The oracleconcerning the beastsof the Negev.Through a landof distressand anguish,From where[come] lionessand lion,viperand flyingserpent,They carrytheir richeson the backsof youngdonkeysAnd their treasureson camels'humps,To a peoplewho cannotprofit[them];
Abramjourneyedon, continuingtoward the Negev.
So she cameto Jerusalemwith a verylargeretinue,with camelscarryingspicesand verymuchgoldand preciousstones.When she cameto Solomon,she spokewith him about allthat was in her heart.
Then Asabroughtout silverand goldfrom the treasuriesof the houseof the LORDand the king'shouse,and sentthem to Ben-hadadkingof Aram,who livedin Damascus,saying,
Now when the queenof Shebaheardof the fameof Solomon,she cameto Jerusalemto testSolomonwith difficultquestions.She had a verylargeretinue,with camelscarryingspicesand a largeamountof goldand preciousstones;and when she cameto Solomon,she spokewith him about allthat was on her heart.
"Will you trusthim becausehis strengthis greatAnd leaveyour laborto him?
and they madetheir livesbitterwith hardlaborin mortarand bricksand at all[kinds] of laborin the field,alltheir laborswhichthey rigorouslyimposedon them.
"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.
Thereforethe abundance[which] they have acquiredand storedup They carryoff overthe brookof Arabim.
"Moreover, I will deliverthe Egyptiansinto the handof a cruelmaster,And a mightykingwill ruleover them," declaresthe LordGODof hosts.
Nolionwill be there,Norwill any viciousbeastgoup on it; These will not be foundthere.But the redeemedwill walk[there],
And it will growloverit in that daylike the roaringof the sea.If one looksto the land,behold,there is darkness[and] distress;Even the lightis darkenedby its clouds.
"You have journeyedto the kingwith oilAnd increasedyour perfumes;You have sentyour envoysa great distanceAnd made [them] godownto Sheol.
Then they will lookto the earth,and behold,distressand darkness,the gloomof anguish;and [they will be] drivenawayinto darkness.
whichI commandedyour forefathersin the daythat I broughtthem out of the landof Egypt,from the ironfurnace,saying,Listento My voice,and doaccording to allwhichI commandyou; so you shall be My people,and I will be your God,'
"They did not say,'Whereis the LORDWho broughtus up out of the landof Egypt,Who ledus through the wilderness,Through a landof desertsand of pits,Through a landof droughtand of deepdarkness,Through a landthat noonecrossedAnd wherenomandwelt?'
"Sonof man,setyour facetowardTeman,and speakout againstthe southand prophesyagainstthe forestlandof the Negev,
Ephraimfeedson wind,And pursuesthe eastwindcontinually;He multipliesliesand violence.Moreover, he makesa covenantwith Assyria,And oilis carriedto Egypt.
The LORDalso has a disputewith Judah,And will punishJacobaccording to his ways;He will repayhim according to his deeds.
"You will eat,but you will not be satisfied,And your vilenesswill be in your midst.You will [try to] remove[for safekeeping], But you will not preserve[anything], And whatyou do preserveI will giveto the sword.
with one of whichthe blackhorsesare goingforthto the northcountry;and the whiteonesgoforthafterthem, while the dappledonesgoforthto the southcountry.
Rejoicegreatly,O daughterof Zion!Shout[in triumph], O daughterof Jerusalem!Behold,your kingis comingto you; He is justand endowedwith salvation,Humble,and mountedon a donkey,Even on a colt,the foalof a donkey.
Then the LORDsaidto Moses,"Makea fiery[serpent], and setit on a standard;and it shall comeabout, that everyonewho is bitten,when he looksat it, he will live."
"[The] Queenof [the] Southwill riseup with thisgenerationat the judgmentand will condemnit, becauseshe camefrom the endsof the earthto hearthe wisdomof Solomon;and behold,something greaterthan Solomonis here.
"Moreover,he shall not multiplyhorsesfor himself, norshall he cause the peopleto returnto Egyptto multiplyhorses,since the LORDhas saidto you, 'You shall neveragainreturnthat way.'
"But the LORDhas takenyou and broughtyou out of the ironfurnace,from Egypt,to be a peoplefor His own possession,as today.
"He ledyou through the greatand terriblewilderness,[with its] fieryserpentsand scorpionsand thirstygroundwheretherewas nowater;He broughtwaterfor you out of the rockof flint.
