my voice that says to Cyrus, I give thee a shepherd’s part to play; it is for thee to carry out my whole purpose. And to Jerusalem it says, Thou shalt be built up; and to the Temple, Thou shalt be founded again.
The Lord God is my helper; and that help cannot play me false; meet them I will, and with a face unmoved as flint; not mine to suffer the shame of defeat;
It is an old tale, now, how thou didst break in pieces the yoke of my dominion, didst sever all the bonds between us, crying out, I will serve no more! Thou wast off to play the wanton, the nearest hill-top or secret forest for thy bower.
It was in the days of king Josias the Lord said to me: Israel’s apostasy thou hast seen, how she ever betook herself to the nearest high hill or leafy wood, to play the wanton there;
She too had seen it all, how I had bidden apostate Israel begone, and given her a writ of separation; and now treacherous Juda, unabashed, went off in her turn to play the wanton.
all alike were to set free their slaves and handmaids that were of Hebrew blood; would they play the master to their own Jewish kinsfolk?
Chamos will play Moab false, as Bethel played Israel false, when Israel trusted in its sanctuary.
Deadly his bent bow, steady the play of his right hand assailing us; all that was fairest in poor Sion’s dwelling-place needs must perish, under the fiery rain of his vengeance.
Close at hand, now, I will rain down my vengeance upon you, give my anger full play, no crime unjudged, no weight of punishment unborne.
There are women, too, among this people of mine who would play the prophetess as their own whim bids them. Turn upon these, son of man, and tell them their doom:
Fatal beauty, fatal renown, which emboldened thee to play the harlot, lavish thy favours on every passer-by, and be his!
With those lusty neighbours of thine, the Egyptians, thou wouldst play the wanton; these should be my rivals!
This doom, then, the Lord God has for thee, man that wouldst play the god:
Clear as topaz his body was, like the play of lightning shone his face, and like burning cressets his eyes; arms and legs of him had the sheen of bronze, and when he spoke, it was like the murmur of a throng.
Nay, fears are not for thee, so well beloved; never harm befall thee! Take courage, and play a man’s part! With that, I found my strength again; Speak on, my Lord, said I; thou hast put new heart into me.
greed, that remained still unsated, wantonness, that could never have enough. Ah, faithless guardians, that you should play your Lord false!✻
on mountain and hill-side, grateful for leafy shade of oak, poplar or terebinth, they slay the victim, and burn incense. What wonder daughters should turn harlot, wives play the wanton?
Ephraim, that would still play shepherd to the wind, still hunt in the track of the storm, and nothing hoard up but treachery, nothing but his own ruin! See him making treaties with the Assyrian, sending tribute of oil to Egypt!
that bow of thine brought into full play, which grants to Israel the assurance of thy succour?✻ Earth is torn into ravines;
thronged they shall be, those streets, with boys and girls at play in the open.