1Woe to thee that spoilest , and thou wast not spoiled ; and dealest treacherously , and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil , thou shalt be spoiled ; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously , they shall deal treacherously with thee. 2O LORD , be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning , our salvation also in the time of trouble . 3At the noise of the tumult the people fled ; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered . 4And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller : as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.
The Lord's Promise of Deliverance
5The LORD is exalted ; for he dwelleth on high : he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness . 6And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times , and strength of salvation : the fear of the LORD is his treasure . 7Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without : the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly . 8The highways lie waste , the wayfaring man ceaseth : he hath broken the covenant , he hath despised the cities , he regardeth no man . 9The earth mourneth and languisheth : Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down : Sharon is like a wilderness ; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits .
The Response of the People
10Now will I rise , saith the LORD ; now will I be exalted ; now will I lift up myself. 11Ye shall conceive chaff , ye shall bring forth stubble : your breath , as fire , shall devour you. 12And the people shall be as the burnings of lime : as thorns cut up shall they be 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 ; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites . Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire ? who among us shall 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 holding of bribes , that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood , and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil ; 16He shall dwell on high : his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks : bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure . 17Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty : they shall behold the land that is very far off . 18Thine heart shall meditate terror . Where is the scribe ? where is the receiver ? where is he that counted the towers ? 19Thou shalt not see a fierce people , a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive ; of a stammering tongue , that thou canst not understand . 20Look upon Zion , the city of our solemnities : thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation , a tabernacle that shall not be taken down ; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed , neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken . 21But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams ; wherein shall go no galley with oars , neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. 22For the LORD is our judge , the LORD is our lawgiver , the LORD is our king ; he will save us. 23Thy tacklings are loosed ; they could not well strengthen their mast , they could not spread the sail : then is the prey of a great spoil divided ; the lame take the prey . 24And the inhabitant shall not say , I am sick : the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity .