Woes On The Wicked

1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers that write perverseness;

1 Woe to those who (A)enact evil statutesAnd to those who constantly record (a)unjust decisions,

1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;

1 Woe to those enacting crooked statutesand writing oppressive laws

1 "How terrible it will be for the one who enacts unjust decrees, for those who write oppressive laws that they have prescribed

2 to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!

2 So as (B)to (b)deprive the needy of justiceAnd rob the poor of My people of their rights,So (C)that widows may be their spoilAnd that they may plunder the (c)orphans.

2 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!

2 to keep the poor from getting a fair trialand to deprive the afflicted among my people of justice,so that widows can be their spoiland they can plunder the fatherless.

2 to deprive the needy of justice and to rob the poor of my people of their rights, so that widows may become their spoil and so that they may plunder orphans!

3 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?

3 Now (D)what will you do in the (E)day of punishment,And in the devastation which will come (F)from afar?(G)To whom will you flee for help?And where will you leave your (d)wealth?

3 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?

3 What will you do on the day of punishmentwhen devastation comes from far away?Who will you run to for help?Where will you leave your wealth?

3 What will you do on the day of Judgment, in the calamity that will come from far away? To whom will you run for help, and where will you leave your wealth,

4 They shall only bow down under the prisoners, and shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

4 Nothing remains but to crouch (e)among the (H)captivesOr fall (f)among the (I)slain.(J)In spite of all this, His anger does not turn awayAnd His hand is still stretched out.

4 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.

4 There will be nothing to doexcept crouch among the prisonersor fall among the slain.In all this, His anger is not removed,and His hand is still raised to strike.

4 so you won't have to crouch among those in chains or fall among the slain? "Yet for all this, his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out, ready to strike."

Judgment On Assyria's Arrogance

5 Ho Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in whose hand is mine indignation!

5 Woe to (K)Assyria, the (L)rod of My angerAnd the staff in whose hands is (M)My indignation,

5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

5 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger—the staff in their hands is My wrath.

5 "How terrible it will be for Assyria, the rod of my anger! The club is in their hands!

6 I will send him against a profane 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.

6 I send it against a (N)godless nationAnd commission it against the (O)people of My furyTo capture booty and (P)to seize plunder,And to (g)trample them down like (Q)mud in the streets.

6 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.

6 I will send him against a godless nation;I will command him to goagainst a people destined for My rage,to take spoils, to plunder,and to trample them down like clay(A) in the streets.

6 I'm sending my fury against a godless nation, and I'll command him against the people with whom I'm angry to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets.

7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few.

7 Yet it (R)does not so intend,Nor does (h)it plan so in its heart,But rather it is (i)its purpose to destroyAnd to cut off (j)many nations.

7 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.

7 But this is not what he intends;this is not what he plans.It is his intent to destroyand to cut off many nations.

7 But this is not what he intends, and this is not what he thinks in his mind; but it is in his mind to destroy, and to cut down many nations.

8 For he saith, Are not my princes all of them kings?

8 For it says, “Are not my princes (k)all kings?

8 For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?

8 For he says,“Aren’t all my commanders kings?

8 "Because this is what he is saying: "My commanders are all kings, are they not?

9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?

9 “Is not (S)Calno like (T)Carchemish,Or (U)Hamath like Arpad,Or (V)Samaria like (W)Damascus?

9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?

9 Isn’t Calno like Carchemish?Isn’t Hamath like Arpad?Isn’t Samaria(B) like Damascus?(a)

9 Isn't Calno like Carchemish? Isn't Hamath like Arpad? Isn't Samaria like Damascus?

10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

10 “As my hand has reached to the (X)kingdoms of the idols,Whose graven images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,

10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

10 As my hand seized the idolatrous kingdoms,whose idols exceeded those of Jerusalem and Samaria,

10 As my hand has reached to the idolatrous kingdoms whose carved images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,

11 shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

11 Shall I not (l)do to Jerusalem and her imagesJust as I have done to Samaria and (Y)her idols?”

11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

11 and as I did to Samaria and its idolswill I not also do to Jerusalem and its idols?”

11 will I not deal with Jerusalem and her idols as I have dealt with Samaria and her images?'"

Judgment On Assyria

12 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.

12 So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His (Z)work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will (m)punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and (AA)the pomp of (n)his haughtiness.”

12 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.

12 But when the Lord finishes all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I(b) will punish the king of Assyria for his arrogant acts and the proud look in his eyes.”

12 "For the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and against Jerusalem; he will punish the speech that comes from that willful heart of Assyria's king and the haughty look in his eyes.

