Woe to Tyrants

1  ה֥וֹי (Woe to) הַחֹֽקְקִ֖ים (those decreeing) חִקְקֵי־ (decrees) אָ֑וֶן (of iniquity)

וּֽמְכַתְּבִ֥ים (and writers) עָמָ֖ל (perverseness) כִּתֵּֽבוּ׃ (writing),

2  לְהַטּ֤וֹת (to turn aside) מִדִּין֙ (justness) דַּלִּ֔ים (from the poor),

וְלִגְזֹ֕ל (and to tear away) מִשְׁפַּ֖ט (justice) עֲנִיֵּ֣י (from the lowly) עַמִּ֑י (of My people),

לִהְי֤וֹת (to make become) אַלְמָנוֹת֙ (widows) שְׁלָלָ֔ם (their prey),

וְאֶת־ (and so that) יְתוֹמִ֖ים (fatherless) יָבֹֽזּוּ׃ (they may plunder).

3  וּמַֽה־ (And what) תַּעֲשׂוּ֙ (will you⁺ do) לְי֣וֹם (in the day) פְּקֻדָּ֔ה (and at the desolation),

וּלְשׁוֹאָ֖ה (and before the desolation)— מִמֶּרְחָ֣ק (from afar) תָּב֑וֹא (that comes)?

עַל־ (Upon) מִי֙ (whom) תָּנ֣וּסוּ (will you⁺ flee) לְעֶזְרָ֔ה (for help),

וְאָ֥נָה (and where) תַעַזְב֖וּ (will you⁺ leave) כְּבוֹדְכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ wealth)?

4  בִּלְתִּ֤י (Nothing remains) כָרַע֙ (but to kneel down) תַּ֣חַת (among) אַסִּ֔יר (the prisoners),

וְתַ֥חַת (and among) הֲרוּגִ֖ים (the slain) יִפֹּ֑לוּ (they will fall).

בְּכָל־ (In all) זֹאת֙ (this) לֹא־ (not) שָׁ֣ב (is turned back) אַפּ֔וֹ (His anger),

וְע֖וֹד (and still) יָד֥וֹ (His hand) נְטוּיָֽה׃ס (is stretched out).

Judgment on Assyria

5  ה֥וֹי (Woe to) אַשּׁ֖וּר (Assyria) שֵׁ֣בֶט (the rod) אַפִּ֑י (of My anger),

וּמַטֶּה־ (and the staff) ה֥וּא (that is) בְיָדָ֖ם (in their hand) זַעְמִֽי׃ (is My rage).

6  בְּג֤וֹי (Against a nation) חָנֵף֙ (godless) אֲשַׁלְּחֶ֔נּוּ (I will send him),

וְעַל־ (and against) עַ֥ם (the people) עֶבְרָתִ֖י (of My wrath) אֲצַוֶּ֑נּוּ (I will order him),

לִשְׁלֹ֤ל (to plunder) שָׁלָל֙ (the plunder) וְלָבֹ֣ז (and to prey on) בַּ֔ז (the prey),

וּלְשִׂימוֹ (and to set them) מִרְמָ֖ס (for trampling) כְּחֹ֥מֶר (like the clay) חוּצֽוֹת׃ (of the streets).

7  וְהוּא֙ (And he) לֹא־ (not) כֵ֣ן (so) יְדַמֶּ֔ה (does consider it),

וּלְבָב֖וֹ (and his heart) לֹא־ (not) כֵ֣ן (so) יַחְשֹׁ֑ב (does reckon it).

כִּ֚י (For) לְהַשְׁמִ֣יד (to destroy) בִּלְבָב֔וֹ (is in his heart),

וּלְהַכְרִ֥ית (and to cut off) גּוֹיִ֖ם (nations) לֹ֥א (not) מְעָֽט׃ (a few).

8  כִּ֖י (For) יֹאמַ֑ר (he says): הֲלֹ֥א (Are not) שָׂרַ֛י (my princes) יַחְדָּ֖ו (all) מְלָכִֽים׃ (kings)?

9  הֲלֹ֥א (Is not) כְּכַרְכְּמִ֖ישׁ (like Carchemish) כַּלְנ֑וֹ (Calno)? אִם־ (Or)

לֹ֤א (is not) כְאַרְפַּד֙ (like Arpad) חֲמָ֔ת (Hamath)? אִם־ (Or)

לֹ֥א (is not) כְדַמֶּ֖שֶׂק (like Damascus) שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ (Samaria)?

