The Sinking of Tyre

1The word of the Lord came to me: 2“Now, son of man, lament for Tyre.a 3Say to Tyre, who is situated at the entrance of the sea, merchant of the peoplesa to many coasts and islands, ‘This is what the Lord God says:

Tyre, you declared,

“I am perfect in beauty.”

4Your realm was in the heart of the sea;

your builders perfected your beauty.

5They constructed all your planking

with pine trees from Senir.a

They took a cedar from Lebanon

to make a mast for you.

6They made your oars of oaks from Bashan.

They made your deck of cypress wood

from the coasts of Cyprus,a

inlaid with ivory.

7Your sail was made of

fine embroidered linen from Egypt,

and served as your banner.

Your awning was of blue and purple fabric

from the coasts of Elishah.

8The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvada

were your rowers.

Your wise men were within you, Tyre;

they were your captains.

9The elders of Gebal and its wise mena

were within you, repairing your leaks.

“ ‘All the ships of the sea and their sailors

came to you to barter for your goods.

10Men of Persia, Lud, and Puta

were in your army, serving as your warriors.

They hung shields and helmets in you;

they gave you splendor.

11Men of Arvad and Helech

were stationed on your walls all around,

and Gammadites were in your towers.

They hung their shieldsA all around your walls;

they perfected your beauty.

12“ ‘Tarshisha was your trading partner because of your abundant wealth of every kind. They exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise. 13Javan, Tubal, and Meshecha were your merchants. They exchanged slavesA and bronze utensils for your goods. 14Those from Beth-togarmaha exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your merchandise. 15Men of Dedana a were also your merchants; many coasts and islands were your regular markets. They brought back ivory tusksb and ebony as your payment. 16AramA was your trading partner because of your numerous products. They exchanged turquoise,B purple and embroidered cloth, fine linen, coral,C and rubiesD for your merchandise. 17Judah and the land of Israel were your merchants. They exchanged wheat from Minnith,a meal,A honey, oil, and balm, for your goods. 18Damascus was also your trading partner because of your numerous products and your abundant wealth of every kind, trading in wine from Helbon and white wool.A 19VedanA and Javan from UzalB a dealt in your merchandise; wrought iron, cassia,b and aromatic cane were exchanged for your goods. 20Dedana was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding. 21Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your business partners, trading with you in lambs, rams, and goats. 22The merchants of Shebaa and Raamah traded with you. For your merchandise they exchanged the best of all spices and all kinds of precious stones as well as gold.b 23Haran, Canneh, Eden,a the merchants of Sheba, Asshur,b and Chilmad traded with you. 24They were your merchants in choice garments, cloaks of blue and embroidered materials, and multicolored carpets,A which were bound and secured with cords in your marketplace. 25Ships of Tarshisha were the carriers for your goods.

“ ‘So you became full and heavily loadedA

in the heart of the sea.

26Your rowers have brought you

onto the high seas,a

but the east wind has wrecked you

in the heart of the sea.

27Your wealth, merchandise, and goods,

your sailors and captains,

those who repair your leaks,

those who barter for your goods,

and all the warriors on board,

with all the other people within you,

sink into the heart of the sea

on the day of your downfall.

28“ ‘The countryside shakes

at the sound of your sailors’ cries.a

29All the oarsmen

disembark from their ships.

The sailors and all the captains of the sea

stand on the shore.

30Because of you, they raise their voices

and cry out bitterly.

They throw dust on their heads;a

they roll in ashes.

31They shave their heads because of you

and wrap themselves in sackcloth.

They weep over you

with deep anguish and bitter mourning.

32“ ‘In their wailing they lament for you,a

mourning over you:

“Who was like Tyre,

silencedA in the middle of the sea?

33When your merchandise was unloaded from the seas,

you satisfied many peoples.

You enriched the kings of the earth

with your abundant wealth and goods.

34Now you are wrecked by the sea

in the depths of the waters;

your goods and the people within you

have gone down.

35All the inhabitants of the coasts and islands

are appalleda at you.

Their kings shudder with fear;

their faces are contorted.

36Those who trade among the peoples

scoffa a at you;

you have become an object of horror

and will never exist again.” ’ ”b