comes up to chop us down!&#8217;<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">All of them respond to you, saying:p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;You too have become weak like us!p> <p class="poetry">You have become just like us!p>

<p class="poetry">The watchman replies,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Morning is coming, but then night.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">If you want to ask, ask;p> <p class="poetry">come back again.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">O <sc>Lordsc>, you make us secure,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">for even all we have accomplished, you have done for us.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">This also comes from the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies,p> <p class="poetry">who gives supernatural guidance and imparts great wisdom.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">From this day forward I am he;p> <p class="poetry">no one can deliver from my power;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I will act, and who can prevent it?&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">They will all be ashamed and embarrassed;p> <p class="poetry">those who fashion idols will all be humiliated.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Let your private parts be exposed!p> <p class="poetry">Your genitals will be on display!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I will get revenge;p> <p class="poetry">I will not have pity on anyone,&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne?<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Even if mothers<n id="3" /> were to forget,p> <p class="poetry">I could never forget you!<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">On every high, elevated hill you prepare your bed;p> <p class="poetry">you go up there to offer sacrifices.p>

<p class="poetry">When you spread out your hands in prayer,p> <p class="poetry">I look the other way;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">when you offer your many prayers,p> <p class="poetry">I do not listen,p> <p class="poetry">because your hands are covered with blood.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">He built a hedge around it,<n id="1" /> removed its stones,p> <p class="poetry">and planted a vine.p> <p class="poetry">He built a tower in the middle of it,p> <p class="poetry">and constructed a winepress.p> <p class="poetry">He waited for it to produce edible grapes,p> <p class="poetry">but it produced sour ones instead.<n id="2" />p>

So Isaiah replied,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Pay attention,<n id="2" /> family<n id="3" /> of David.<n id="4" /> Do you consider it too insignificant to try the patience of men? Is that why you are also trying the patience of my God?

At that time<n id="1" /> the sovereign master will use a razor hired from the banks of the Euphrates River,<n id="2" /> the king of Assyria, to shave the head and the pubic hair;<n id="3" /> it will also shave off the beard.

<p class="poetry">He said,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;You will no longer celebrate,p> <p class="poetry">oppressed<n id="1" /> virgin daughter Sidon!p> <p class="poetry">Get up, travel to Cyprus,p> <p class="poetry">but you will find no relief there.&#8221;<n id="2" />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">Yet he too is wise<n id="1" /> and he will bring disaster;p> <p class="poetry">he does not retract his decree.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">He will attack the wicked nation,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and the nation that helps<n id="4" /> those who commit sin.<n id="5" />p>