nd terrors to
fall upon her suddenly. She that hath borne seven languisheth; she hath
given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day; she hath
been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to
the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.

THE PROPHET

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man
of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent on usury, neither have
men lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.

THE LORD (to the Prophet)

Verily I will strengthen thee for good; verily I will cause the enemy to
make supplication unto thee in the time of evil and in the time of
affliction.

THE LORD (to the People)

Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass? Thy substance
and thy treasures will I give for a spoil without price, and that for
all thy sins, even in all thy borders. And I will make thee to serve
thine enemies in a land which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in
mine anger, which shall burn upon you.

REPENTENT ISRAEL

O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my
persecutors: take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy
sake I have suffered reproach. Thy words were found, and I did eat them;
and thy words were unto me a joy and the rejoicing of mine heart: for I
am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. I sat not in the assembly of
them that make merry, nor rejoiced: I sat alone because of thy hand; for
thou hast filled me with indignation. Why is my pain perpetual, and my
wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou indeed be unto
me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail?

THE LORD

Therefore thus saith the LORD: If thou return, then will I bring thee
again, that thou mayest stand before me; and if thou take forth the
precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: they shall return
unto thee, but thou shalt not return unto them.

EPILOGUE (to the Prophet)

And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall; and they
shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I
am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD. And I
will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee
out of the hand of the terrible.

HABAKKUK'S RHAPSODY OF THE CHALDEANS

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The Mystery

THE PROPHET

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto
thee of violence, a