1 I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said:‘Strike the tops of the pillarsso that the thresholds shake.Bring them down on the heads of all the people;those who are left I will kill with the sword.Not one will get away,none will escape.
2 Though they dig down to the depths below,from there my hand will take them.Though they climb up to the heavens above,from there I will bring them down.
3 Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel,there I will hunt them down and seize them.Though they hide from my eyes at the bottom of the sea,there I will command the serpent to bite them.
4 Though they are driven into exile by their enemies,there I will command the sword to slay them.‘I will keep my eye on themfor harm and not for good.’
5 The Lord, the Lord Almighty –he touches the earth and it melts,and all who live in it mourn;the whole land rises like the Nile,then sinks like the river of Egypt;
6 he builds his lofty palace in the heavensand sets its foundation on the earth;he calls for the waters of the seaand pours them out over the face of the land –the Lord is his name.
7 ‘Are not you Israelitesthe same to me as the Cushites?’declares the Lord.‘Did I not bring Israel up from Egypt,the Philistines from Caphtorand the Arameans from Kir?