Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"The sonsof Israelare oppressed,And the sonsof Judahas well;And allwho tookthem captivehave heldthem fast,They have refusedto letthem go.
But Pharaohsaid,"Whois the LORDthat I should obeyHis voiceto letIsraelgo?I do not knowthe LORD,and besides,I will not letIsraelgo."
"But ifyou refuseto let[them] go,behold,I will smiteyour wholeterritorywith frogs.
Who madethe worldlike a wildernessAnd overthrewits cities,Who did not allowhis prisonersto [go] home?'
"I was angrywith My people,I profanedMy heritageAnd gavethem into your hand.You did not showmercyto them, On the agedyou madeyour yokeveryheavy.
"I will putit into the handof your tormentors,Whohave saidto you, 'Liedownthat we may walkover[you].' You have even madeyour backlike the groundAnd like the streetfor those who walkover[it]."
"Is thisnot the fastwhich I choose,To loosenthe bondsof wickedness,To undothe bandsof the yoke,And to letthe oppressedgofreeAnd breakeveryyoke?
Their childrenalso will be as formerly,And their congregationshall be establishedbeforeMe; And I will punishalltheir oppressors.
"Allwho cameupon them have devouredthem; And their adversarieshave said,We are not guilty,Inasmuchas they have sinnedagainst the LORD[who is] the habitationof righteousness,Even the LORD,the hopeof their fathers.'
