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you will speak against the king of Babylon, and say, “How the one who made it hard for us has been stopped! How his anger has been stopped! The Lord has broken the walking stick of the sinful, the power of rulers, which used to beat the people in anger without stopping. The nations were ruled in anger. It was very hard for the people and there was no pity shown to them.

“Now the whole earth is at rest and quiet. They sing out with joy. Even the cypress trees and the cedars of Lebanon are glad over you, and say, ‘Since you were cut down no one comes to cut us down.’ The world of the dead below wants to meet you when you come. It wakes up the spirits of the dead for you, all the leaders of the earth. It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones. 10 All of them will speak and say to you, ‘Even you have become as weak as we. You have become like us. 11 Your honor and power along with the music of your harps have been brought down to the place of the dead. Worms are spread out as your bed under you and worms cover you.’

12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O shining one, son of the morning! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have made the nations weak! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will go up to heaven. I will raise my throne above the stars of God. And I will sit on the mount of meeting in the far north. 14 I will go much higher than the clouds. I will make myself like the Most High.’ 15 But you will be brought down to the place of the dead, to the bottom of the grave. 16 Those who see you will look hard at you and think about you, and say, ‘Is this the man who made the earth shake with fear, who shook nations?

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