Daily Bread

“‘By the strength of my hand^(Z) I have done this,^(AA)
    and by my wisdom, because I have understanding.
I removed the boundaries of nations,
    I plundered their treasures;^(AB)
    like a mighty one I subdued^[a] their kings.^(AC)
14 As one reaches into a nest,^(AD)
    so my hand reached for the wealth^(AE) of the nations;
as people gather abandoned eggs,
    so I gathered all the countries;^(AF)
not one flapped a wing,
    or opened its mouth to chirp.^(AG)’”

¹⁵ Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it,
    or the saw boast against the one who uses it?^(AH)
As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up,
    or a club^(AI) brandish the one who is not wood!
¹⁶ Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    will send a wasting disease^(AJ) upon his sturdy warriors;^(AK)
under his pomp^(AL) a fire^(AM) will be kindled
    like a blazing flame.
¹⁷ The Light of Israel will become a fire,^(AN)
    their Holy One^(AO) a flame;
in a single day it will burn and consume
    his thorns^(AP) and his briers.^(AQ)
18 The splendor of his forests^(AR) and fertile fields
    it will completely destroy,^(AS)
    as when a sick person wastes away.
¹⁹ And the remaining trees of his forests^(AT) will be so few^(AU)
    that a child could write them down.

“My people who live in Zion,^(BJ)
    do not be afraid^(BK) of the Assyrians,
who beat^(BL) you with a rod^(BM)
    and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did.
²⁵ Very soon^(BN) my anger against you will end
    and my wrath^(BO) will be directed to their destruction.^(BP)”

²⁶ The Lord Almighty will lash^(BQ) them with a whip,
    as when he struck down Midian^(BR) at the rock of Oreb;
and he will raise his staff^(BS) over the waters,^(BT)
    as he did in Egypt.
²⁷ In that day^(BU) their burden^(BV) will be lifted from your shoulders,
    their yoke^(BW) from your neck;^(BX)
the yoke^(BY) will be broken
    because you have grown so fat.^[c]

²⁸ They enter Aiath;
    they pass through Migron;^(BZ)
    they store supplies^(CA) at Mikmash.^(CB)
29 They go over the pass, and say,
    “We will camp overnight at Geba.^(CC)”
Ramah^(CD) trembles;
    Gibeah^(CE) of Saul flees.^(CF)
30 Cry out, Daughter Gallim!^(CG)
    Listen, Laishah!
    Poor Anathoth!^(CH)
31 Madmenah is in flight;
    the people of Gebim take cover.
³² This day they will halt at Nob;^(CI)
    they will shake their fist^(CJ)
at the mount of Daughter Zion,^(CK)
    at the hill of Jerusalem.

³³ See, the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    will lop off^(CL) the boughs with great power.
The lofty trees will be felled,^(CM)
    the tall^(CN) ones will be brought low.^(CO)
34 He will cut down^(CP) the forest thickets with an ax;
    Lebanon^(CQ) will fall before the Mighty One.^(CR)