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When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve,
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you will take up this 1taunt against the king of Babylon: "How the oppressor has ceased, 2the insolent fury ceased!
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The LORD has broken the 3staff of the wicked, the 4scepter of rulers,
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5that struck the peoples in wrath with unceasing blows, that ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution.
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The whole earth is at rest and quiet; 6they break forth into singing.
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The cypresses rejoice at you, 7the cedars of Lebanon, saying, 'Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us.'
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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.
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8All of them will answer and say to you: 'You too have become as weak as we! You have become like us!'
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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.
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"How 9you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, 10son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!
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You said in your heart, 11'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God 12I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;
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I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'
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13But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.
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Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: 'Is this 14the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms,
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who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, 15who did not let his prisoners go home?'
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All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb;
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but you are cast out, away from your grave, like a loathed branch, 16clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a dead body trampled underfoot.
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You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have slain your people."May 17the offspring of evildoers nevermore be named!
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Prepare slaughter for his sons 18because of the guilt of their fathers, lest they rise and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities."
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"I will rise up against them," declares the LORD of hosts, "and will cut off from Babylon name and 19remnant, 20descendants and posterity," declares the LORD.
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"And I will make it a possession of the 21hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction," declares the LORD of hosts.