4 that you ^awill take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say:
“How the oppressor has ceased,
The ^bgolden city ceased! ‡

5 The Lord has broken ^athe staff of the wicked,
The scepter of the rulers; ‡

7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
They break forth into singing.

8 ^aIndeed the cypress trees rejoice over you,
And the cedars of Lebanon,
Saying, ‘Since you¹ were cut down,
No woodsman has come up against us.’ ‡