1. For Adonai will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel and settle them in their own land. The outsider will join himself with them and will cling to the house of Jacob.
2. The peoples will take them and escort them to their place. The house of Israel will possess them in the land of Adonai as servants and handmaids. They will take their captors captive, and rule over their oppressors.
3. Now in the day when Adonai will give you rest from your sorrow and your turmoil, and from the hard service you were forced to do,
4. you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon and say: “How the taskmaster has ceased! The raging oppressor, exacter of gold, has ceased!
5. Adonai has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers,
6. which struck the people in wrath with continual strokes, which ruled the nations in fury, with relentless persecution.
7. The whole earth is at rest, and quiet. They break forth with a ringing cry!
8. Even the cypress trees rejoice over you, along with the cedars of Lebanon: “Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us.”
9. Sheol from below is excited about you, to meet you at your coming! He stirs up the dead spirits for you, even the chief ones of the earth. He makes all the kings of the nations rise up from their thrones.
10. They all answer and say to you: “Even you have become as weak as us? Have you become like us?
11. Your pomp is brought down to Sheol with the music of your harps. Maggots are spread out under you, and worms cover you.”
12. How you have fallen from heaven, O brightstar, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the earth, you who made the nations prostrate!
13. You said in your heart: “I will ascend to heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will sit upon the mount of meeting, in the uttermost parts of the north.
14. I will ascend above the high places of the clouds— I will make myself like Elyon.”
15. Yet you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest parts of the Pit.
16. Those who see you will stare at you, reflecting on what has become of you: “Is this the one who shook the earth, who made kingdoms tremble,