A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, `Elam; attack! I have stopped all of Madai's sighing.
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Ashur took Shomron, and carried Yisra'el away to Ashur, and placed them in Chalach, and on the Chavor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Madai.
*Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,* says the LORD; *I will set him in safety from those who malign him.*
It will happen in that day that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people from Ashur, from Egypt, from Patros, from Kush, from `Elam, from Shin`ar, from Chamat, and from the islands of the sea.
From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs. Glory to the righteous! But I said, *I pine away! I pine away! woe is me!* The treacherous have dealt treacherously. Yes, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.
Woe to you who destroy, but you weren't destroyed; and who betray, but nobody betrayed you! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed; and when you have made an end of betrayal, you will be betrayed.
The the LORD's ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Tziyon; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.*
I was angry with my people, I profaned my inheritance, and gave them into your hand: you did show them no mercy; on the aged have you very heavily laid your yoke.
Is Efrayim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the LORD.
Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Armies is his name: he will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and disquiet the inhabitants of Bavel.
Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: the LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Madai; because his purpose is against Bavel, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.
I will execute judgment on Bel in Bavel, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he has swallowed up; and the nations shall not flow any more to him: yes, the wall of Bavel shall fall.
Though Bavel should mount up to the sky, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall destroyers come to her, says the LORD.
I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of `Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.