A Dirge [for the House of Ephraim]
Howbeit that signs and wonders never cease?
My Lord; my God...
Surely you have sent me to this people!
Place your Word upon me as a crown, and your testimony as a signet ring on my finger!
I have an ax to grind, and I will not be silent until this agony has left my darkened heart!
A root of bitterness springs up in Edom, and the pride of Judah is gathered there as a pleated garment.
Ephraim's wretchedness has become [to me] like a loathsome sore, and their eyes are [swollen] shut; matted with the blindness of folly!
The night of Pentecost is far spent, and the sound of Tabernacle's thunders in the distance [as the great feast approaches].
Jerusalem's rulers cringe in fear; their lust for power, and greed has built their strongholds from iron and stone.
Er [the city of Perez] crumbles, where the quick work is the reward of the hireling!
There Judah and Jerusalem watch; till Joseph's Shiloh comes!
You throw me in the pit of insolence, and ignore me [which is a shame far worse than death]!
They are not even afraid of the consequences [for their sinful actions], nor have they learned from the lessons of God's past judgments on Israel!
It is as if they have forgotten the plight of their forefathers, and have displaced the memory of their idolatry.
Forgetting that they are but mortals; they count on their lineage as their sword and shield, and their human ancestry as weapons of war!
Deceit gnaws at Judah's bones, because their own brothers know not who they are, nor do they have any idea about the birthright!
A rightful heir without a clue! Yet, this blindness is only for a season, and will soon depart.
Their ignorance is painful, and their stupidity is beyond comprehension!
Who would have believed such a thing, O Lord? Has such a thing ever been?
Now I do know why they rage, and imagine vanity [gathering against me]!
There they are; watching from the tower of confusion [Babel], for a prince that will never come - alas; they trusted in chariots, and horses!
Prophecy grinds away at their souls; as a perpetual millstone, that is hung around their necks forever!
You greet me with a holy kiss, but in doing so, you bring the armed mob right to my door [with swords and staves in hand].
Surely the lion and lamb will lie down together, or did the lamb trip on a stone [the rock of offense], and fall into the lion's mouth?
Then the holy place grows dark, because the candlesticks flicker out [from lack of oil]...
