Daily Bread

⁵ My sword^(P) has drunk its fill in the heavens;
    see, it descends in judgment on Edom,^(Q)
    the people I have totally destroyed.^(R)
6 The sword^(S) of the Lord is bathed in blood,
    it is covered with fat—
the blood of lambs and goats,
    fat from the kidneys of rams.
For the Lord has a sacrifice^(T) in Bozrah^(U)
    and a great slaughter^(V) in the land of Edom.
⁷ And the wild oxen^(W) will fall with them,
    the bull calves and the great bulls.^(X)
Their land will be drenched with blood,^(Y)
    and the dust will be soaked with fat.

⁸ For the Lord has a day^(Z) of vengeance,^(AA)
    a year of retribution,^(AB) to uphold Zion’s cause.
⁹ Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch,
    her dust into burning sulfur;^(AC)
    her land will become blazing pitch!
¹⁰ It will not be quenched^(AD) night or day;
    its smoke will rise forever.^(AE)
From generation to generation^(AF) it will lie desolate;^(AG)
    no one will ever pass through it again.
¹¹ The desert owl^[b](AH) and screech owl^[c] will possess it;
    the great owl^[d] and the raven^(AI) will nest there.
God will stretch out over Edom^(AJ)
    the measuring line of chaos^(AK)
    and the plumb line^(AL) of desolation.
¹² Her nobles will have nothing there to be called a kingdom,
    all her princes^(AM) will vanish^(AN) away.
¹³ Thorns^(AO) will overrun her citadels,
    nettles and brambles her strongholds.^(AP)
She will become a haunt for jackals,^(AQ)
    a home for owls.^(AR)
14 Desert creatures^(AS) will meet with hyenas,^(AT)
    and wild goats will bleat to each other;
there the night creatures^(AU) will also lie down
    and find for themselves places of rest.
¹⁵ The owl will nest there and lay eggs,
    she will hatch them, and care for her young
    under the shadow of her wings;^(AV)
there also the falcons^(AW) will gather,
    each with its mate.

None of these will be missing,^(AY)
    not one will lack her mate.
For it is his mouth^(AZ) that has given the order,^(BA)
    and his Spirit will gather them together.
¹⁷ He allots their portions;^(BB)
    his hand distributes them by measure.
They will possess it forever
    and dwell there from generation to generation.^(BC)

³ Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees^(BM) that give way;
⁴ say^(BN) to those with fearful hearts,^(BO)
    “Be strong, do not fear;^(BP)
your God will come,^(BQ)
    he will come with vengeance;^(BR)
with divine retribution
    he will come to save^(BS) you.”

⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened^(BT)
    and the ears of the deaf^(BU) unstopped.
⁶ Then will the lame^(BV) leap like a deer,^(BW)
    and the mute tongue^(BX) shout for joy.^(BY)
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams^(BZ) in the desert.
⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground^(CA) bubbling springs.^(CB)
In the haunts where jackals^(CC) once lay,
    grass and reeds^(CD) and papyrus will grow.

⁸ And a highway^(CE) will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;^(CF)
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean^(CG) will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.
⁹ No lion^(CH) will be there,
    nor any ravenous beast;^(CI)
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed^(CJ) will walk there,
¹⁰     and those the Lord has rescued^(CK) will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;^(CL)
    everlasting joy^(CM) will crown their heads.
Gladness^(CN) and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.^(CO)