Then the lambswill grazeas in their pasture,And strangerswill eatin the wasteplacesof the wealthy.
"Its abundantproduceis for the kingsWhomYou have setoverus because of our sins;They also ruleoverour bodiesAnd over our cattleas they please,So we are in greatdistress.
Their heartis coveredwith fat,[But] I delightin Your law.
They have closedtheir unfeeling[heart], With their mouththey speakproudly.
From menwith Your hand,O LORD,From menof the world,whose portionis in [this] life,And whose bellyYou fillwith Your treasure;They are satisfiedwith children,And leavetheir abundanceto their babes.
Their eyebulgesfrom fatness;The imaginationsof [their] heartrunriot.
Your landis desolate,Your citiesare burnedwith fire,Your fields--strangersare devouringthem in your presence;It is desolation,as overthrownby strangers.
Thereforethe Lord,the GODof hosts,will senda wastingdiseaseamong his stoutwarriors;And underhis glorya firewill be kindledlike a burningflame.
"The citiesof Aroerare forsaken;They will be for flocksto liedownin, And therewill be nooneto frighten[them].
Becausethe palacehas been abandoned,the populatedcityforsaken.Hilland watch-towerhave becomecavesforever,A delightfor wilddonkeys,a pasturefor flocks;
Like a shepherdHe will tendHis flock,In His armHe will gatherthe lambsAnd carry[them] in His bosom;He will gently leadthe nursing[ewes].
"Sharonwill be a pasturelandfor flocks,And the valleyof Achora restingplacefor herds,For My peoplewhoseekMe.
As for allthe hillswhichused to be cultivatedwith the hoe,you will not gotherefor fearof briarsand thorns;but they will becomea placefor pasturingoxenand for sheepto trample.
They are fat,they are sleek,They alsoexcelin deedsof wickedness;They do not pleadthe cause,The causeof the orphan,that they may prosper;And they do not defendthe rightsof the poor.
Our inheritancehas been turnedover to strangers,Our housesto aliens.
SinceIsraelis stubbornLike a stubbornheifer,Can the LORDnowpasturethem Like a lambin a largefield?
For they sowthe windAnd they reapthe whirlwind.The standinggrainhasnoheads;It yieldsnograin.Shouldit yield,strangerswould swallowit up.
"I will surelyassembleallof you, Jacob,I will surelygatherthe remnantof Israel.I will putthem togetherlike sheepin the fold;Like a flockin the midstof its pastureThey will be noisywith men.
Flockswill liedownin her midst,Allbeastswhich range in herds;Boththe pelicanand the hedgehogWill lodgein the topsof her pillars;Birdswill singin the window,Desolation[will be] on the threshold;For He has laidbarethe cedarwork.
So the seacoastwill be pastures,[With] cavesfor shepherdsand foldsfor flocks.
and they will fallby the edgeof the sword,and will be led captiveinto allthe nations;and Jerusalemwill be trampled underfoot by the Gentilesuntilthe timesof the Gentilesare fulfilled.
"A peoplewhomyou do not knowshall eatup the produceof your groundand allyour labors,and you will neverbe anythingbut oppressedand crushedcontinually.
"But Jeshurungrewfatand kicked--You are grownfat,thick,and sleek--Then he forsookGodwho madehim, And scornedthe Rockof his salvation.
