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¹ The burden which the prophet Ambacum saw. ² How long, O Lord, shall I cry out, and thou wilt not hearken? how long shall I cry out to thee being injured, and thou wilt not save? ³ Wherefore hast thou shown me troubles and griefs to look upon, misery and ungodliness? judgment is before me, and the judge receives a reward. ⁴ Therefore the law is frustrated, and judgment proceeds not effectually, for the ungodly man prevails over the just; therefore perverse judgment will proceed.

⁵ Behold, ye despisers, and look, and wonder marvelously, and vanish: for I work a work in your days, which ye will in no wise believe, though a man declare it to you. ⁶ Wherefore, behold, I stir up the Chaldeans, the bitter and hasty nation, that walks upon the breadth of the earth, to inherit tabernacles not his own. ⁷ He is terrible and famous; his judgment shall proceed of himself, and his dignity shall come out of himself. ⁸ And his horses shall bound more swiftly than leopards, and they are fiercer than the wolves of Arabia: and his horsemen shall ride forth, and shall rush from far; and they shall fly as an eagle hasting to eat. ⁹ Destruction shall come upon ungodly men, resisting with their adverse front, and he shall gather the captivity as the sand. ¹⁰ And he shall be at his ease with kings, and princes are his toys, and he shall mock at every strong-hold, and shall cast a mound, and take possession of it. ¹¹ Then shall he change his spirit, and he shall pass through, and make an atonement, saying, This strength belongs to my god.

¹² Art not thou from the beginning, O Lord God, my Holy One? and surely we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast established it for judgment, and he has formed me to chasten with his correction. ¹³ His eye is too pure to behold evil doings, and to look upon grievous afflictions: wherefore dost thou look upon despisers? wilt thou be silent when the ungodly swallows up the just? ¹⁴ And wilt thou make men as the fishes of the sea, and as the reptiles which have no guide? ¹⁵ He has brought up destruction with a hook, and drawn one with a casting net, and caught another in his drags: therefore shall his heart rejoice and be glad. ¹⁶ Therefore will he sacrifice to his drag, and burn incense to his casting-net, because by them he has made his portion fat, and his meats choice. ¹⁷ Therefore will he cast his net, and will not spare to slay the nations continually.