Isaiah 14:7-20 (Vespers, 3rd reading)
- 7
- The whole earth is at rest and quiet; They break forth into singing.
- 8
- Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you, And the cedars of Lebanon, Saying, ‘Since you were cut down, No woodsman has come up against us.’
- 9
- “Hell from beneath is excited about you, To meet you at your coming; It stirs up the dead for you, All the chief ones of the earth; It has raised up from their thrones All the kings of the nations.
- 10
- They all shall speak and say to you: ‘Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us?
- 11
- Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you.’
- 12
- “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
- 13
- For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;
- 14
- I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
- 15
- Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.
- 16
- “Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms,
- 17
- Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’
- 18
- “All the kings of the nations, All of them, sleep in glory, Everyone in his own house;
- 19
- But you are cast out of your grave Like an abominable branch, Like the garment of those who are slain, Thrust through with a sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit, Like a corpse trodden underfoot.
- 20
- You will not be joined with them in burial, Because you have destroyed your land And slain your people. The brood of evildoers shall never be named.