"Thereforethussaysthe LORD,Asknowamong the nations,Whoever heardthe like of this?The virginof IsraelHas donea mostappallingthing.
Then Eliakimthe sonof Hilkiah,whowas overthe household,and Shebnathe scribeand Joahthe sonof Asaph,the recorder,cameto Hezekiahwith their clothestornand toldhim the wordsof Rabshakeh.
"Whohas heardsucha thing?Whohas seensuchthings? Can a landbe bornin oneday?Can a nationbe broughtforthallat once?As soonas Ziontravailed,she alsobroughtforthher sons.
"You will saythiswordto them, 'Let my eyesflowdownwith tearsnightand day,And let them not cease;For the virgindaughterof my peoplehas been crushedwith a mightyblow,With a sorelyinfectedwound.
Does the snowof Lebanonforsakethe rockof the open country?Oris the coldflowingwater[from] a foreign[land] ever snatchedaway?
"Also among the prophetsof JerusalemI have seena horriblething:The committingof adulteryand walkingin falsehood;And they strengthenthe handsof evildoers,So that noonehas turnedbackfrom his wickedness.Allof them have becometo Me like Sodom,And her inhabitantslike Gomorrah.
"AgainI will buildyou and you will be rebuilt,O virginof Israel!Againyou will takeup your tambourines,And goforthto the dancesof the merrymakers.
"An appallingand horriblethingHas happenedin the land:
"The Lordhas rejectedallmy strongmenIn my midst;He has calledan appointedtimeagainstme To crushmy youngmen;The Lordhas trodden[as in] a winepressThe virgindaughterof Judah.
In the houseof IsraelI have seena horriblething;Ephraim'sharlotryis there,Israelhas defileditself.
HearthiswordwhichI takeup for you as a dirge,O houseof Israel:
She has fallen,she will not riseagain--The virginIsrael.She [lies] neglectedon her land;Thereis noneto raiseher up.
It is actuallyreportedthat there is immoralityamongyou, and immoralityof such a kindas does not exist evenamongthe Gentiles,that someonehashis father'swife.
The Philistineswere afraid,for they said,"Godhas comeinto the camp."And they said,"Woeto us! For nothinglike thishas happenedbefore.
