"Shall I not punishthem for thesethings?"declaresthe LORD."On a nationsuchas thisShall I not avengeMyself?
Thereforethe LordGODof hosts,The MightyOneof Israel,declares,"Ah,I will be relievedof My adversariesAnd avengeMyself on My foes.
Now whatwill you doin the dayof punishment,And in the devastationwhich will comefrom afar?To whomwill you fleefor help?And wherewill you leaveyour wealth?
"Among the smooth[stones] of the ravineIs your portion,they are your lot;Evento them you have pouredout a drinkoffering,You have madea grain offering.Shall I relentconcerningthesethings?
"It has been madea desolation,Desolate,it mournsbeforeMe; The wholelandhas been madedesolate,Becausenomanlaysit to heart.
Howlongis the landto mournAnd the vegetationof the countrysideto wither?For the wickednessof those who dwellin it, Animalsand birdshave been snatchedaway,Because[men] have said,"He will not seeour latterending."
I looked,and behold,therewas noman,And allthe birdsof the heavenshad fled.
Shall I not punishthese[people]?' declaresthe LORD,'On a nationsuchas thisShall I not avengeMyself?'
"Shall I not punishthese[people]," declaresthe LORD,"And on a nationsuchas thisShall I not avengeMyself?
Thereforethe landmourns,And everyonewho livesin it languishesAlong with the beastsof the fieldand the birdsof the sky,And alsothe fishof the seadisappear.
To You, O LORD,I cry;For firehas devouredthe pasturesof the wildernessAnd the flamehas burnedup allthe treesof the field.
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.
