Unjust laws
Trouble is coming for those who make unjust laws and write rules that crush people, turning the needy aside from justice and robbing the poor of my people of their rights, so widows become their prey and they can rob orphans. What'll you do on the day of reckoning, when the storm comes from far off? Who'll you run to for help, and where will you leave what you've piled up? There'll be nothing left but to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the dead. And after all this his anger hasn't turned away; his hand is still stretched out.
Trouble is coming to those who write unjust laws and keep writing down oppression, to push the needy aside from getting a fair hearing and rob the poor of my people of what's theirs, to make widows their plunder and orphans their prey. What'll you do on the day of reckoning, when the storm comes from far off? Who'll you run to for help, and where will you leave what you've piled up? There'll be nothing left but to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the killed. And after all this his anger hasn't turned away; his hand is still stretched out.
Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Trouble is coming for those who make unjust laws and write rules that crush people,
Trouble is coming to those who write unjust laws and keep writing down oppression,
Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
turning the needy aside from justice and robbing the poor of my people of their rights, so widows become their prey and they can rob orphans.
to push the needy aside from getting a fair hearing and rob the poor of my people of what's theirs, to make widows their plunder and orphans their prey.
To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
What'll you do on the day of reckoning, when the storm comes from far off? Who'll you run to for help, and where will you leave what you've piled up?
And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
There'll be nothing left but to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the dead. And after all this his anger hasn't turned away; his hand is still stretched out.
There'll be nothing left but to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the killed. And after all this his anger hasn't turned away; his hand is still stretched out.
Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Assyria the rod
O Assyrian, the rod of my anger, and the staff in their hand is my anger! I send him against a godless nation. I give him orders against the people I'm angry with, to take the plunder and seize the plunder and trample them down like mud in the streets. Yet he doesn't mean it that way, and his heart doesn't think that way. In his heart he means to destroy and cut off more than a few nations. Because he says: Aren't all my commanders kings? Isn't Calno like Carchemish? Isn't Hamath like Arpad? Isn't Samaria like Damascus? My hand has taken hold of the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images were more than Jerusalem's and Samaria's — So won't I do to Jerusalem and her idols what I've done to Samaria and hers? So when the LORD has finished all his work on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, he'll say: I'll deal with the fruit of the king of Assyria's proud heart and the arrogance of his high looks. Because he says: By the strength of my hand I've done it, and by my wisdom, because I know what I'm doing. I shifted the borders of peoples and looted their treasures. Like a bull I brought down those sitting on thrones. My hand found the riches of the peoples like a nest. As a man gathers eggs that are left, I gathered all the earth, and there was no one who moved a wing, opened the mouth or peeped. Will the axe boast against the one who chops with it? Will the saw magnify itself against the one who uses it? That would be like a rod shaking the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting the one who is not wood. So the LORD, the LORD Almighty, will send wasting sickness among his well-fed troops, and under his glory a fire will be kindled like a blazing fire. The Light of Israel will be a fire and his Holy One a flame, and it'll burn and eat up his thorns and briars in a single day. He will destroy the glory of his forest and fruitful land, body and soul, until it is like a sick person wasting away. The trees left in his forest will be so few a child could write them down.
Trouble is coming to Assyria, the rod of my anger — the club in their hand is my fury. I send him against a godless nation. I give him orders against the people I'm angry with, to take the spoil and seize the plunder and trample them down like mud in the streets. But that's not how he sees it, and that's not what he's thinking. What he's got in mind is to destroy and to cut off nation after nation. Because he says: Aren't all my commanders kings? Isn't Kalno like Carchemish? Isn't Hamath like Arpad? Isn't Samaria like Damascus? My hand has taken hold of the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images were more than Jerusalem's and Samaria's — so won't I do to Jerusalem and her idols what I've done to Samaria and hers? So when the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, he'll say: I'll deal with the fruit of the king of Assyria's proud heart and the arrogance of his high looks. Because he says: By the strength of my hand I've done it, and by my wisdom, because I know what I'm doing. I shifted the borders of peoples and looted their treasures. Like a bull I brought down those sitting on thrones. My hand reached into the wealth of the peoples like reaching into a nest. The way you gather up abandoned eggs, I gathered up the whole earth — and not a wing flapped, not a beak opened to chirp. Does an axe boast against the man swinging it? Does a saw big-note itself over the one pulling it? As if a rod could swing the man lifting it, or a stick could pick up someone who isn't wood. So the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will send wasting sickness among his well-fed troops, and under his glory a fire will be kindled like a blazing fire. The Light of Israel will be a fire and his Holy One a flame, and it'll burn and eat up his thorns and briars in a single day. The glory of his forest and his orchard it'll finish off, body and soul, and it'll be like a sick man wasting away. The trees left in his forest will be so few a child could write them down.
