Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction. {retire: or, strengthen} {destruction: Heb. breaking}

Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature {shall be} hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.

By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, {and} the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, {and} the forest of his Carmel. {By thy...: Heb. By the hand of thy servants} {the tall...: Heb. the tallness of the cedars thereof and the choice of the fir trees thereof} {the forest...: or, the forest and his fruitful field}

But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it. {punish: Heb. visit upon}

I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, {even} them that rejoice in my highness.

He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man {with} his destroying weapon in his hand.

Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it {is} a mighty nation, it {is} an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and {there shall be} none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.

Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation {which} shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

Yet the defenced city {shall be} desolate, {and} the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.

Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.

And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one. {by...: or, mightily}

But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it. {punish: Heb. visit upon}

Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop {thy word} toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;