Yes.--The prophets.--Where are the priests?
To the temple! Nothing must be done without God's word! Let the men of God decide.
Yes, where are our shepherds? In them is the truth.--Hananiah--Pashur-- where are they? Open the temple.--Open the gates.--Hananiah.--Pashur.
[Some of the crowd race up the steps and knock upon the brazen gates. The gates open and HANANIAH appears. He is received with fierce acclamations]
Hananiah, messenger of God, the people thirst for your speech. Let your words pour forth to kindle our hearts, to make fruitful our wrath, and to direct our aim. The fate of Jerusalem is in your hands.
Pour forth God's word over us.--Reveal the promise.--Say, shall we fight?--Let us know God's will.--Teach the people, messenger of the Lord, teach the king.--Give utterance to the promise.--Look upon our weakness.--Awaken our courage.
[Standing before the threshold of the temple, speaks with strong emotion] Blessed your questions, blessed your voices, blessed are you, people of Jerusalem, who at length hearken to the cry. For sleep had fallen upon you, Jerusalem; you had been passive in the chains of slavery. The nations have been marching over you as over a drunken man; they have been spitting upon your garments; they have mocked your nakedness. But a call has summoned the sleepers; a message has roused the dreamers; and I will testify to you, now that God has awakened you.
[Breaking into fanatical cries] Listen to him!--We are awakened!--It is true that we have been sleeping.--Tell us, master, is it time?--Say, has the hour struck?
How long will you refrain from deeds, now that God hath awakened you? How long will you remain passive, now that the Lord hath summoned you? God is athirst, for his pitchers are empty; God is anhungered, for his altars are broken; God is cold, for the hangings of the temple have been stolen; God suffers, for the priests of Baal and the servants of Ashtaroth heap scorn upon him! Cast off the yoke, break your chains, raise hosannas, unsheathe your swords. God has awakened you; fight for the Lord!
Let hosannas sound! Up, Israel; up Jerusalem, and break the yoke!
Let us break the yoke.--Down with Ashur.--To arms against Nebuchadnezzar.--Unfurl the flag.--Tell us, is it time to start?--War against Ashur.--Say, shall the victory be ours?