Study Desk

In the year that King Ahaz died, this pronouncement came:

In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.

"Do not rejoice, Philistia, all of you, Because the rod that struck you is broken; For from the serpent's root a viper will come out, And its fruit will be a winged serpent.

Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

"Those who are most helpless will eat, And the poor will lie down in security; I will kill your root with famine, And it will kill your survivors.

And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant.

"Wail, you gate; cry, you city; Melt away, Philistia, all of you! For smoke comes from the north, And there is no straggler in his ranks.

Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times.

"What answer will one give the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, And the poor of His people will take refuge in it."

What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.