"The LORDhas brokenthe staffof the wicked,The scepterof rulers
For the scepterof wickednessshall not restupon the landof the righteous,So that the righteouswill not putforththeir handsto do wrong.
[Like] a roaringlionand a rushingbearIs a wickedrulerovera poorpeople.
Woeto Assyria,the rodof My angerAnd the staffin whose handsis My indignation,
Thus I will punishthe worldfor its evilAnd the wickedfor their iniquity;I will also putan endto the arroganceof the proudAnd abasethe haughtinessof the ruthless.
"Do not rejoice,O Philistia,allof you, Becausethe rodthat struckyou is broken;For from the serpent'sroota viperwill comeout, And its fruitwill be a flyingserpent.
that you will takeup thistauntagainstthe kingof Babylon,and say,"Howthe oppressorhas ceased,[And how] furyhas ceased!
Which used to strikethe peoplesin furywith unceasingstrokes,Which subduedthe nationsin angerwith unrestrainedpersecution.
You shall multiplythe nation,You shall increasetheir gladness;They will be gladin Your presenceAs with the gladnessof harvest,As men rejoicewhen they dividethe spoil.
For You shall breakthe yokeof their burdenand the staffon their shoulders,The rodof their oppressor,as at the battleof Midian.
"They have heardthat I groan;Thereis nooneto comfortme; Allmy enemieshave heardof my calamity;They are gladthat You have done[it]. Oh, that You would bringthe daywhich You have proclaimed,That they may becomelikeme.
Will they thereforeemptytheir netAnd continuallyslaynationswithoutsparing?
