1Woe to thee that destroyest, and thou wast not destroyed ; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! When thou hast ceased to destroy , thou shalt be destroyed ; and when thou hast made an end of dealing treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. 2O Jehovah , be gracious unto us ; we have waited for thee: be thou our arm every morning , our salvation also in the time of trouble . 3At the noise of the tumult the peoples are fled ; at the lifting up of thyself the nations are scattered . 4And your spoil shall be gathered as the caterpillar gathereth: as locusts leap shall men leap upon it .
The Lord's Promise of Deliverance
5Jehovah is exalted ; for he dwelleth on high : he hath filled Zion with justice and righteousness . 6And there shall be stability in thy times , abundance of salvation , wisdom , and knowledge : the fear of Jehovah is thy treasure . 7Behold , their valiant ones cry without ; the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly . 8The highways lie waste , the wayfaring man ceaseth : the enemy hath broken the covenant , he hath despised the cities , he regardeth not man . 9The land mourneth and languisheth; Lebanon is confounded and withereth away ; Sharon is like a desert ; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves .
The Response of the People
10Now will I arise , saith Jehovah ; now will I lift up myself; now will I be exalted . 11Ye shall conceive chaff , ye shall bring forth stubble : your breath is a fire that shall devour you . 12And the peoples shall be as the burnings of lime , as thorns cut down , that are burned in the fire . 13Hear , ye that are far off , what I have done ; and , ye that are near , acknowledge my might . 14The sinners in Zion are afraid ; trembling hath seized the godless ones: Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire ? who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings ?
The Future Glory of Zion
15He that walketh righteously , and speaketh uprightly ; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions , that shaketh his hands from taking a bribe , that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood , and shutteth his eyes from looking upon evil : 16He shall dwell on high ; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks ; his bread shall be given him ; his waters shall be sure. 17Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty : they shall behold a land that reacheth afar . 18Thy heart shall muse on the terror: Where is he that counted , where is he that weighed the tribute ? where is he that counted the towers ? 19Thou shalt not see the fierce people , a people of a deep speech that thou canst not comprehend, of a strange tongue that thou canst not understand . 20Look upon Zion , the city of our solemnities : thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation , a tent that shall not be removed , the stakes whereof shall never be plucked up , neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken . 21But there Jehovah will be with us in majesty, a place of broad rivers and streams , wherein shall go no galley with oars , neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. 22For Jehovah is our judge , Jehovah is our lawgiver , Jehovah is our king ; he will save us . 23Thy tacklings are loosed ; they could not strengthen the foot of their mast , they could not spread the sail : then was the prey of a great spoil divided ; the lame took the prey . 24And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick : the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity .