Chapter
10
Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who write oppressive decrees;
to deprive the needy from justice, and to rob the poor among my people of their rights, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
What will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?
They will only bow down under the prisoners, and will fall under the slain. For all this her anger is not turned away, but her hand is stretched out still.
Alas Assyrian, the rod of my anger, the staff in whose hand is my indignation!
I will send her against a profane nation, and against the people who anger me will I give her a charge to take the spoil and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
However she doesn't mean so, neither does her heart think so; but it is in her heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations.
For she says, "Aren't all of my princesses queens?
Isn't Calno like Carchemish? Isn't Hamath like Arpad? Isn't Samaria like Damascus?"
As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose engraved images exceeded those of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
shall I not, as I have done to Samaria and his idols, so do to Jerusalem and his idols?
Therefore it will happen that, when the Domina has performed her whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the willful proud heart of the queen of Assyria, and the insolence of her haughty looks.
For she has said, "By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I have understanding: and I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures. Like a valiant woman I have brought down their rulers.
My hand has found the riches of the peoples like a nest, and like one gathers eggs that are abandoned, have I gathered all the earth. There was no one who moved their wing, or that opened their mouth, or chirped."
Should an axe brag against her who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above her who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood.
Therefore the Domina, Yahweh of Armies, will send among her fat ones leanness; and under her glory a burning will be kindled like the burning of fire.
The light of Israel will be for a fire, and her Holy One for a flame; and it will burn and devour her thorns and hers briers in one day.
She will consume the glory of her forest, and of her fruitful field, both soul and body. It will be as when a standard bearer faints.
The remnant of the trees of her forest shall be few, so that a child could write their number.
It will come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and those who have escaped from the house of Jacoba will no more again lean on her who struck them, but shall lean on Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
A remnant will return, even the remnant of Jacoba, to the mighty God.
For though your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.
For the Domina, Yahweh of Armies, will make a full end, and that determined, in the midst of all the earth.
Therefore the Domina, Yahweh of Armies, says "My people who dwell in Zion, don't be afraid of the Assyrian, though she strike you with the rod, and lift up her staff against you, as Egypt did.
For yet a very little while, and the indignation against you will be accomplished, and my anger will be directed to her destruction."
Yahweh of Armies will stir up a scourge against her, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb. Her rod will be over the sea, and she will lift it up like she did against Egypt.
It will happen in that day, that her burden will depart from off your shoulder, and her yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing oil.
She has come to Aiath. She has passed through Migron. At Michmash she stores her baggage.
They have gone over the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saula has fled.
Cry aloud with your voice, son of Gallim! Listen, Laishah! You poor Anathoth!
Madmenah is a fugitive. The inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.
This very day she will halt at Nob. She shakes her hand at the mountain of the son of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
Behold, the Domina, Yahweh of Armies, will lop the boughs with terror. The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.
She will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.