O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth. And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.
O Assyrian, the rod of my anger, and the staff in their hand is my anger!
Trouble is coming to Assyria, the rod of my anger — the club in their hand is my fury.
O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
I send him against a godless nation. I give him orders against the people I'm angry with, to take the plunder and seize the plunder and trample them down like mud in the streets.
I send him against a godless nation. I give him orders against the people I'm angry with, to take the spoil and seize the plunder and trample them down like mud in the streets.
I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
Yet he doesn't mean it that way, and his heart doesn't think that way. In his heart he means to destroy and cut off more than a few nations.
But that's not how he sees it, and that's not what he's thinking. What he's got in mind is to destroy and to cut off nation after nation.
Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
Because he says: Aren't all my commanders kings?
For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?
Isn't Calno like Carchemish? Isn't Hamath like Arpad? Isn't Samaria like Damascus?
Isn't Kalno like Carchemish? Isn't Hamath like Arpad? Isn't Samaria like Damascus?
Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
My hand has taken hold of the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images were more than Jerusalem's and Samaria's —
As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
So won't I do to Jerusalem and her idols what I've done to Samaria and hers?
so won't I do to Jerusalem and her idols what I've done to Samaria and hers?
Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
So when the LORD has finished all his work on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, he'll say: I'll deal with the fruit of the king of Assyria's proud heart and the arrogance of his high looks.
So when the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, he'll say: I'll deal with the fruit of the king of Assyria's proud heart and the arrogance of his high looks.
Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
Because he says: By the strength of my hand I've done it, and by my wisdom, because I know what I'm doing. I shifted the borders of peoples and looted their treasures. Like a bull I brought down those sitting on thrones.
For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:
My hand found the riches of the peoples like a nest. As a man gathers eggs that are left, I gathered all the earth, and there was no one who moved a wing, opened the mouth or peeped.
My hand reached into the wealth of the peoples like reaching into a nest. The way you gather up abandoned eggs, I gathered up the whole earth — and not a wing flapped, not a beak opened to chirp.
And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
Will the axe boast against the one who chops with it? Will the saw magnify itself against the one who uses it? That would be like a rod shaking the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting the one who is not wood.
Does an axe boast against the man swinging it? Does a saw big-note itself over the one pulling it? As if a rod could swing the man lifting it, or a stick could pick up someone who isn't wood.
Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.
So the LORD, the LORD Almighty, will send wasting sickness among his well-fed troops, and under his glory a fire will be kindled like a blazing fire.
So the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will send wasting sickness among his well-fed troops, and under his glory a fire will be kindled like a blazing fire.
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.
The Light of Israel will be a fire and his Holy One a flame, and it'll burn and eat up his thorns and briars in a single day.
And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;
He will destroy the glory of his forest and fruitful land, body and soul, until it is like a sick person wasting away.
The glory of his forest and his orchard it'll finish off, body and soul, and it'll be like a sick man wasting away.
And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth.
The trees left in his forest will be so few a child could write them down.
And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.
A remnant comes back
In that day the survivors of Israel, and those of Jacob who have escaped, will no longer rely on the one who struck them, but will rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. the survivors will return, even the survivors of Jacob, to the mighty God. Because even if your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a group of survivors will come back. Destruction is decided, and it comes flooding with righteousness. For the Lord GOD Almighty will make a complete end, one already decided, throughout all the land. So this is what the LORD, the LORD Almighty, says: Don't be afraid of the Assyrian, my people who live in Zion, when he hits you with a rod and lifts his club over you the way Egypt did. For yet a very little while, and the anger will cease, and my anger will be turned to their destruction. And the LORD Almighty will crack the whip over him the way he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb, and he'll lift his staff over the sea the way he did in Egypt. In that day his burden will be taken from your shoulder and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing. He has come to Aiath and passed through Migron; at Michmash he has stored his baggage. They've crossed the passage and taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul has fled. Cry out, daughter of Gallim. Listen, Laishah. Poor Anathoth. Madmenah has moved away; the people of Gebim gather themselves to flee. This very day he'll stop at Nob. He'll shake his fist at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem. Look: the LORD, the LORD Almighty, will lop the boughs off with terrible force. The tall trees will be cut down and the high ones brought low. He'll cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.
