The highwaysare desolate,the travelerhas ceased,He has brokenthe covenant,he has despisedthe cities,He has noregardfor man.
"In the daysof Shamgarthe sonof Anath,In the daysof Jael,the highwayswere deserted,And travelerswentby roundaboutways.
A highwaywill be there,a roadway,And it will be calledthe Highwayof Holiness.The uncleanwill not travelon it, But it [will] be for him who walks[that] way,And foolswill not wander[on it].
The roadsof Zionare in mourningBecausenoone comesto the appointedfeasts.Allher gatesare desolate;Her priestsare groaning,Her virginsare afflicted,And she herselfis bitter.
Now in the fourteenthyearof KingHezekiah,Sennacheribkingof Assyriacameup againstallthe fortifiedcitiesof Judahand seizedthem.
His waysprosperat alltimes;Your judgmentsare on high,out of his sight;As for allhis adversaries,he snortsat them.
Then Davidspoketo the menwho were standingby him, saying,"Whatwill be donefor the manwhokillsthisPhilistineand takesawaythe reproachfrom Israel?For whois thisuncircumcisedPhilistine,that he should tauntthe armiesof the livingGod?"
Again the Philistinesaid,"I defythe ranksof Israelthisday;giveme a manthat we may fighttogether."
And he liftedup his eyesand sawthe travelerin the opensquareof the city;and the oldmansaid,"Whereare you going,and wheredo you comefrom?"
The earthis also pollutedby its inhabitants,for they transgressedlaws,violatedstatutes,brokethe everlastingcovenant.
I will letlooseamong you the beastsof the field,which will bereaveyou of your childrenand destroyyour cattleand reduceyour number so that your roadsliedeserted.