13 For he hath said, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I have understanding: and I have removed the bounds of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures, and like a valiant man I have brought down them that sit on thrones :

13 For (AB)he has said,“By the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this,For I have understanding;And I (AC)removed the boundaries of the peoplesAnd plundered their treasures,And like a mighty man I brought down (o)their inhabitants,

13 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:

13 For he said:I have done this by my own strengthand wisdom, for I am clever.I abolished the borders of nationsand plundered their treasures;like a mighty warrior, I subjugated the inhabitants.(c)

13 He keeps bragging: "I've done it by the strength of my hand, and by my wisdom, because I'm so clever. I removed the boundaries of nations, and plundered their treasures; like a bull I brought down those who sat on thrones.

14 and my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the peoples; and as one gathereth eggs that are forsaken, have I gathered all the earth: and there was none that moved the wing, or that opened the mouth, or chirped.

14 And my hand reached to the riches of the peoples like a (AD)nest,And as one gathers abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth;And there was not one that flapped its wing or opened its beak or chirped.”

14 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.

14 My hand has reached out, as if into a nest,to seize the wealth of the nations.Like one gathering abandoned eggs,I gathered the whole earth.No wing fluttered;no beak opened or chirped.

14 My hand has found, as if in a nest, the wealth of the people; and as one gathers eggs that have been abandoned, so I have gathered all the inhabitants of the earth. Nothing moved a wing, opened its mouth, or chirped.'

15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? shall the saw magnify itself against him that wieldeth it? as if a rod should wield them that lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up him that is not wood.

15 Is the (AE)axe to (AF)boast itself over the one who chops with it?Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it?That would be like (AG)a (p)club wielding those who lift it,Or like (AH)a rod lifting him who is not wood.

15 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.

15 Does an ax exalt itselfabove the one who chops with it?Does a saw magnify itselfabove the one who saws with it?It would be like a staff waving the one who lifts(d) it!It would be like a rod lifting a man who isn’t wood!

15 "Does the ax exalt itself over the one who swings it? Or does the saw magnify itself in opposition to the one who wields it? As if a rod were to wield those who lift it, or as if a club were to brandish the one who is not wood!

16 Therefore will the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory there shall be kindled a burning like the burning of fire.

16 Therefore the Lord, the (q)God of hosts, will send a (AI)wasting disease among his (AJ)stout warriors;And under his (AK)glory a fire will be kindled like a burning flame.

16 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.

16 Therefore the Lord God of Hostswill inflict an emaciating diseaseon the well-fed of Assyria,and He will kindle a burning fireunder its glory.

16 Therefore, the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies will send a wasting disease among Assyria's sturdy warriors, and under its glory a conflagration will be kindled, like a blazing bonfire.

17 And the light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.

17 And the (AL)light of Israel will become a fire and his (AM)Holy One a flame,And it will (AN)burn and devour his thorns and his briars in a single day.

17 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;

17 Israel’s Light will become a fire,and its Holy One, a flame.In one day it will burn up Assyria’s thorns and thistles.

17 "The light of Israel will become a fire, and its Holy One a flame, and it will burn and consume Assyria's thorns and briers in a single day.

18 And he will consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and it shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth.

18 And He will (AO)destroy the glory of his forest and of his fruitful garden, both soul and body,And it will be as when a sick man wastes away.

18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth.

18 He will completely destroythe glory of its forests and orchardsas a sickness consumes a person.

18 The splendor of its forest and its fruitful land the LORD will destroy both soul and body and Assyria will be as when a dying man wastes away.

19 And the remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few, so that a child may write them.

19 And the (AP)rest of the trees of his forest will be so small in numberThat a child could write them down.

19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.

19 The remaining trees of its forestwill be so few in numberthat a child could count them.

19 What survives of the trees in his forest will be so few that a child can count them."

The Return Of The Remnant

20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and they that are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again lean upon him that smote them, but shall lean upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.

20 Now in that day the (AQ)remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob (AR)who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them, but will truly (AS)rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.

20 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.

20 On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer depend on the one who struck them, but they will faithfully depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.(C)

20 At that time, the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer rely on the one who struck them down, but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.

21 A remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.

21 A (AT)remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the (AU)mighty God.

21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.

21 The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob,to the Mighty God.

21 A remnant will return a remnant of Jacob to the Mighty God.

22 For though thy people, Israel, be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them shall return: a destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.

22 For (AV)though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea,Only a remnant within them will return;A (AW)destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.

22 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.

22 Israel, even if your people were as numerousas the sand of the sea,only a remnant of them will return.(D)Destruction has been decreed;justice overflows.

22 For even if your people of Israel number as many as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Overwhelming, righteous destruction is decreed,

23 For a full end, and that determined, will the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, make in the midst of all the earth.

23 For a complete destruction, one that is decreed, (AX)the Lord (r)God of hosts will execute in the midst of the whole land.

23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

23 For throughout the landthe Lord God of Hostsis carrying out a destruction that was decreed.

23 because the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies will bring about destruction, as has been decreed, throughout the entire region.

The Lord Will Punish Assyria

24 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian, though he smite thee with the rod, and lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.

