Woes On The Wicked

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

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

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

1 Woe (judgment is coming) to those [judges] who issue evil statutes,And to those [magistrates] who constantly record unjust and oppressive decisions,

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 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 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!

2 So as to deprive the needy of justiceAnd rob the poor of My people of rightful claims,So that widows may be their spoilAnd that they may plunder the fatherless.

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 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,

3 Now what will you do in the day of [God’s] punishment,And in the storm of devastation which will come from far away?To whom will you flee for help?And where will you leave your wealth [for safekeeping]?

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 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 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."

4 Nothing remains but to crouch among the captivesOr fall [dead] among the slain [on the battlefield].In spite of all this, God’s anger does not turn away,But His hand is still stretched out [in judgment].

Judgment On Assyria's Arrogance

5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their 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 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!

5 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger [against Israel],The staff in whose hand is My indignation and fury [against Israel’s disobedience]!

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 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 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.

6 I send Assyria against a godless nationAnd commission it against the people of My wrathTo take the spoil and to seize the 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 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 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.

7 Yet it is not Assyria’s intention [to do My will],Nor does it plan so in its heart,But instead it is its purpose to destroyAnd to cut off many nations.

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

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

8 For Assyria says, “Are not my princes all kings?

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 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?

9 “Is not Calno [conquered] like Carchemish [on the Euphrates]?Is not Hamath [subdued] like Arpad [her neighbor]?Is not Samaria [in Israel] like Damascus [in Aram]?

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 has reached to the (X)kingdoms of the idols,Whose graven images were greater than those of Jerusalem and 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,

10 “As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols,Whose carved images were greater and more feared 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 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?'"

11 Shall I not do to Jerusalem and her imagesJust as I have done to Samaria and her idols?” [declares Assyria].

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 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.

12 So when the Lord has completed all His work [of judgment] on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit [the thoughts, the declarations, and the actions] of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the haughtiness of his pride.”

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 (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 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.

13 For the Assyrian king has said,“I have done this by the power of my [own] hand and by my wisdom,For I have understanding and skill.I have removed the boundaries of the peoplesAnd have plundered their treasures;Like a bull I have brought down those who sat on thrones.

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 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 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.'

14 “My hand has found the wealth of the people like a nest,And as one gathers eggs that are abandoned, so I have gathered all the earth;And there was not one that flapped its wing, or that opened its beak and chirped.”

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 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 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!

15 Is the axe able to lift itself over the one who chops with it?Is the saw able to magnify itself over the one who wields it?That would be like a club moving those who lift it,Or like a staff raising him who is not [made of] wood [like itself]!

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, 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 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.

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

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 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 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.

17 And the Light of Israel will become a fire and His Holy One a flame,And it will (a)burn and devour Assyria’s thorns and briars in a single day.(A)

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 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 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.

18 The Lord will consume the glory of Assyria’s forest and of its fruitful garden, both soul and body,And it will be as when a sick man wastes away.

19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, 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 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."

19 And the remaining trees of Assyria’s forest will be so few in numberThat a child could write them down.

The Return Of The Remnant

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 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 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.

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

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

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

21 A (b)remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

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 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 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,

22 For though your people, O Israel, may be as the sand of the sea,Only a remnant within them will return;The destruction is determined [it is decided and destined for completion], overflowing with justice (righteous punishment).(B)

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

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 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.

23 For the Lord, the God of hosts, will execute a complete destruction, one that is decreed, in the midst of all the land.

The Lord Will Punish Assyria

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 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, 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.

24 Therefore, the Lord God of hosts says this, “O My people who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrian who strikes you with a rod and lifts up his staff against you, as [the king of] Egypt did.(C)

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

25 For yet a very little while and My indignation [against you] will be fulfilled and My anger will be directed toward the destruction of the Assyrian.”

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 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 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.

26 The Lord of hosts will brandish a whip against them like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; and His staff will be over the [Red] Sea and He will lift it up the way He did in [the flight from] Egypt.(D)

God Will Judge Assyria

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 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 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."

27 So it will be in that day, that the burden of the Assyrian will be removed from your shoulders and his yoke from your neck. The yoke will be broken because of the fat.(E)

The Invader Attacks

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

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

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.

28 The Assyrian has come against Aiath [in Judah],He has passed through Migron [with his army];At Michmash he stored his equipment.

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 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 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.

29 They have gone through the pass, saying,“Geba will be our lodging place for the night.”Ramah trembles, and Gibeah [the city] of Saul has fled.

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

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

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

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

30 Cry aloud with your voice [in consternation], O Daughter of Gallim!Pay attention, Laishah! Answer her, Anathoth!

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

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

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

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

31 Madmenah has fled;The inhabitants of Gebim have fled [with their belongings] to safety.

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 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 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.

32 Yet today the Assyrian will halt at Nob [the city of priests];He shakes his fist at the mountain of the Daughter of Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem.

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 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 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.

33 Listen carefully, the Lord, the God of hosts, will lop off the [beautiful] boughs with terrifying force;The tall in stature will be cut downAnd the lofty will be abased and humiliated.

34 And he shall 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 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."

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

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