Israel’s Remnant Taunts Babylon (ISA 14:3-23)

[14:3] When the Lord has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve,

[14:4] you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: “How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased!

[14:5] The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers,

[14:6] that struck the peoples in wrath with unceasing blows, that ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution.

[14:7] The whole earth is at rest and quiet; they break forth into singing.

[14:8] The cypresses rejoice at you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us.’

[14:9] Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations.

[14:10] All of them will answer and say to you: ‘You too have become as weak as we! You have become like us!’

[14:11] Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, the sound of your harps; maggots are laid as a bed beneath you, and worms are your covers.

[14:12] “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!

[14:13] You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;

[14:14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

[14:15] But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

[14:16] Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms,

[14:17] who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?’

[14:18] All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb;

[14:19] but you are cast out, away from your grave, like a loathed branch, clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a dead body trampled underfoot.

[14:20] You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have slain your people. “May the offspring of evildoers nevermore be named!

[14:21] Prepare slaughter for his sons because of the guilt of their fathers, lest they rise and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities.”

[14:22] “I will rise up against them,” declares the Lord of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, descendants and posterity,” declares the Lord.

[14:23] “And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” declares the Lord of hosts.

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