10  כַּאֲשֶׁר֙ (As) מָצְאָ֣ה (has reached) יָדִ֔י (my hand) לְמַמְלְכֹ֖ת (to the kingdoms) הָאֱלִ֑יל (of the idols),

וּפְסִ֣ילֵיהֶ֔ם (and their graven images) מִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (above those of Jerusalem) וּמִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן׃ (and Samaria).

11  הֲלֹ֗א (Is it not that) כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) עָשִׂ֛יתִי (I have done) לְשֹׁמְר֖וֹן (to Samaria) וְלֶאֱלִילֶ֑יהָ (and her idols),

כֵּ֛ן (thus) אֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה (I will do) לִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (to Jerusalem) וְלַעֲצַבֶּֽיהָ׃ס (and her idols)?

12  וְהָיָ֗ה (And it will come to pass), כִּֽי־ (when) יְבַצַּ֤ע (has cut off) אֲדֹנָי֙ (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) מַֽעֲשֵׂ֔הוּ (his work) בְּהַ֥ר (against Mount) צִיּ֖וֹן (Zion) וּבִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (and against Jerusalem): אֶפְקֹ֗ד (I will reckon) עַל־ (with) פְּרִי־ (the fruit) גֹ֙דֶל֙ (of the magnitude) לְבַ֣ב (of the heart) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) אַשּׁ֔וּר (of Assyria), וְעַל־ (and with) תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת (the splendor) ר֥וּם (of the loftiness) עֵינָֽיו׃ (of his eyes). 13  כִּ֣י (For) אָמַ֗ר (he says),

בְּכֹ֤חַ (By the power) יָדִי֙ (of my hand) עָשִׂ֔יתִי (I have done this),

וּבְחָכְמָתִ֖י (and by my own wisdom), כִּ֣י (for) נְבֻנ֑וֹתִי (I have understanding),

וְאָסִ֣יר׀ (and I have removed) גְּבוּלֹ֣ת (the boundaries) עַמִּ֗ים (of the peoples),

וַעֲתִידֹתֵיהֶם (and their treasuries) שׁוֹשֵׂ֔תִי (I have plundered);

וְאוֹרִ֥יד (and I have brought down) כַּאבִּ֖יר (like a mighty one) יוֹשְׁבִֽים׃ (those sitting).

14  וַתִּמְצָ֨א (And has found) כַקֵּ֤ן׀ (as a nest) יָדִי֙ (my hand) לְחֵ֣יל (the riches)

הָֽעַמִּ֔ים (of the peoples),

וְכֶאֱסֹף֙ (and as with the gathering) בֵּיצִ֣ים (of eggs) עֲזֻב֔וֹת (left behind),

כָּל־ (all) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the earth) אֲנִ֣י (I) אָסָ֑פְתִּי (have gathered),

וְלֹ֤א (and not) הָיָה֙ (there has been) נֹדֵ֣ד (one flapping) כָּנָ֔ף (a wing),

וּפֹצֶ֥ה (or opening) פֶ֖ה (its mouth), וּמְצַפְצֵֽף׃ (and chirping).

15  הֲיִתְפָּאֵר֙ (Will glorify itself) הַגַּרְזֶ֔ן (the ax) עַ֖ל (over) הַחֹצֵ֣ב (the one hewing) בּ֑וֹ (with it)?

אִם־ (Or) יִתְגַּדֵּ֤ל (will exalt itself) הַמַּשּׂוֹר֙ (the saw) עַל־ (over) מְנִיפ֔וֹ (one waving it)?

כְּהָנִ֥יף (Waving) שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ (as a rod) וְאֶת־ (and of) מְרִימָ֔יו (the one raising it),

כְּהָרִ֥ים (lifting it up) מַטֶּ֖ה (as a staff) לֹא־ (of what is not) עֵֽץ׃ (wood)?

