"Then the clansof Judahwill sayin their hearts,A strongsupportfor us are the inhabitantsof Jerusalemthrough the LORDof hosts,their God.'
Blessedbe the LORD,my rock,Who trainsmy handsfor war,[And] my fingersfor battle;
The Godwho girdsme with strengthAnd makesmy wayblameless?
For You have girdedme with strengthfor battle;You have subduedunderme those who roseup against me.
Godis our refugeand strength,A verypresenthelpin trouble.
Hearthe wordof the LORD,You rulersof Sodom;Giveearto the instructionof our God,You peopleof Gomorrah.
Your rulersare rebelsAnd companionsof thieves;Everyonelovesa bribeAnd chasesafter rewards.They do not defendthe orphan,Nordoes the widow'spleacomebeforethem.
"Then I will restoreyour judgesas at the first,And your counselorsas at the beginning;Afterthat you will be calledthe cityof righteousness,A faithfulcity."
In that daythe LORDof hostswill becomea beautifulcrownAnd a gloriousdiademto the remnantof His people;
A spiritof justicefor him who sitsin judgment,A strengthto those who repelthe onslaughtat the gate.
For the LORDhas pouredoveryou a spiritof deepsleep,He has shutyour eyes,the prophets;And He has coveredyour heads,the seers.
Behold,a kingwill reignrighteouslyAnd princeswill rulejustly.
"They will sayof Me, 'Onlyin the LORDare righteousnessand strength.'Men will cometo Him, And allwho were angryat Him will be putto shame.
"Insteadof bronzeI will bringgold,And insteadof ironI will bringsilver,And insteadof wood,bronze,And insteadof stones,iron.And I will makepeaceyour administratorsAnd righteousnessyour overseers.
Their leadershall be one of them, And their rulershall comeforthfrom their midst;And I will bringhim nearand he shall approachMe; For whowould dareto riskhis lifeto approachMe?' declaresthe LORD.
thenI would rejectthe descendantsof Jacoband DavidMy servant,not takingfrom his descendantsrulersoverthe descendantsof Abraham,Isaacand Jacob.But I will restoretheir fortunesand will havemercyon them.'"
The LORDroarsfrom ZionAnd uttersHis voicefrom Jerusalem,And the heavensand the earthtremble.But the LORDis a refugefor His peopleAnd a strongholdto the sonsof Israel.
"And I will strengthenthem in the LORD,And in His namethey will walk,"declaresthe LORD.
"I will strengthenthe houseof Judah,And I will savethe houseof Joseph,And I will bringthem back,BecauseI havehadcompassionon them; And they will be as thoughI had not rejectedthem, For I am the LORDtheir Godand I will answerthem.
"In that day,"declaresthe LORD,"I will strikeeveryhorsewith bewildermentand his riderwith madness.But I will watchoverthe houseof Judah,while I strikeeveryhorseof the peopleswith blindness.
"In that dayI will makethe clansof Judahlike a firepotamong pieces of woodand a flamingtorchamong sheaves,so they will consumeon the righthandand on the leftallthe surroundingpeoples,while the inhabitantsof Jerusalemagaindwellon their own sitesin Jerusalem.
Judahalsowill fightat Jerusalem;and the wealthof allthe surroundingnationswill be gathered,goldand silverand garmentsin greatabundance.
"My heart[goes out] to the commandersof Israel,The volunteersamong the people;Blessthe LORD!
