2
So as to deprive the needy of justice And rob the poor of My people of their rights, So that widows may be their spoil And that they may plunder the orphans.
3
Now what will you do in the day of punishment, And in the devastation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your wealth?
4
Nothing remains but to crouchamong the captives Or fallamong the slain. In spite of allthis, His anger does not turnaway And His hand is stillstretched out.
6
I send it against a godlessnation And commission it against the people of My fury To capturebooty and to seizeplunder, And to trample them down like mud in the streets.
12
So it will be that when the Lord has completedall His work on MountZion and on Jerusalem, He will say, "I will punish the fruit of the arrogantheart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness."
13
For he has said, "By the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this, For I haveunderstanding; And I removed the boundaries of the peoples And plundered their treasures, And like a mightyman I broughtdown their inhabitants,
14
And my handreached to the riches of the peoples like a nest, And as one gathersabandonedeggs, I gatheredall the earth; And there was not one that flapped its wing or opened its beak or chirped."
15
Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it? That would be like a clubwielding those who lift it, Or like a rodlifting him who is not wood.
16
Therefore the Lord, the GOD of hosts, will send a wastingdisease among his stoutwarriors; And under his glory a fire will be kindled like a burningflame.