16  לָ֠כֵן (Therefore) יְשַׁלַּ֨ח (will send) הָאָד֜וֹן (the Lord) יְהוָ֧ה (YHWH of)

צְבָא֛וֹת (Hosts) בְּמִשְׁמַנָּ֖יו (among his fat ones) רָז֑וֹן (leanness),

וְתַ֧חַת (and in place) כְּבֹד֛וֹ (of his glory) יֵקַ֥ד (He will kindle) יְקֹ֖ד (a burning)

כִּיק֥וֹד (like the burning) אֵֽשׁ׃ (of fire).

17  וְהָיָ֤ה (And will be) אֽוֹר־ (the Light) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) לְאֵ֔שׁ (for a fire),

וּקְדוֹשׁ֖וֹ (and his Holy One) לְלֶהָבָ֑ה (for a flame),

וּבָעֲרָ֗ה (and it will burn) וְאָֽכְלָ֛ה (and devour) שִׁית֥וֹ (his thorn) וּשְׁמִיר֖וֹ (and his brier)

בְּי֥וֹם (in a day) אֶחָֽד׃ (one).

18  וּכְב֤וֹד (And the glory) יַעְרוֹ֙ (of his forest) וְכַרְמִלּ֔וֹ (and his orchard),

מִנֶּ֥פֶשׁ (from soul) וְעַד־ (and to) בָּשָׂ֖ר (flesh), יְכַלֶּ֑ה (He will finish off),

וְהָיָ֖ה (and he will become)

כִּמְסֹ֥ס (like the melting away) נֹסֵֽס׃ (of one being sick).

19  וּשְׁאָ֥ר (And the remnant) עֵ֛ץ (of the trees) יַעְר֖וֹ (of his forest) מִסְפָּ֣ר (so few) יִֽהְי֑וּ (will be)

וְנַ֖עַר (that a child) יִכְתְּבֵֽם׃פ (could count them).

A Remnant will Return

20  וְהָיָ֣ה׀ (And it will come to be) בַּיּ֣וֹם (day) הַה֗וּא (in that), לֹֽא־ (not) יוֹסִ֨יף (will continue)

ע֜וֹד (anymore) שְׁאָ֤ר (that the remnant) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel),

וּפְלֵיטַ֣ת (and the survivor) בֵּֽית־ (of the house) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (of Jacob), לְהִשָּׁעֵ֖ן (to lean)

עַל־ (on) מַכֵּ֑הוּ (the one striking it).

וְנִשְׁעַ֗ן (And he will lean) עַל־ (on) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) קְד֥וֹשׁ (the Holy One)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) בֶּאֱמֶֽת׃ (truly).

21  שְׁאָ֥ר (A remnant) יָשׁ֖וּב (will return), שְׁאָ֣ר (a remnant) יַעֲקֹ֑ב (of Jacob),

אֶל־ (to) אֵ֖ל (God) גִּבּֽוֹר׃ (the Mighty).

22  כִּ֣י (For) אִם־ (though) יִהְיֶ֞ה (should be) עַמְּךָ֤ (your people) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (O Israel) כְּח֣וֹל (as the sand) הַיָּ֔ם (of the sea),

שְׁאָ֖ר (only a remnant) יָשׁ֣וּב (will return) בּ֑וֹ (of it).

כִּלָּי֥וֹן (The destruction) חָר֖וּץ (is decreed)

שׁוֹטֵ֥ף (overflowing with) צְדָקָֽה׃ (righteousness).

23  כִּ֥י (For) כָלָ֖ה (the full end) וְנֶחֱרָצָ֑ה (is decreed),

אֲדֹנָ֤י (that the Lord) יְהוִה֙ (YHWH of) צְבָא֔וֹת (Hosts)

עֹשֶׂ֖ה (will make) בְּקֶ֥רֶב (in the midst) כָּל־ (of all) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ס (the land).

24  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֞ר (says) אֲדֹנָ֤י (the Lord) יְהוִה֙ (YHWH) צְבָא֔וֹת (of Hosts):

אַל־ (Not) תִּירָ֥א (should you fear), עַמִּ֛י (O My people),

יֹשֵׁ֥ב (dwelling) צִיּ֖וֹן (in Zion), מֵֽאַשּׁ֑וּר (the Assyrian).

בַּשֵּׁ֣בֶט (With a rod) יַכֶּ֔כָּה (he will strike you)

וּמַטֵּ֥הוּ (and his staff) יִשָּֽׂא־ (he will lift up) עָלֶ֖יךָ (against you)

בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ (in the way) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt).

