"Its soundmovesalong like a serpent;For they moveon like an armyAnd cometo her as woodcutterswith axes.
It seemsas if one had liftedup [His] axein a forestof trees.
Is the axeto boastitself overthe one who chopswith it? Is the sawto exaltitself overthe one who wieldsit? [That would be] like a clubwieldingthose who liftit, [Or] like a rodlifting[him who] is not wood.
"Eventhe cypresstreesrejoiceover you, [and] the cedarsof Lebanon,[saying], 'Sinceyou were laidlow,no[tree] cuttercomesup againstus.'
Then you will be broughtlow;From the earthyou will speak,And from the dust[where] you are prostrateYour words[will come]. Your voicewill also be like that of a spiritfrom the ground,And your speechwill whisperfrom the dust.
"Throughyour servantsyou have reproachedthe Lord,And you have said,'With my manychariotsI cameup to the heightsof the mountains,To the remotestpartsof Lebanon;And I cutdownits tallcedars[and] its choicecypresses.And I will goto its highestpeak,its thickestforest.
"Alsoher mercenariesin her midstAre like fattenedcalves,For eventhey toohave turnedback[and] have fledaway together;They did not stand[their ground]. For the dayof their calamityhas comeupon them, The timeof their punishment.
"They have cutdownher forest,"declaresthe LORD;"Surelyit will no[more] be found,Even thoughthey are [now] morenumerousthanlocustsAnd are withoutnumber.
Becauseof thisI must lamentand wail,I must gobarefootand naked;I must makea lamentlike the jackalsAnd a mourninglike the ostriches.
Nationswill seeand be ashamedOf alltheir might.They will put[their] handon [their] mouth,Their earswill be deaf.
Wail,O cypress,for the cedarhas fallen,Becausethe glorious[trees] have been destroyed;Wail,O oaksof Bashan,For the impenetrableforesthas comedown.
The leaderssaidto them, "Let them live."So they becamehewersof woodand drawersof waterfor the wholecongregation,justas the leadershad spokento them.
