1. I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said:‘Strike the tops of the pillarsso that the thresholds shake.Bring them down on the heads of all the people;those who are left I will kill with the sword.Not one will get away,none will escape.
2. Though they dig down to the depths below,from there my hand will take them.Though they climb up to the heavens above,from there I will bring them down.
3. Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel,there I will hunt them down and seize them.Though they hide from my eyes at the bottom of the sea,there I will command the serpent to bite them.
4. Though they are driven into exile by their enemies,there I will command the sword to slay them.‘I will keep my eye on themfor harm and not for good.’
5. The Lord, the Lord Almighty –he touches the earth and it melts,and all who live in it mourn;the whole land rises like the Nile,then sinks like the river of Egypt;
6. he builds his lofty palace in the heavensand sets its foundation on the earth;he calls for the waters of the seaand pours them out over the face of the land –the Lord is his name.
7. ‘Are not you Israelitesthe same to me as the Cushites?’declares the Lord.‘Did I not bring Israel up from Egypt,the Philistines from Caphtorand the Arameans from Kir?
8. ‘Surely the eyes of the Sovereign Lordare on the sinful kingdom.I will destroy itfrom the face of the earth.Yet I will not totally destroythe descendants of Jacob,’declares the Lord.