25  כִּי־ (For) ע֖וֹד (in just) מְעַ֣ט (a very little) מִזְעָ֑ר (while),

וְכָ֣לָה (and will come to an end) זַ֔עַם (My rage)

וְאַפִּ֖י (and My anger) עַל־ (will be upon) תַּבְלִיתָֽם׃ (their destruction).

26  וְעוֹרֵ֨ר (And will stir up) עָלָ֜יו (against him) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH of) צְבָאוֹת֙ (Hosts) שׁ֔וֹט (a whip)

כְּמַכַּ֥ת (like the striking) מִדְיָ֖ן (of Midian) בְּצ֣וּר (at the rock) עוֹרֵ֑ב (of Oreb).

וּמַטֵּ֙הוּ֙ (And as His rod) עַל־ (was over) הַיָּ֔ם (the sea), וּנְשָׂא֖וֹ (so will He lift it up) בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ (in the manner)

מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt).

27  וְהָיָ֣ה׀ (It will come to pass) בַּיּ֣וֹם (in day) הַה֗וּא (that), יָס֤וּר (will turned aside) סֻבֳּלוֹ֙ (that his burden) מֵעַ֣ל (from) שִׁכְמֶ֔ךָ (your shoulder)

וְעֻלּ֖וֹ (and his yoke) מֵעַ֣ל (from) צַוָּארֶ֑ךָ (your neck),

וְחֻבַּ֥ל (and will be destroyed) עֹ֖ל (the yoke)

מִפְּנֵי־ (from the face) שָֽׁמֶן׃ (of fatness).

28  בָּ֥א (He has come) עַל־ (to) עַיַּ֖ת (Ayyah),

עָבַ֣ר (he has passed over) בְּמִגְר֑וֹן (Migron);

לְמִכְמָ֖שׂ (at Michmash) יַפְקִ֥יד (he attends to) כֵּלָֽיו׃ (his vessels).

29  עָֽבְרוּ֙ (They have passed over) מַעְבָּרָ֔ה (at the ford);

גֶּ֖בַע (Geba) מָל֣וֹן (was a lodging-place) לָ֑נוּ (for them).

חָֽרְדָה֙ (Has trembled) הָֽרָמָ֔ה (Ramah);

גִּבְעַ֥ת (Gibeah) שָׁא֖וּל (of Saul) נָֽסָה׃ (has fled).

30  צַהֲלִ֥י (Cry aloud) קוֹלֵ֖ךְ (with your voice), בַּת־ (O daughter) גַּלִּ֑ים (of Gallim)!

הַקְשִׁ֥יבִי (Pay attention) לַ֖יְשָׁה (O Laish)!

עֲנִיָּ֥ה (O poor) עֲנָתֽוֹת׃ (Anathoth)!

31  נָדְדָ֖ה (Has fled) מַדְמֵנָ֑ה (Madmenah);

יֹשְׁבֵ֥י (the dwellers) הַגֵּבִ֖ים (of Gebim) הֵעִֽיזוּ׃ (have taken refuge).

32  ע֥וֹד (Yet) הַיּ֖וֹם (today) בְּנֹ֣ב (at Nob) לַֽעֲמֹ֑ד (he will remain);

יְנֹפֵ֤ף (he will wave) יָדוֹ֙ (his fist) הַ֣ר (at the mountain) בֵּית (of the daughter) צִיּ֔וֹן (of Zion),

גִּבְעַ֖ת (the hill) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ס (of Jerusalem).

33  הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold), הָאָדוֹן֙ (the Lord) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֔וֹת (Hosts)

מְסָעֵ֥ף (will lop off) פֻּארָ֖ה (the bough) בְּמַעֲרָצָ֑ה (with a crash).

וְרָמֵ֤י (And those being high) הַקּוֹמָה֙ (of stature) גְּדוּעִ֔ים (will be cut down),

וְהַגְּבֹהִ֖ים (and the high ones) יִשְׁפָּֽלוּ׃ (will be brought low).

34  וְנִקַּ֛ף (And He will cut down) סִֽבְכֵ֥י (the thickets) הַיַּ֖עַר (of the forest) בַּבַּרְזֶ֑ל (with iron),

וְהַלְּבָנ֖וֹן (and Lebanon) בְּאַדִּ֥יר (before the Mighty One) יִפּֽוֹל׃ס (will fall).