A reading from the Book of Isaiah.

The oracle concerning Tyre.

Whale, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste without house or harbor.

From the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them.

Be still, O inhabitants of the coast, the merchants of Sidon who cross the sea have filled

you. And on many waters your revenue was the grain of Shihur, the harvest of the Nile. You were the

merchant of the nations. Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying,

I have neither labored nor given birth. I have neither reared young men nor brought up young women.

When the report comes to Egypt, they will be an anguish over the report about Tyre.

Cross over to Tarshish, wail, O inhabitants of the coast.

Is this your exultant city, whose origin is from days of old, whose feet carried her to settle

far away?

Who has purposed this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants were princes,

whose traders were the honored of the earth? The Lord of hosts has purposed it to defile the

pompous pride of all glory, to dishonor all the honored of the earth. Cross over your land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish.

There is no restraint anymore. He has stretched out his hand over the sea. He has shaken the kingdoms.

The Lord has given command concerning Canaan to destroy its strongholds, and he said,

You will no more exult, O oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon.

Arise, cross over to Cyprus, even there you will have no rest.

Behold, the land of the Chaldeans,

this is the people that was not.

Assyria destined it for wild beasts.

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