For he has said,"By the powerof my handand by my wisdomI did[this], For I haveunderstanding;And I removedthe boundariesof the peoplesAnd plunderedtheir treasures,And like a mightymanI broughtdown[their] inhabitants,
In the daysof Pekahkingof Israel,Tiglath-pileserkingof Assyriacameand capturedIjonand Abel-beth-maacahand Janoahand Kedeshand Hazorand Gileadand Galilee,allthe landof Naphtali;and he carriedthem captiveto Assyria.
Ahaztookthe silverand goldthat was foundin the houseof the LORDand in the treasuriesof the king'shouse,and senta presentto the kingof Assyria.
The kingof Assyriabrought[men] from Babylonand from Cuthahand from Avvaand from Hamathand Sephar-vaim,and settled[them] in the citiesof Samariain placeof the sonsof Israel.So they possessedSamariaand livedin its cities.
In the ninthyearof Hoshea,the kingof AssyriacapturedSamariaand carriedIsraelawayinto exileto Assyria,and settledthem in Halahand Habor,[on] the riverof Gozan,and in the citiesof the Medes.
Then the kingof AssyriacarriedIsraelawayinto exileto Assyria,and putthem in Halahand on the Habor,the riverof Gozan,and in the citiesof the Medes,
Hezekiahgave[him] allthe silverwhich was foundin the houseof the LORD,and in the treasuriesof the king'shouse.
untilI comeand takeyou away to a landlike your own land,a landof grainand newwine,a landof breadand vineyards,a landof olivetreesand honey,that you may liveand not die."But do not listento Hezekiahwhenhe misleadsyou, saying,"The LORDwill deliverus."
So the Godof Israelstirredup the spiritof Pul,kingof Assyria,even the spiritof Tilgath-pilneserkingof Assyria,and he carriedthem awayinto exile,namely the Reubenites,the Gaditesand the half-tribeof Manasseh,and broughtthem to Halah,Habor,Haraand to the riverof Gozan,to thisday.
The richmanis wisein his own eyes,But the poorwho hasunderstandingseesthroughhim.
For it says,"Are not my princesallkings?
Woeto those whoare wisein their own eyesAnd cleverin their own sight!
Egyptriseslike the Nile,Even like the riverswhose waterssurgeabout; And He has said,"I will riseand cover[that] land;I will surely destroythe cityand its inhabitants."
"Howcan you say,We are mightywarriors,And menvaliantfor battle'?
and sayto the sonsof Ammon,'Hearthe wordof the LordGOD!Thussaysthe LordGOD,"Becauseyou said,Aha!'againstMy sanctuarywhenit was profaned,and againstthe landof Israelwhenit was madedesolate,and againstthe houseof Judahwhenthey wentinto exile,
"Sonof man,becauseTyrehas saidconcerningJerusalem,'Aha,the gatewayof the peoplesis broken;it has openedto me. I shall be filled,[now that] she is laidwaste,'
"Speakand say,'Thussaysthe LordGOD,"Behold,I am againstyou, Pharaohkingof Egypt,The greatmonsterthat liesin the midstof his rivers,That has said,'My Nileis mine, and I myselfhave made[it].'
"And you have spokenarrogantlyagainstMe and have multipliedyour wordsagainstMe; I have heard[it]."
Therefore,O king,may my advicebe pleasingto you: breakawaynow from your sinsby [doing] righteousnessand from your iniquitiesby showingmercyto [the] poor,in casethere may be a prolongingof your prosperity.'
"The kingreflectedand said,'Is thisnot Babylonthe great,whichI myselfhave builtas a royalresidenceby the mightof my powerand for the gloryof my majesty?'
"Therefore, I will make you gointo exilebeyondDamascus,"saysthe LORD,whose nameis the Godof hosts.
You who rejoicein Lodebar,And say,"Have we not by our [own] strengthtakenKarnaimfor ourselves?"
"Thenthey will sweepthrough[like] the windand passon. But they will be heldguilty,They whosestrengthis their god."
Thereforethey offera sacrificeto their netAnd burnincenseto their fishingnet;Becausethrough thesethingstheir catchis large,And their foodis plentiful.
"Will not allof thesetakeup a taunt-songagainsthim, Even mockery[and] insinuationsagainst him And say,Woeto him who increaseswhat is not his-- For howlong--And makeshimself richwith loans?'
"Otherwise, you may sayin your heart,'My powerand the strengthof my handmademe thiswealth.'
The LORDsaidto Gideon,"The peoplewhoare with you are toomanyfor Me to giveMidianinto their hands,for Israelwould becomeboastful,saying,My own powerhas deliveredme.'
