1 Woe to thee that layest waste, and thou wast not laid waste; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to lay waste, thou shalt be wasted; and when thou shalt make an end of dealing treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
2 O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
3 At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.
4 And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.
5 The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.
6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. salvation: Heb. salvations
7 Behold, their valiant ones shall cry outside: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. valiant…: or, messengers
8 The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.
9 The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. hewn…: or, withered away
10 Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.
11 Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.
12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
13 Ye that are far off, hear what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that keepeth his hands from accepting of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; righteously: Heb. in righteousnessesuprightly: Heb. uprightnessesoppressions: or, deceitsblood: Heb. bloods
16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the strong holds of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. high: Heb. heights, or, high places
17 Thy eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. that…: Heb. of far distances
18 Thy heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? receiver: Heb. weigher?
19 Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand. stammering: or, ridiculous
20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thy eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of its stakes shall ever be removed, neither shall any of its cords be broken.
21 But there the glorious LORD will be to us a place of broad rivers and streams; in which shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass through it. of…: Heb. broad of spaces, or, hands
22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. lawgiver: Heb. statutemaker
23 Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey. Thy…: or, They have forsaken thy tacklings
24 And the inhabitants shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell in it shall be forgiven their iniquity.