24 Therefore thus says the Lord (s)God of hosts, “O My people who dwell in (AY)Zion, (AZ)do not fear the Assyrian (t)who (BA)strikes you with the rod and lifts up his staff against you, the way Egypt did.

24 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.

24 Therefore, the Lord God of Hosts says this: “My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear Assyria, though he strikes you with a rod and raises his staff over you as the Egyptians did.

24 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies says: "My people, you who live in Zion, don't be afraid of the Assyrians, of the rod that beats you, who lift up their club against you as the Egyptians did.

25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation against thee'shall be accomplished, and mine anger'shall be directed to his destruction.

25 For in a very (BB)little while (BC)My indignation against you will be spent and My anger will be directed to their destruction.”

25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.

25 In just a little while My wrath will be spent and My anger will turn to their destruction.”

25 In just a little while, my fury will come to an end, and my anger then will be directed to their destruction.

26 And Jehovah of hosts will stir up against him a scourge, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and his rod will be over the sea, and he will lift it up after the manner of Egypt.

26 The Lord of hosts will (BD)arouse a scourge against him like the slaughter of (BE)Midian at the rock of Oreb; and His (BF)staff will be over the sea and He will lift it up (BG)the way He did in Egypt.

26 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.

26 And the Lord of Hosts will brandish a whip against him as He did when He struck Midian at the rock of Oreb;(E) and He will raise His staff over the sea as He did in Egypt.

26 The LORD of the Heavenly Armies will brandish a whip against them, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb; and as his staff was stretched out over the sea, so he will lift it up as he did in Egypt.

God Will Judge Assyria

27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall depart from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed by reason of fatness.

27 So it will be in that day, that (u)his (BH)burden will be removed from your shoulders and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be broken because (BI)of fatness.

27 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.

27 On that dayhis burden will fall from your shoulders,and his yoke from your neck.The yoke will be broken because of fatness.(e)

27 At that time, his burden will depart from your shoulder and his yoke from your neck. Indeed, the yoke will be broken, because you've become obese."

The Invader Attacks

28 He is come to Aiath, he is passed through Migron; at Michmash he layeth up his baggage;

28 He has come against Aiath,He has passed through (BJ)Migron;At (BK)Michmash he deposited his (BL)baggage.

28 He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:

28 Assyria has come to Aiathand has gone through Migron,storing his equipment at Michmash.

28 "The Assyrian commander has come upon Aiath and has passed through Migron; he stores his supplies at Michmash.

29 they are gone over the pass; they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah trembleth; Gibeah of Saul is fled.

29 They have gone through (BM)the pass, saying,(BN)Geba will be our lodging place.”(BO)Ramah is terrified, and (BP)Gibeah of Saul has fled away.

29 They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.

29 They crossed over at the ford, saying,“We will spend the night at Geba.”The people of Ramah are trembling;those at Gibeah of Saul have fled.

29 He has crossed over by the pass; his overnight lodging is at Geba. Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul has fled.

30 Cry aloud with thy voice, O daughter of Gallim! hearken, O Laishah! O thou poor Anathoth!

30 Cry aloud with your voice, O daughter of (BQ)Gallim!Pay attention, Laishah and (v)wretched (BR)Anathoth!

30 Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.

30 Cry aloud, daughter of Gallim!Listen, Laishah!Anathoth is miserable.

30 Cry aloud, you daughter of Gallim! Pay attention, Laish! Poor Anathoth!

31 Madmenah is a fugitive; the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.

31 Madmenah has fled.The inhabitants of Gebim have sought refuge.

31 Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.

31 Madmenah has fled.The inhabitants of Gebim have sought refuge.

31 Marmenah is in flight; the inhabitants of Gebim take cover.

32 This very day shall he halt at Nob: he shaketh his hand at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

32 Yet today he will halt at (BS)Nob;He (BT)shakes his fist at the mountain of the (w)(BU)daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

32 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.

32 Today he will stand at Nob,shaking his fist at the mountain of Daughter Zion,the hill of Jerusalem.

32 This very day he will halt at Nob; he will shake his fists at the mountain that is the Daughter of Zion, at Jerusalem's hill.

33 Behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, will lop the boughs with terror: and the high of stature shall be hewn down, and the lofty shall be brought low.

33 Behold, the Lord, the (x)God of hosts, will lop off the boughs with a terrible crash;Those also who are (BV)tall in stature will be cut downAnd those who are lofty will be abased.

33 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.

33 Look, the Lord God of Hostswill chop off the branches with terrifying power,and the tall trees will be cut down,the high trees felled.

33 Behold, the Lord GOD of the Heavenly Armies will lop off its boughs with terrifying power; the tallest in height will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.

34 And he will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.

34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an iron axe,And (BW)Lebanon will fall (y)by the Mighty One.

34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.

34 He is clearing the thickets of the forest with an ax,and Lebanon with its majesty will fall.

34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an ax, and Lebanon will fall by the Majestic One."

American Standard Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

King James Version Public Domain

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org