Woeunto them that decreeunrighteousdecrees, and that writegrievousness which they have prescribed; To turn asidethe needyfrom judgment, and to take awaythe rightfrom the poorof my people, that widowsmay betheir prey, and that they may robthe fatherless! And whatwill ye doin the dayof visitation, and in the desolation which shall comefrom far? towhomwill ye fleefor help? and wherewill ye leaveyour glory? Withoutme they shall bow downunderthe prisoners, and they shall fallunderthe slain. For allthishis angeris notturned away, but his hand is stretched outstill. O Assyrian, the rodof mine anger, and the staffin their handis mine indignation. I will sendhim against a hypocriticalnation, and againstthe peopleof my wrathwill I give him a charge, to takethe spoil, and to takethe prey, and to tread them downlike the mireof the streets. Howbeit hemeanethnotso, neitherdoth his heartthinkso; but it is in his heartto destroyand cut offnationsnota few. Forhe saith, Are notmy princesaltogetherkings? Is notCalnoas Carchemish? is notHamathas Arpad? is notSamariaas Damascus? Asmy handhath foundthe kingdomsof the idols, and whose graven imagesdid excel them of Jerusalemand of Samaria; Shall I not, asI have doneunto Samariaand her idols, sodoto Jerusalemand her idols? Wherefore it shall come to pass, that whenthe Lordhath performedhis wholeworkupon mountZionand on Jerusalem, I will punishthe fruitof the stoutheartof the kingof Assyria, andthe gloryof his highlooks. Forhe saith, By the strengthof my handI have done it , and by my wisdom; forI am prudent: and I have removedthe boundsof the people, and have robbedtheir treasures, and I have put downthe inhabitantslike a valiant man : And my handhath foundas a nestthe richesof the people: and as one gatheretheggs that are left, have Igatheredallthe earth; and there wasnonethat movedthe wing, or openedthe mouth, or peeped. Shall the axeboast itselfagainsthim that heweththerewith? or shall the sawmagnify itselfagainsthim that shakethit? as if the rodshould shake itself againstthem that lift it up, or as if the staffshould lift up itself, as if it were nowood. Thereforeshall the Lord, the Lordof hosts, sendamong his fat onesleanness; and underhis gloryhe shall kindlea burninglike the burningof a fire. And the lightof Israelshall befor a fire, and his Holy Onefor a flame: and it shall burnand devourhis thornsand his briersin oneday; And shall consumethe gloryof his forest, and of his fruitful field, both souland body: and they shall beas when a standard-bearer fainteth. And the restof the treesof his forestshall befew, that a childmay writethem. And it shall come to passin thatday, that the remnantof Israel, and such as are escapedof the houseof Jacob, shall nomoreagainstayuponhim that smotethem; but shall stayuponthe LORD, the Holy Oneof Israel, in truth. The remnantshall return, even the remnantof Jacob, untothe mightyGod. Forthoughthy peopleIsraelbeas the sandof the sea, yet a remnantof them shall return: the consumptiondecreedshall overflowwith righteousness. Forthe LordGODof hostsshall makea consumption, even determined, in the midstof allthe land. Thereforethussaiththe LordGODof hosts, O my peoplethat dwellestin Zion, be notafraidof the Assyrian: he shall smitethee with a rod, and shall lift uphis staffagainstthee, after the mannerof Egypt. Foryeta verylittlewhile, and the indignationshall cease, and mine angerintheir destruction. And the LORDof hostsshall stir upa scourgeforhim according to the slaughterof Midianat the rockof Oreb: and as his rod was uponthe sea, so shall he lift it upafter the mannerof Egypt. And it shall come to passin thatday, that his burdenshall be taken awayfrom offthy shoulder, and his yokefrom offthy neck, and the yokeshall be destroyedbecauseof the anointing. He is cometoAiath, he is passedto Migron; at Michmashhe hath laid uphis carriages: They are gone overthe passage: they have taken up their lodgingat Geba; Ramahis afraid; Gibeahof Saulis fled. Lift upthy voice, O daughterof Gallim: cause it to be heardunto Laish, O poorAnathoth. Madmenahis removed; the inhabitantsof Gebimgather themselves to flee. As yetshall he remainat Nobthat day: he shall shakehis hand against the mountof the daughterof Zion, the hillof Jerusalem. Behold, the Lord, the LORDof hosts, shall lopthe boughwith terror: and the high onesof stature shall be hewn down, and the haughtyshall be humbled. And he shall cut downthe thicketsof the forestwith iron, and Lebanonshall fallby a mighty one.