Isa 10
1
Woe to them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers that write perverseness;
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!
3
And what will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come
from far? to whom will you flee for help? and where will you leave your glory?
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.
5
Ho Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in whose hand is mine indignation!
6
I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people of my anger 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.
7
Nevertheless he means not so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart
to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few.
8
For he says, Are not my princes all of them kings?
9
Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
10
As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose graven images did excel them
of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
11
shall I not, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
12
Wherefore it shall come to pass, that, when the Lord has 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.
13
For he has 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]:
14
and my hand has found as a nest the riches of the peoples; and as one gathers 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.
15
Shall the axe boast itself against him whom hews therewith? shall the saw magnify
itself against him whom wields it? as if a rod should wield them that lift it up,
[or] as if a staff should lift up [him whom is] not wood.
16
Therefore will the Lord, YHWH of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under
his glory there shall be kindled a burning like the burning of fire.
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.
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 faints.
19
And the remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few, so that a child may write
them.
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 whom smote them,
but shall lean upon YHWH, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
21
A remnant shall return, [even] the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.
22
For though your people, Israel, be as the sand of the sea, [only] a remnant of them
shall return: a destruction [is] determined, overflowing with righteousness.
23
For a full end, and that determined, will the Lord, YHWH of hosts, make in the midst
of all the earth.
24
Therefore thus says the Lord, YHWH of hosts, O my people that dwell in Zion, be not
afraid of the Assyrian, though he smite you with the rod, and lift up his staff against
you, after the manner of Egypt.
25
For yet a very little while, and the indignation [against you] shall be accomplished,
and mine anger [shall be directed] to his destruction.
26
And YHWH 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.
27
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall depart from off your
shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed by reason
of fatness.
28
He is come to Aiath, he is passed through Migron; at Michmash he lays up his baggage;
29
they are gone over the pass; they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah trembles;
Gibeah of Saul is fled.
30
Cry aloud with your voice, O daughter of Gallim! hearken, O Laishah! O you poor Anathoth!
31
Madmenah is a fugitive; the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.
32
This very day shall he halt at Nob: he shakes his hand at the mount of the daughter
of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
33
Behold, the Lord, YHWH of hosts, will lop the boughs with terror: and the high of
stature shall be hewn down, and the lofty shall be brought low.
34
And he will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall
by a mighty one.