That they are an obdurate people, lying children, Children who will not heed Jehovah's instruction, Who say to the seers, "See not!”

To the prophets, "Preach not the truth! Speak to us flattery, prophesying illusions! Turn from the way, and go aside from the path, Vex us no more with Israel's Holy One!"""

Jehovah, Israel's Holy One, has declared:
'By sitting still and resting you shall be saved,
In quietness and in confidence lies your strength.'
But you refuse and say,

'No, on steeds we will flee!'

Your flight shall therefore be speedy!

And, 'On horses we will ride.'

Your pursuers shall therefore be swift!

A thousand shall flee at the menace of one,
At the menace of five you shall flee
Until you are but a remnant,
Like a pole on a mountain top,
Like a standard set on a hill.

Ah! they who go down to Egypt for help,
Who trust in chariots because they are many,
And in horsemen because they are strong,
But look not to Israel's Holy One

Nor consult Jehovah.

But he too is wise and brings calamity,
And recalls not his words,

He will rise against this wicked nation,
And against the helper of evil-doers.

The Egyptians are men, and not God,
And their horses are flesh, not spirit.
Jehovah will stretch out his hand,
And then the helper shall stumble,
The one helped also shall fall,
And all shall go down together.

180. THE RESULT OF TRUSTING IN MEN RATHER

THAN IN JEHOVAH

Hear, O heavens,

Give heed, O earth!

For Jehovah speaks:

'Children have I reared and brought up,

But they have rebelled against me.

Even an ox knows its owner,

And an ass its master's crib,
But Israel has no knowledge,
My people have no insight.'

Ah! you sinful nation,
People burdened with guilt,
Offspring of evil-doers,
Children that act perversely,
Who have forsaken Jehovah,
And despised Israel's Holy One!
Why continue to be afflicted,
Why do you go on rebelling?

The whole head is sick,
The whole heart diseased,
From head to foot

Is no soundness anywhere;
Only wounds and bruises,
And sores still bleeding,
Not pressed nor bound up,

Nor softened with oil.

Your land is a desolation,

Your cities are burned with fire;

And in your very presence

Aliens are devouring your land,

And the city of Zion is left
Like a little hut in a vineyard,
Like a lodge in a cucumber-field,

Like a city that is besieged.

181. THE REMEDY FOR JUDAH'S ILLS

Give heed to Jehovah's message, you chieftains of Sodom, And hear the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah: "What care I for your many sacrifices?' Jehovah declares. 'I am sated with burnt-offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts,

In the blood of oxen and goats I take no delight, When you come to my temple to worship, who asked this of you?

Trample my courts no more to bring useless gifts; Abhorrent to me is the smoke of your offerings, your new moons and sabbaths,

I cannot endure the guilt of your sacred assemblies,
I inwardly hate your festivals and set times,

They have become a burden to me that I weary of carrying.

When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes,
When you make many prayers, I will pay no heed,
For your hands are blood-stained; wash yourselves clean,
Remove from my sight your evil deeds.

Only cease to do evil, learn to do good;
Seek out the right, relieve the oppressed;

Do justice to the orphan, plead the cause of the widow.'

'Come now, let us reason together,' Jehovah declares. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they may become white

as snow.

Though red as crimson, they may become as wool.

If willing to obey, you shall eat the best of the land, But if you refuse and rebel, the sword shall destroy you; For the mouth of Jehovah has spoken it.'

182. THE DOOM OF ARROGANCE

Ah! Assyria, the rod of my anger,
The staff that expresses my indignation.
Against a godless nation I send him,

Against the people of my wrath I direct him
To take the spoil and gather the plunder,

To trample them down like the mud of the streets.

But [Assyria] thinks otherwise,

And his mind plans differently;

It is in his heart to destroy,
To exterminate many nations.

For he says: 'Are not all my officers kings?
Is not Calno's fate that of Carchemish?

And Hamath's that of Arpad?

And Samaria's that of Damascus ?

By my own strength have I done it,
My own wisdom, for I have discernment.
I have changed the boundaries of nations,
I have plundered what they have stored up,
I have laid low cities and their inhabitants,
My hand has found as a nest

All the riches of the peoples.

As one gathers eggs that are left,
I have gathered in all the earth;

There was none that fluttered a wing,
Or opened the mouth or chirped!"

Shall the axe vaunt itself over him who swings it,
Or the saw lord it over him who wields it,
As if a rod should swing him who lifts it,
Or a staff could lift him who is not wood?

Therefore thus says the Lord Jehovah of hosts: 'O my people who dwell in Zion,

Have no fear of Assyria,

Though he smites you with the rod,

And lifts up his staff against you.'

Behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts,

Will lop off the branches with a terrible crash,
Those grown high will be hewn down,
Those that are lofty will be brought low,

With iron he will strike down the forest thickets,
And Lebanon, with its huge cedars, shall fall.