Jerusalem will be safe

1You defeated my people.

Now you're in for trouble!

You've never been destroyed,

but you will be destroyed;

you've never been betrayed,

but you will be betrayed.

When you have finished

destroying and betraying,

you will be destroyed

and betrayed in return.

2Please, LORD, be kind to us!

We depend on you.

Make us strong each morning,

and come to save us

when we are in trouble.

3Nations scatter when you roar

and show your greatness.33.3 greatness: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 3.

4We attack our enemies

like swarms of locusts;33.4 locusts: Insects like grasshoppers that travel in swarms and cause great damage to crops.

we take everything

that belongs to them.33.4 them: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 4.

5You, LORD, are above all others,

and you live in the heavens.

You have brought justice

and fairness to Jerusalem;

6you are the foundation

on which we stand today.

You always save us and give

true wisdom and knowledge.

Nothing means more to us33.6 Nothing…us: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

than obeying you.

The LORD will do something

7Listen! Our bravest soldiers

are running through the streets,

screaming for help.33.7 Listen…help: Or “The LORD heard our shouts and will come to help us.”

Our messengers hoped for peace,

but came home crying.

8No one travels any more;

every road is empty.

Treaties are broken,

and no respect is shown

to any who keep promises.33.8 to any…promises: The Dead Sea Scrolls; the Standard Hebrew Text “to those in the cities”.

9Fields are dry and barren;

Mount Lebanon wilts

with shame.

Sharon Valley is a desert;

the forests of Bashan and Carmel

have lost their leaves.

10But the LORD says,

“Now I will do something

and be greatly praised.

11Your deeds are straw

that will be set on fire

by your very own breath.

12You will be burnt to ashes

like thorns in a fire.

13Everyone, both far and near,

come, look at what I have done.

See my mighty power!”

Punishment and rewards

14Those terrible sinners

on Mount Zion tremble

as they ask in fear,

“How can we possibly live

where a raging fire

never stops burning?”

15But there will be rewards

for those who live right

and tell the truth,

for those who refuse

to take money by force

or accept bribes,

for all who hate murder

and violent crimes.

16They will live in a fortress

high on a rocky cliff,

where they will have food

and plenty of water.

The LORD is our King

17With your own eyes

you will see the glorious King;

you will see his kingdom

reaching far and wide.

18Then you will ask yourself,

“Where are those officials

who terrified us and forced us

to pay such heavy taxes?”

19You will never again have to see

the proud people who spoke

a strange and foreign language

you could not understand.

20Look to Mount Zion

where we celebrate

our religious festivals.

You will see Jerusalem,

secure as a tent with pegs

that cannot be pulled up

and fastened with ropes

that can never be broken.

21Our wonderful LORD

will be with us!

There will be deep rivers

and wide streams

safe from enemy ships.33.21 safe…ships: This probably means that Jerusalem will have a lot of water, without the danger of attacks from enemy ships.

The LORD is our judge

22The LORD is our judge

and our ruler;

the LORD is our king

and will keep us safe.

23But your nation33.23 your nation: Possibly Judah or Assyria. is a ship

with its rigging loose,

its mast shaky,

and its sail not spread.

Some day even you who are lame

will take everything you want

from your enemies.

24The LORD will forgive your sins,

and none of you will say,

“I feel ill.”