Part 314 (2/2)

Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: that say, ”Let him make speed, let him hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!”

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: which justify the wicked for a reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, and as the dry gra.s.s sinketh down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

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[Footnote: The prophet threatens Judah with invasion by the dreaded a.s.syrian army.]

THE DOOM OF THE UNFRUITFUL NATION

For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched forth still.

And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from afar, And he will hiss for them from the end of the earth: And, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly; None shall be weary nor stumble among them; None shall slumber nor sleep; Neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, Nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: Whose arrows are sharp, And all their bows bent; Their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, And their wheels like a whirlwind: Their roaring shall be like a lion, They shall roar like young lions: Yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, And carry it away safe, and there shall be none to deliver.

And they shall roar against them in that day like the roaring of the sea; And if one look unto the land, behold, darkness and distress, And the light is darkened in the clouds thereof.

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COMFORT YE MY PEOPLE

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, Saith your G.o.d.

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, And cry unto her, That her warfare is accomplished, That her iniquity is pardoned; That she hath received of the Lord's hand Double for all her sin.

Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of the Lord, Make straight in the desert a highway for our G.o.d.

Every valley shall be exalted, And every mountain and hill shall be made low: And the crooked shall be made straight, And the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together: For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

The voice of one saying, ”Cry.”

And one said, ”What shall I cry?”

All flesh is gra.s.s, And all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The gra.s.s withereth, The flower fadeth, {285} Because the breath of the Lord bloweth upon it: Surely the people is gra.s.s.

The gra.s.s withereth, The flower fadeth: But the word of our G.o.d shall stand forever.

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, Get thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, Lift up thy voice with strength; Lift it up, be not afraid; Say unto the cities of Judah, ”Behold your G.o.d.”

Behold, the Lord G.o.d will come as a mighty one, And his arm shall rule for him: Behold his reward is with him, And his recompense before him.

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, He shall gather the lambs in his arms, And carry them in his bosom, And shall gently lead those that give suck.

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AWAKE, O ZION!

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