who say to a tree, “You are my father,” and to a stone, “You gave me birth.” For they have turned their backs to me and not their faces. But in the time of their trouble they say, “Come and save us!”

But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them come, if they can save you, in your time of trouble, for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.

Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they make offerings, but they will never save them in the time of their trouble.

As for you, do not pray for this people or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble.

O hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside for the night?

The Lord said: Surely I have intervened in your life for good; surely I have brought enemies upon you in a time of trouble and in a time of distress.

O Lord, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: “Our ancestors have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.

Judgment on Damascus

Concerning Damascus. Hamath and Arpad are confounded, for they have heard bad news; they melt in fear; they are troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet.

and I will send winnowers to Babylon, and they shall winnow her. They shall empty her land when they come against her from every side on the day of trouble.