Read the Bible

A Lament for Tyre

¹ Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,² “Now you, son of man, take up a lament for Tyre.³ Tell Tyre, who dwells at the gateway to the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coasts, that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You have said, O Tyre, “I am perfect in beauty.”⁴ Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders perfected your beauty.⁵ They constructed all your planking with pine trees from Senir^(a). They took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.⁶ Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; of wood from the coasts of Cyprus^(a) they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.⁷ Of embroidered fine linen from Egypt, they made your sail, which served as your banner. Of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah they made your awning.⁸ The men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen. Your men of skill, O Tyre, were there as your captains.⁹ The elders of Gebal were aboard as shipwrights, repairing your leaks. All the ships of the sea and their sailors came alongside to barter for your goods.¹⁰ Men of Persia, Lydia, and Put served as warriors in your army. They hung shields and helmets on your walls; they gave you splendor.¹¹ Men of Arvad and Helech manned your walls all around, and the men of Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields all around your walls; they perfected your beauty.¹² Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.¹³ Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants. They exchanged slaves and bronze utensils for your merchandise.¹⁴ The men of Beth-togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares.¹⁵ The men of Dedan^(a) were your clients; many coastlands were your market; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.¹⁶ Aram^(a) was your customer because of the abundance of your goods; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidery, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.¹⁷ Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith, cakes and honey, oil and balm for your merchandise.¹⁸ Because of your many products and your great wealth of goods, Damascus traded with you wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar,^{19 (a)}and casks of wine from Izal for your wares^(a). Wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane^(a) were exchanged for your merchandise.²⁰ Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding.²¹ Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers, trading in lambs, rams, and goats.²² The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged gold, the finest of all spices, and precious stones.²³ Haran, Canneh, and Eden, and the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad traded with you.²⁴ In your marketplace they traded with you fine garments of blue and embroidered work, and multicolored rugs, bound and secured with cords.²⁵ The ships of Tarshish carried your merchandise. And you were filled with heavy cargo in the heart of the sea.

²⁶ Your oarsmen have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind will shatter you in the heart of the sea.²⁷ Your wealth, wares, and goods, your sailors, captains, and shipwrights, your merchants and all the warriors within you, with all the other people on board, will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your downfall.²⁸ The countryside will shake when your sailors cry out.²⁹ All who handle the oars will abandon their ships. The sailors and all the captains of the sea will stand on the shore.³⁰ They will raise their voices for you and cry out bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes.³¹ They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.³² As they wail and mourn over you, they will take up a lament for you: Who was ever like Tyre, silenced in the middle of the sea?³³ When your merchandise went out to sea, you satisfied many nations. You enriched the kings of the earth with your abundant wealth and goods.³⁴ Now you are shattered by the seas in the depths of the waters; your goods and the people among you have gone down with you.³⁵ All the people of the coastlands are appalled over you. Their kings shudder with fear; their faces are contorted.³⁶ Those who trade among the nations hiss at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’”