JOAD.
He
who calms the fury of the waves
Knows
also how to arrest the plots of the wicked.
Submitting
with respect to his holy will,
I
fear God, dear Abner, and have no other fear.
However,
I give thanks to the officious zeal
With
which you open my eyes to all perils.
I
see you still have the heart of an Israelite,
And
that the injustice it knows of irritates you.
Heaven
be blessed in this. But this secret rage,
This
idle virtue—do you content yourself with it?
Is
the faith that does not act a sincere faith?
For
the past eight years an impious foreigner
Has
usurped all the rights of the sceptre of David,
Bathed
herself with impunity in the blood of our kings
—In
the detestable homicide of her son's children—
And
even raised her perfidious arm against God.
And
you, one of the supports of this trembling State,
You,
nourished in the camps of the holy king Josaphat—
Who,
through his son Joram, commanded our armies,
And
who alone reassured our alarmed towns—
Seeing
Okosias' unforeseen death at Jehu's hand
And
all the camp fleeing from his aspect:
“I
fear God,” you said, “his truth touches me.”
See
how God responds to you through my mouth:
“To
what purpose do you adorn youself with my law?
“Do
you think to honour me by sterile vows?
“What
fruit will all your sacrifices bring me?
“Have
I need of the blood of goats and heifers?
“The
blood of your kings cries and is not heard.
“Break!
Break all pact with impiety! Exterminate
“The
crimes that pervade my people, and then
“Come
to immolate your victims before me.”
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