Thussaysyour Lord,the LORD,even your GodWho contendsfor His people,"Behold,I have takenout of your handthe cupof reeling,The chaliceof My anger;You will neverdrinkit again.
Contend,O LORD,with those who contendwith me; Fightagainstthose who fightagainst me.
You have made Your peopleexperiencehardship;You have givenus wineto drinkthat makes us stagger.
For the LORDwill pleadtheir caseAnd takethe lifeof those who robthem.
Be delayedand wait,Blindyourselves and be blind;They becomedrunk,but not with wine,They stagger,but not with strongdrink.
O My people!Their oppressorsare children,And womenruleover them. O My people!Those who guideyou lead[you] astrayAnd confusethe directionof your paths.
The LORDarisesto contend,And standsto judgethe people.
Surely,thussaysthe LORD,"Eventhe captivesof the mightymanwill be takenaway, And the preyof the tyrantwill be rescued;For I will contendwith the onewhocontendswith you, And I will saveyour sons.
Rouseyourself!Rouseyourself!Arise,O Jerusalem,You whohave drunkfrom the LORD'Shandthe cupof His anger;The chaliceof reelingyou have drainedto the dregs.
The LORDhas swornby His righthandand by His strongarm,"I will neveragaingiveyour grain[as] foodfor your enemies;Norwill foreignersdrinkyour newwinefor whichyou have labored."
For thusthe LORD,the Godof Israel,saysto me, "Takethiscupof the wineof wrathfrom My handand cause allthe nationsto whomI sendyou to drinkit.
"Their Redeemeris strong,the LORDof hostsis His name;He will vigorouslypleadtheir caseSothat He may bringrestto the earth,But turmoilto the inhabitantsof Babylon.
Thereforethussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I am going to pleadyour caseAnd exactfullvengeancefor you; And I will dryup her seaAnd makeher fountaindry.
He has filledme with bitterness,He has mademe drunkwith wormwood.
O Lord,You have pleadedmy soul'scause;You have redeemedmy life.
"I will not hideMy facefrom them anylonger,for I will have pouredout My Spiriton the houseof Israel,"declaresthe LordGOD.
I will gatherallthe nationsAnd bringthem downto the valleyof Jehoshaphat.Then I will enterinto judgmentwith them thereOn behalfof My peopleand My inheritance,Israel,Whomthey have scatteredamong the nations;And they have dividedup My land.
"Becausejustas you drankon My holymountain,Allthe nationswill drinkcontinually.They will drinkand swallowAnd becomeas if they had neverexisted.
I will bearthe indignationof the LORDBecauseI have sinnedagainst Him, UntilHe pleadsmy caseand executesjusticefor me. He will bringme out to the light,[And] I will seeHis righteousness.
"Behold,I am going to makeJerusalema cupthat causes reelingto allthe peoplesaround;and when the siegeis againstJerusalem,it will alsobe againstJudah.
But Jesusanswered,"You do not knowwhatyou are asking.Are you ableto drinkthe cupthat I am aboutto drink?"They saidto Him, "We are able."
When Davidheardthat Nabalwas dead,he said,"Blessedbe the LORD,whohas pleadedthe causeof my reproachfrom the handof Nabaland has keptbackHis servantfrom evil.The LORDhas also returnedthe evildoingof Nabalon his own head."Then Davidsenta proposalto Abigail,to takeher as his wife.
