Alas! a nation - committing sin, a people - burdened with iniquity, a seed - practising wickedness, sons - acting corruptly. They have forsaken Yahweh despised the Holy One of Israel, - Are estranged and gone back.

But all the hills which, with the hoe, can be weeded, - there shall not come thither, the fear of briars anti thorns, - but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the tread of lesser cattle.

Madmenah, hath fled, - The inhabitants of Gebim, have gone into safety:

He hath gone up to Bayith and Dibon, to the high places, to weep, - On Nebo and on Medeba, Moab is howling, On all their heads, a baldness, Every beard, clipped.

For the outcry hath gone round the boundary of Moab, - As far as Eglaim, the howling thereof, And to Beer-elim, the howling thereof.

For, the fields of Heshbon are withered - The vine of Sibmah, the owners of nations, have broken off ruddy branches, Unto Jazer, had they reached, They had spread abroad to the desert, - Her boughs, had stretched forth, had gone over to the sea.

Surely, foolish, are the princes of Zoan, the wisest counsellors of Pharaoh, in counsel are brutish, - How can ye say unto Pharaoh, Son of the wise, am I Son of the kings of olden time?

And Egypt shall have nothing which can be don Which head or tail palm-top or rush, can do!

The oracle on Dumah: Unto me, is one crying - out of Seir, Watchman! how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?

The oracle on the valley of vision, - What aileth thee, then, That thou art wholly gone up to the house-tops?

Yea the earth itself is profaned under them who dwell therein, - For they have Set aside laws, Gone beyond statute, Broken an age-abiding covenant.

Alas! for them who would fain have been too deep for Yahweh by giving secret counsel, - and therefore in the dark, have been their doings, and they have said Who can see us? and - Who can understand us?

Terror-stricken in Zion, - are sinners, Shuddering hath seized the impious, - Who among us can sojourn with a fire that devoureth? Who among us can sojourn with burnings age-abiding?

He that walketh righteously, And speaketh uprightly, - He that refuseth the gain of exactions That shaketh his hands free from holding a bribe, That stoppeth his ear from hearkening to deeds of blood, And shutteth his eyes from giving countenance to wrong,

Loosed are thy ropes, - They cannot strengthen the socket of their mast They have not unfurled a sail Now, can be apportioned spoil, in abundance, The lame, have captured prey!

Then shall the glowing sand, become a lake, And thirsty ground - springs of water, - In the home of the wild dog - its lair, Shall he an enclosure for cane and paper - reed.

Lo! thou dost trust on the support of this bruised cane, on Egypt, whereon if a man lean it will enter his hand and lay it open, - So, is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust upon him.

Then said Eliakim, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh - Speak we pray thee unto thy servants in the Syrian language, for we, can, understand, it, - and do not speak unto us in the Jews language, in the ears of the people who are upon the wall.

Behold me! causing the shadow on the steps, which hath come gone down on the steps of Ahaz with the sun, to return, backwards ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps, by the steps which it had come down.

What can I say? Since he hath promised for me, Himself, will perform. I will go softly, all my years. Because of the bitterness of my soul,

The living, the living, he, can praise thee, As I do this day, - A father, to his children, can make known thy faithfulness.

Lo! nations, Are us a drop on a bucket, And as fine dust on a balance, are accounted, - Lo! islands, like an atom, can he hoist;

Unto whom then can ye liken GOD? Or, what likeness, can ye compare unto him?

Unto whom then, can ye liken me, or can I be equal? Saith the Holy One.

Who hath told in advance, that we might know, And beforetime, that we might say Right! Nay, there is none who can tell. Nay, there is none who can let us hear, Nay, there is none who can understand what ye utter.

He who is First, can say , To Zion, Lo! there they are! And to Jerusalem, A herald of good-tidings, do I give.

So I look, And there is not, a Man! Even among these And there is none to advise, - That, when I ask them, can answer a word.

Cane that is crushed, will he not break, And wick that is fading, will he not quench, - Faithfully, will he bring forth justice:

All the nations, are gathered together Yea there is an assembling of peoples, Who among them, can tell this, And things in advance, can let us hear? Let them set forth their witnesses that they may get their right, Or let them hear, and say Truth!

Even from To-day, I, am He, And none, out of my hand, can deliver, - I work and who reverseth?

Who then, like me, can call, and declare it, and order it, for me, Seeing that I appointed an age-abiding people, - Or things yet to be, and that shall come to pass, Let them declare on their part.

They have not taken note, neither can they perceive, - He hath besmeared - past seeing - their eyes, Past understanding, their hearts;

Thus, saith Yahweh - The produce of Egypt and the gain of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of great stature, Unto thee, shall come over, And thine, shall they become, After thee, shall they journey, In chains, shall they come over, - And unto thee, shall they bow down Unto thee, shall they pray saying , - Surely, in thee, is a GOD And there is none else - no, God!

They have turned pale and even been put to shame, all of them, - Together have they gone into disgrace, have the makers of images:

By myself, have I sworn, Gone forth out of my mouth, is righteousness as a decree And shall not turn back, - That, unto myself, Shall bow every knee, Shall swear every tongue:

To whom can ye liken me or make me equal? Or compare me, and we be like?

Can, a woman, forget, her sucking child, Past taking compassion on the son of her womb? Even these, may forget, Yet will, I, not forget, thee:

At hand, is one who can justify me. Who will contend with me? let, us stand forth together, - Who can accuse me? let him draw near to me!

At hand is my righteousness. Gone forth hath my salvation, And, mine own arms, unto the peoples, shall give justice, - Upon me, Coastlands, shall wait, And for mine arm, shall they hope.

We all, like sheep, had gone astray, Every man - to his way, had we burned, - And Yahweh! caused to light upon him The guilt of, us all!

And, the dogs, are greedy they know not to be satisfied. Yea, they, are shepherds who know not to discern, - All of them unto their own way, have turned, Every man to his unjust gain, on every hand:

Among the smooth stones of the torrent - valley, is thy portion. They, they, are thy lot; Even to them, hast thou Poured out a drink-offering. Caused to ascend a gift. Over these things, can I cease to grieve?

On a mountain high and uplifted, hast thou set thy couch, - Even thither, hast thou gone up, to offer sacrifice;

And behind the door arid the post, hast thou set thy symbol, For, with another than me, hast thou uncovered thyself and gone up - Hast widened thy couch, And hast solemnised for thyself a covenant from them, Thou hast loved their couch a sign, hast thou seen;

And hast gone to the king with oil, And hast multiplied thy perfumes, - And hast sent thy messengers afar, And -- lowered thyself as far as hades!

Because of his iniquitous gain, was I wroth - and smote him Hiding myself that I might be wroth, - But he went on turning aside in the way of his own heart.

Thus, saith Yahweh, The, heavens, are my throne, and The earth, is my footstool: Where then is the house which ye can build me? Or where is my place of rest?

Who hath heard the like of this? Who hath seen the like of these things? Can a land, be made to bring forth in one day? Or a nation, be born, at one time? As soon as she travaileth, Zion hath also given birth to her children.