A lament over Tyre

1The word of the Lord came to me: 2‘Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre. 3Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

‘ “You say, Tyre,

‘I am perfect in beauty.’

4Your domain was on the high seas;

your builders brought your beauty to perfection.

5They made all your timbers

of juniper from Senir27:5 That is, Mount Hermon;

they took a cedar from Lebanon

to make a mast for you.

6Of oaks from Bashan

they made your oars;

of cypress wood27:6 Targum; the Masoretic Text has a different division of the consonants. from the coasts of Cyprus

they made your deck, adorned with ivory.

7Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail

and served as your banner;

your awnings were of blue and purple

from the coasts of Elishah.

8Men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen;

your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your sailors.

9Veteran craftsmen of Byblos were on board

as shipwrights to caulk your seams.

All the ships of the sea and their sailors

came alongside to trade for your wares.

10‘ “Men of Persia, Lydia and Put

served as soldiers in your army.

They hung their shields and helmets on your walls,

bringing you splendour.

11Men of Arvad and Helek

guarded your walls on every side;

men of Gammad

were in your towers.

They hung their shields around your walls;

they brought your beauty to perfection.

12‘ “Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

13‘ “Greece, Tubal and Meshek did business with you; they traded human beings and articles of bronze for your wares.

14‘ “Men of Beth Togarmah exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.

15‘ “The men of Rhodes27:15 Septuagint; Hebrew Dedan traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.

16‘ “Aram27:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Edom did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.

17‘ “Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections,27:17 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain. honey, olive oil and balm for your wares.

18‘ “Damascus did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods. They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar 19and casks of wine from Izal in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia and calamus.

20‘ “Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.

21‘ “Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

22‘ “The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.

23‘ “Harran, Kanneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Ashur and Kilmad traded with you. 24In your market-place they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicoloured rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.

25‘ “The ships of Tarshish serve

as carriers for your wares.

You are filled with heavy cargo

as you sail the sea.

26Your oarsmen take you

out to the high seas.

But the east wind will break you to pieces

far out at sea.

27Your wealth, merchandise and wares,

your mariners, sailors and shipwrights,

your merchants and all your soldiers,

and everyone else on board

will sink into the heart of the sea

on the day of your shipwreck.

28The shorelands will quake

when your sailors cry out.

29All who handle the oars

will abandon their ships;

the mariners and all the sailors

will stand on the shore.

30They will raise their voice

and cry bitterly over you;

they will sprinkle dust on their heads

and roll in ashes.

31They will shave their heads because of you

and will put on sackcloth.

They will weep over you with anguish of soul

and with bitter mourning.

32As they wail and mourn over you,

they will take up a lament concerning you:

‘Who was ever silenced like Tyre,

surrounded by the sea?’

33When your merchandise went out on the seas,

you satisfied many nations;

with your great wealth and your wares

you enriched the kings of the earth.

34Now you are shattered by the sea

in the depths of the waters;

your wares and all your company

have gone down with you.

35All who live in the coastlands

are appalled at you;

their kings shudder with horror

and their faces are distorted with fear.

36The merchants among the nations scoff at you;

you have come to a horrible end

and will be no more.” ’