1. The Lord will have compassion for Jacob and again choose Israel.He will resettle them in their own country.Foreigners will join themand unite with the descendants of Jacob.
2. People will take themand bring them to their own place.The nation of Israel will possess nationsas male and female slaves in the Lord’s land.They will take their captors captiveand rule their oppressors.
3. When that day comes, the Lord will give you relieffrom your pain and suffering,from the hard slavery you were forced to do.
4. Then you will mock the king of Babylon with this saying,“How the tyrant has come to an end!How his attacks have come to an end!”
5. The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked,the scepter of rulers.
6. They struck the people with fury,with blows that didn’t stop.They ruled nations in anger,persecuting them without restraint.
7. The whole earth rests and is peaceful.It breaks out into shouts of joy.
8. Even the cypresses rejoice over you.The cedars of Lebanon say,“Since you have fallen,no lumberjack has come to attack us.”
9. Sheol below wakes up to meet you when you come.It wakes up the ghosts of the dead,all who were leaders on earth.It raises all who were kings of the nations from their thrones.
10. All of them will greet you,“You also have become weak like us!You have become like one of us!”
11. Your pride has been brought down to Sheolalong with the music of your harps.Maggots are spread out ⌊like a bed⌋ under you,and worms cover you.