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The Prophecy
of Isaias 23
The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of the sea, for the
house is destroyed, from whence they were wont to come:
from the land of Cethim it is revealed to them.
Be silent, you that dwell in the island: the merchants
of Sidon passing over the sea, have filled thee.
The seed of the Nile in many waters, the harvest of
the river is her revenue: and she is become the mart
of the nations.
Be thou ashamed, O Sidon: for the sea speaketh, even
the strength of the sea, saying: I have not been in
labour, nor have I brought forth, nor have I nourished
up young men, nor brought up virgins.
When it shall be heard in Egypt, they will be sorry
when they shall hear of Tyre:
Pass over the seas, howl, ye inhabitants of the island.
Is not this your city, which gloried from of old in
her antiquity? her feet shall carry her afar off to
sojourn.
Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, that was formerly
crowned, whose merchants were princes, and her traders
the nobles of the earth?
The Lord of hosts hath designed it, to pull down the
pride of all glory, and bring to disgrace all the glorious
ones of the earth.
Pass thy land as a river, O daughter of the sea, thou
hast a girdle no more.
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he troubled
kingdoms: the Lord hath given a charge against Chanaan,
to destroy the strong ones thereof.
And he said: Thou shalt glory no more, O virgin daughter
of Sidon, who art oppressed: arise and sail over to
Cethim, there also thou shalt have no, rest.
Behold the land of the Chaldeans, there was not such
a people, the Assyrian founded it: they have led away
the strong ones thereof into captivity, they have destroyed
the houses thereof, they have brought it to ruin.
Howl, O ye ships of the sea, for your strength is laid
waste.
And it shall come to pass in that day that thou, O Tyre,
shalt be forgotten, seventy years, according to the
days of one king: but after seventy years, there shall
be unto Tyre as the song of a harlot.
Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast
been forgotten: sing well, sing many a song, that thou
mayst be remembered.
And it shall come to pass after seventy years, that
the Lord will visit Tyre, and will bring her back again
to her traffic: and she shall commit fornication again
with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of
the earth.
And her merchandise and her hire shall be sanctified
to the Lord: they shall not be kept in store, nor laid
up: for her merchandise shall be for them that shall
dwell before the Lord, that they may eat unto fulness,
and be clothed for a continuance. |