Jerusalem’s Sins and the Foreign Invasion

1 My ears have heard distress and the sound of war; the sound of a trumpet announcing slaughter and calamity, 2 The sound of a great crowd like an extremely strong wind, like a storm with mighty fire sweeping through the Negeb. 3 And I said to myself: Surely (?) God is judging us; 4 I hear a sound (moving) toward Jerusalem, the holy city. 5 My lower back was shattered at what I heard, my knees shook; my heart was afraid, my bones trembled like flax. 6 I said: They live their lives in righteousness. 7 I thought about the judgments of God since the creation of heaven and earth; I considered God righteous in His judgments which have existed since ancient times. 8 God exposed their sins in the full light of day; All the earth came to know the righteous judgments of God. 9 In secret places underground their sins (were committed) to provoke (Him) to anger; They engaged in confused unions, son with mother and father with daughter; 10 They committed adultery, every man with his neighbor's wife. They made agreements with one another under oath concerning these things; 11 They plundered the sanctuary of God, as though there was no one to take revenge. 12 They trampled the altar of the Lord, (coming straight) from every kind of impurity; And with menstrual blood they defiled the sacrifices, as (though these were) ordinary meat. 13 They committed every sin, surpassing the nations in all of them.

14 Therefore God mixed a spirit of confusion for them and gave them a cup of undiluted wine to drink so that they might become drunk.⁠a 15 He brought the one from the end of the earth who strikes with great power;⁠b He decreed (?) war against Jerusalem, and against her land. 16 The princes of the land went to meet him with joy: they said to him, Blessed be your way! Come, enter in peace. 17 They smoothed the rough roads before he entered; They opened the gates to Jerusalem, they crowned its walls.⁠c

18 As a father (enters) the house of his sons, (so) he entered (Jerusalem) in peace; He placed his feet (there) in complete safety. 19 He captured her fortresses and the wall of Jerusalem; for God Himself led him in safety, while they wandered. 20 He destroyed their princes and everyone who gave wise advice; He poured out the blood of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, like the water of uncleanness. 21 He led away their sons and daughters, whom they had brought into the world in defilement. 22 They acted according to their impurity, even as their ancestors (had done): They defiled Jerusalem and the things that had been consecrated to the name of God.

23 (But) God has shown Himself righteous in His judgments upon the nations of the earth; And the faithful (servants) of God are like innocent lambs in their midst. 24 The Lord deserves praise, for He judges the whole earth in His righteousness. 25 Look now, God, You have shown us Your judgment in Your righteousness; Our eyes have seen Your judgments, God. 26 We have declared Your name just, honored forever; For You are the God of righteousness, judging Israel with discipline.

27 Turn Your mercy toward us, God, and have pity upon us; 28 Gather the scattered people of Israel together, with mercy and goodness; For Your faithfulness is with us.⁠d

29 And (though) we have stubbornly refused to obey, yet You are the one who disciplines us; 30 Do not overlook us, our God, so that the nations do not swallow us up as though there were no one to rescue us. 31 But You are our God from the beginning, and our hope is (set) on You, Lord; 32 And we will not depart from You, for Your judgments toward us are good.

33 May Your favor be ours and our children’s forever; Lord our Savior, we shall never again be shaken. 34 The Lord deserves praise for His judgments from the mouths of His faithful people; And blessed be Israel of the Lord forever.