1 ¶ Woe to you who destroy, and are not destroyed; who rob, and are not robbed! when you finish destroying, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished dealing treacherously, they will deal treacherously with you.

2 O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for you: every morning be our strong arm, and save us in the time of trouble.

3 At the sound of battle the people flee; when you rise up nations are scattered.

4 Then you will gather spoil like grasshoppers: like locusts running to and fro over them.

5 The LORD is supreme; for he dwells on high: he has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

6 He will be the security of your times, salvation wisdom and knowledge in abundance: the fear of the LORD is your treasure.

7 Listen, their brave men are crying outside: the ambassadors of peace are weeping bitterly.

8 The highways are deserted, no one travels anymore: treaties are broken, witnesses are rejected, he does not respect anyone.

9 The country mourns and languishes: Lebanon is put to shame and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel are laid bare.

10 Now I will arise, says the LORD; now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted.

11 You conceive chaff, and bring forth stubble: the wind blowing against you will devour you like fire.

12 And the people will be burned to ashes: they will be like thorns cut up and burned in the fire.

13 ¶ Hear what I have done, you who are far away; and, you who are near, acknowledge my might.

14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the hypocrites. Who among us will live in a devouring fire? who among us will live in everlasting flames?

15 If you walk in righteousness, and speak the truth; refuse to get rich by doing wrong, and wave aside bribes that are offered, refuse to listen to plans to shed blood, and refuse to look upon evil;

16 Then you will live on high: your place of defense will be a fortress of rock: your food will be provided; and you will always have plenty of water.

17 Your eyes will see the king in his beauty: they will see a vast land.

18 Your mind will think concerning past terror. Where is the one who counted? where is the one who weighed? where is the one who numbered the towers?

19 You will never again see fierce people, people whose speech you cannot understand; who stammer in a language, that you can not understand.

20 Look upon Zion, the city we come to for festivals: your eyes will see Jerusalem as a peaceful dwelling place, a tabernacle that will not be taken down; not one of its stakes will ever be removed, nor will any of its cords be broken.

21 But there the glorious LORD will treat us majestically, in a place of broad rivers and streams; where no galley with oars can go, and no mighty ship can pass.

22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; and he will save us.

23 If your ropes hang loose; and cannot hold your mast firm in its place, or keep the sail spread out: then the abundant spoils and plunder will be divided; even the lame will carry away booty.

24 And no one living there will say, I am sick: the sins of the people who live there will be forgiven.