Who madethe worldlike a wildernessAnd overthrewits cities,Who did not allowhis prisonersto [go] home?'
"Those who seeyou will gazeat you, They will ponderoveryou, [saying], 'Is thisthe manwho made the earthtremble,Who shookkingdoms,
"Allthe kingsof the nationsliein glory,Eachin his own tomb.
"I have arousedhim in righteousnessAnd I will makeallhis wayssmooth;He will buildMy cityand will letMy exilesgofree,Withoutany paymentor reward,"saysthe LORDof hosts.
"Is thisnot the fastwhich I choose,To loosenthe bondsof wickedness,To undothe bandsof the yoke,And to letthe oppressedgofreeAnd breakeveryyoke?
Your holycitieshave becomea wilderness,Zionhas becomea wilderness,Jerusalema desolation.
Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"The sonsof Israelare oppressed,And the sonsof Judahas well;And allwho tookthem captivehave heldthem fast,They have refusedto letthem go.
whosegravesare setin the remotestpartsof the pitand her companyis roundabouther grave.Allof them are slain,fallenby the sword,whospreadterrorin the landof the living.
"So throughout alltheir habitationsI will stretchout My handagainstthem and makethe landmoredesolateand wastethanthe wildernesstoward Diblah;thus they will knowthat I am the LORD."'"
A fireconsumesbeforethem And behindthem a flameburns.The landis like the gardenof Edenbeforethem But a desolatewildernessbehindthem, And nothingat allescapesthem.
"They are dreadedand feared;Their justiceand authorityoriginatewith themselves.
