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| LO! I recall the siege which fell on me: | |
| Within this month He struck me; He destroyed | |
| With three blows;—cut me down and left me void;— | |
| Now He hath made me weary utterly. | |
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| He silenced on the eighth day all my throng; | 5 |
| (Have I not for three things a fast proclaimed?) | |
| The King bade; write the law in Greek; they maimed, | |
| They ploughed on me; they made their furrows long. | |
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| Upon the ninth day—wrath, disgrace, and shame! | |
| Stripped off was my fair robe in honor worn; | 10 |
| For he who gave sweet words was surely torn: | |
| Ezra the scribe—yea, he of blessed name. | |
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| The tenth day; then the seer was bidden: “Yea | |
| Write thee within the book of vision; write | |
| This for remembrance; now shalt thou indite | 15 |
| For them despised and crushed this self-same day.” | |
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| Counting the months, within the tenth the woe | |
| And wail he wakened; but the sorrow’s smart— | |
| Its onward way was branded on my heart | |
| When one came saying: “The city is struck low.” | 20 |
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| For these things I have scattered o’er me dust; | |
| O that a shaft had pierced mine heart that day! | |
| For such woe I would dig my grave;—but nay, | |
| I wrought rebelliously: the Lord is just. | |
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| I call Thee, Thou Who hast repentance nigh | 25 |
| For mine affliction; lo! my praying heed; | |
| Hear my beseeching; my salvation speed; | |
| Hide Thee not at my sighing, at my cry. | |
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| O moon of Tebeth! exceeding is my sum | |
| Of pain therein, when His face changed for me. | 30 |
| Yet, though I sinned, His goodness I shall see, | |
| Who saith: “Ye waves, but so far shall ye come.” | |
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