On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob won't lean on the one who struck them any more. They'll lean on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and mean it. A remnant will come back, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. Because even if your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant will come back. Destruction is decided, and it comes flooding with righteousness. Because the Lord, the Lord Almighty, is going to carry out the destruction that's been decided, right through the middle of the land. So this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says: Don't be afraid of the Assyrian, my people who live in Zion, when he hits you with a rod and lifts his club over you the way Egypt did. Because very soon my fury will be finished, and my anger will turn to their destruction. And the Lord Almighty will crack the whip over him the way he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb, and he'll lift his staff over the sea the way he did in Egypt. On that day the load will come off your shoulder and his yoke off your neck, and the yoke will be broken because of the anointing. He's come to Aiath. He's gone through Migron. He's stored his gear at Mikmash. They've crossed the pass. Geba is where they're sleeping tonight. Ramah is shaking. Gibeah of Saul has run for it. Cry out, daughter of Gallim. Listen, Laishah. Poor Anathoth. Madmenah is on the move. The people of Gebim are taking cover. This very day he'll stop at Nob. He'll shake his fist at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem. Look at this — the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will lop the boughs off with terrible force. The tall trees will be cut down and the high ones brought low. He'll cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages: They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled. Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth. Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee. As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem. Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.
In that day the survivors of Israel, and those of Jacob who have escaped, will no longer rely on the one who struck them, but will rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob won't lean on the one who struck them any more. They'll lean on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and mean it.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
the survivors will return, even the survivors of Jacob, to the mighty God.
A remnant will come back, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.
The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.
Because even if your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a group of survivors will come back. Destruction is decided, and it comes flooding with righteousness.
Because even if your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant will come back. Destruction is decided, and it comes flooding with righteousness.
For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
For the Lord GOD Almighty will make a complete end, one already decided, throughout all the land.
Because the Lord, the Lord Almighty, is going to carry out the destruction that's been decided, right through the middle of the land.
For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.
So this is what the LORD, the LORD Almighty, says: Don't be afraid of the Assyrian, my people who live in Zion, when he hits you with a rod and lifts his club over you the way Egypt did.
So this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says: Don't be afraid of the Assyrian, my people who live in Zion, when he hits you with a rod and lifts his club over you the way Egypt did.
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.
For yet a very little while, and the anger will cease, and my anger will be turned to their destruction.
Because very soon my fury will be finished, and my anger will turn to their destruction.
For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.
And the LORD Almighty will crack the whip over him the way he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb, and he'll lift his staff over the sea the way he did in Egypt.
And the Lord Almighty will crack the whip over him the way he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb, and he'll lift his staff over the sea the way he did in Egypt.
And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.
In that day his burden will be taken from your shoulder and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing.
On that day the load will come off your shoulder and his yoke off your neck, and the yoke will be broken because of the anointing.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
He has come to Aiath and passed through Migron; at Michmash he has stored his baggage.
He's come to Aiath. He's gone through Migron. He's stored his gear at Mikmash.
He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:
They've crossed the passage and taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul has fled.
They've crossed the pass. Geba is where they're sleeping tonight. Ramah is shaking. Gibeah of Saul has run for it.
They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.
Cry out, daughter of Gallim. Listen, Laishah. Poor Anathoth.
Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.
Madmenah has moved away; the people of Gebim gather themselves to flee.
Madmenah is on the move. The people of Gebim are taking cover.
Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.
This very day he'll stop at Nob. He'll shake his fist at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem.
As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
Look: the LORD, the LORD Almighty, will lop the boughs off with terrible force. The tall trees will be cut down and the high ones brought low.
Look at this — the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will lop the boughs off with terrible force. The tall trees will be cut down and the high ones brought low.
Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.
He'll cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.
And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.