Thus says the Lord:/ Woe to Assyria!

In the days of Ahaz, king of Judah, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, Rezin, king of Aram, and Pekah, king of Israel, son of Remaliah, went up to attack Jerusalem, but they were not able to conquer it.

Hear the word of the Lord,/ princes of Sodom!/ Listen to the instruction of our God,/ people of Gomorrah!/ What care I for the number of your sacrifices?/ says the Lord./ I have had enough of whole-burnt rams/ and fat of fatlings;/ In the blood of calves, lambs and goats/ I find no pleasure.

Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.

Thus says the Lord:/ Just as from the heavens/ the rain and snow come down/ and do not return there/ till they have watered the earth,/ making it fertile and fruitful,/ giving seed to the one who sows/ and bread to the one who eats,/ so shall my word be/ that goes forth from my mouth;/ my word shall not return to me void,/ but shall do my will,/ achieving the end for which I sent it.

In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple.

Thus says the Lord:/ Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God;/ you have collapsed through your guilt./ Take with you words,/ and return to the Lord;/ Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity,/ and receive what is good, that we may render/ as offerings the bullocks from our stalls./ Assyria will not save us,/ nor shall we have horses to mount;/ We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’/ to the work of our hands;/ for in you the orphan finds compassion.”/ I will heal their defection, says the Lord,/ I will love them freely;/ for my wrath is turned away from them./ I will be like the dew for Israel:/ he shall blossom like the lily;/ He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,/ and put forth his shoots./ His splendor shall be like the olive tree/ and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar./ Again they shall dwell in his shade/ and raise grain;/ They shall blossom like the vine,/ and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Thus says the Lord:/ When Israel was a child I loved him,/ out of Egypt I called my son./ The more I called them,/ the farther they went from me,/ Sacrificing to the Baals/ and burning incense to idols./ Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,/ who took them in my arms;/ I drew them with human cords,/ with bands of love;/ I fostered them like one/ who raises an infant to his cheeks;/ Yet, though I stooped to feed my child,/ they did not know that I was their healer.

Israel is a luxuriant vine/ whose fruit matches its growth./ The more abundant his fruit,/ the more altars he built;/ The more productive his land,/ the more sacred pillars he set up./ Their heart is false,/ now they pay for their guilt;/ God shall break down their altars/ and destroy their sacred pillars./ If they would say,/ “We have no king”—/ Since they do not fear the Lord,/ what can the king do for them?

Thus says the Lord:/ They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority;/ they established princes, but without my approval./ With their silver and gold they made/ idols for themselves, to their own destruction./ Cast away your calf, O Samaria!/ my wrath is kindled against them;/ How long will they be unable to attain/ innocence in Israel?/ The work of an artisan,/ no god at all,/ Destined for the flames—/ such is the calf of Samaria!