Isaiah 23

Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.

Be silent, you people of the island
    and you merchants of Sidon,
    whom the seafarers have enriched.

And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.

On the great waters
    came the grain of the Shihor;
the harvest of the Nile^[a] was the revenue of Tyre,
    and she became the market-place of the nations.

Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.

Be ashamed, Sidon, and you fortress of the sea,
    for the sea has spoken:
‘I have neither been in labour nor given birth;
    I have neither reared sons nor brought up daughters.’

As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

When word comes to Egypt,
    they will be in anguish at the report from Tyre.

Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.

Cross over to Tarshish;
    wail, you people of the island.

Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.

Is this your city of revelry,
    the old, old city,
whose feet have taken her
    to settle in far-off lands?

Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?

Who planned this against Tyre,
    the bestower of crowns,
whose merchants are princes,
    whose traders are renowned in the earth?

The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

The Lord Almighty planned it,
    to bring down her pride in all her splendour
    and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.

Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.

Till^[b] your land as they do along the Nile,
    Daughter Tarshish,
    for you no longer have a harbour.

He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the Lord hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.

The Lord has stretched out his hand over the sea
    and made its kingdoms tremble.
He has given an order concerning Phoenicia
    that her fortresses be destroyed.

And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.

He said, ‘No more of your revelling,
    Virgin Daughter Sidon, now crushed!

Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.

Look at the land of the Babylonians,^[c]
    this people that is now of no account!
The Assyrians have made it
    a place for desert creatures;
they raised up their siege towers,
    they stripped its fortresses bare
    and turned it into a ruin.

Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.

Wail, you ships of Tarshish;
    your fortress is destroyed!

Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.

‘Take up a harp, walk through the city,
    you forgotten prostitute;
play the harp well, sing many a song,
    so that you will be remembered.’