A Lament Over Tyre

27 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, take up a lamentv concerning Tyre. 3 Say to Tyre,w situated at the gateway to the sea,x merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“ ‘You say, Tyre,

“I am perfect in beauty.y”

4 Your domain was on the high seas;

your builders brought your beauty to perfection.z

5 They made all your timbers

of juniper from Senira;a

they took a cedar from Lebanonb

to make a mast for you.

6 Of oaksc from Bashan

they made your oars;

of cypress woodb from the coasts of Cyprusd

they made your deck, adorned with ivory.

7 Fine embroidered linene from Egypt was your sail

and served as your banner;

your awnings were of blue and purplef

from the coasts of Elishah.g

8 Men of Sidon and Arvadh were your oarsmen;

your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your sailors.i

9 Veteran craftsmen of Byblosj were on board

as shipwrights to caulk your seams.

All the ships of the seak and their sailors

came alongside to trade for your wares.

10 “ ‘Men of Persia,l Lydiam and Putn

served as soldiers in your army.

They hung their shieldso and helmets on your walls,

bringing you splendor.

11 Men of Arvad and Helek

guarded your walls on every side;

men of Gammad

were in your towers.

They hung their shields around your walls;

they brought your beauty to perfection.p

12 “ ‘Tarshishq did business with you because of your great wealth of goods;r they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

13 “ ‘Greece,s Tubal and Meshekt did business with you; they traded human beingsu and articles of bronze for your wares.

14 “ ‘Men of Beth Togarmahv exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.

15 “ ‘The men of Rhodesc w traded with you, and many coastlandsx were your customers; they paid you with ivoryy tusks and ebony.

16 “ ‘Aramd z did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise,a purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen,b coralc and rubies for your merchandise.

17 “ ‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheatd from Minnithe and confections,e honey, olive oil and balmf for your wares.g

18 “ ‘Damascush did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods.i They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar 19 and casks of wine from Izalj in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassiak and calamus.

20 “ ‘Dedanl traded in saddle blankets with you.

21 “ ‘Arabiam and all the princes of Kedarn were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

22 “ ‘The merchants of Shebao and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spicesp and precious stones, and gold.q

23 “ ‘Harran,r Kanneh and Edens and merchants of Sheba, Ashurt and Kilmad traded with you. 24 In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.

25 “ ‘The ships of Tarshishu serve

as carriers for your wares.

You are filled with heavy cargo

as you sail the sea.v

26 Your oarsmen take you

out to the high seas.

But the east windw will break you to pieces

far out at sea.

27 Your wealth,x merchandise and wares,

your mariners, sailors and shipwrights,

your merchants and all your soldiers,

and everyone else on board

will sink into the heart of the seay

on the day of your shipwreck.

28 The shorelands will quakez

when your sailors cry out.

29 All who handle the oars

will abandon their ships;

the mariners and all the sailors

will stand on the shore.

30 They will raise their voice

and cry bitterly over you;

they will sprinkle dusta on their heads

and rollb in ashes.c

31 They will shave their headsd because of you

and will put on sackcloth.

They will weepe over you with anguish of soul

and with bitter mourning.f

32 As they wail and mourn over you,

they will take up a lamentg concerning you:

“Who was ever silenced like Tyre,

surrounded by the sea?h”

33 When your merchandise went out on the seas,i

you satisfied many nations;

with your great wealthj and your wares

you enriched the kings of the earth.

34 Now you are shattered by the sea

in the depths of the waters;

your wares and all your company

have gone down with you.k

35 All who live in the coastlandsl

are appalledm at you;

their kings shudder with horror

and their faces are distorted with fear.n

36 The merchants among the nations scoff at you;o

you have come to a horrible end

and will be no more.p’ ”