He heard the groans of the prisoners. He set free those who were sentenced to death.”

要垂听被囚之人的叹息，要释放将要死的人，

要垂听被囚之人的叹息，要释放将死的人，

要垂听被囚之人的叹息，要释放将死的人，

要垂听被囚之人的哀叹，释放被判死刑的人。

为要垂听被囚的人的叹息，解救定了死罪的人；

为要垂听被囚者的呻吟，释放那些注定要死的人；

要垂聽被囚之人的歎息，要釋放將要死的人，

要垂聽被囚之人的嘆息，要釋放將死的人，

要垂聽被囚之人的嘆息，要釋放將死的人，

要垂聽被囚之人的哀歎，釋放被判死刑的人。

為要垂聽被囚的人的歎息，解救定了死罪的人；

來聽被擄之人的唉哼，來釋放瀕於死亡的人；

為要垂聽被囚者的呻吟，釋放那些註定要死的人；

聽俘囚之欷歔、釋瀕死之人兮、

俘囚欷歔、彼其聞之、人將就戮、彼其拯之兮。

垂聽被囚者之歎息、解救將死之人、

主自九天上。監臨人間世。

to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.”

to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,

to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die.

to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to set free those condemned to die,

To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death,

To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To release those appointed to death,

To hear the sighing of the prisoner; To loose those that are appointed to death;

to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to set free those condemned to die,

To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners, and to set free those condemned to die,

to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;

Listen to the groans of the prisoners. Use your strong arm to save people sentenced to death.

He stands up for those who are treated badly. He gives food to hungry people. The Lord sets prisoners free.

The Spirit of the Lord and King is on me. The Lord has anointed me to announce good news to poor people. He has sent me to comfort those whose hearts have been broken. He has sent me to announce freedom for those who have been captured. He wants me to set prisoners free from their dark cells.He has sent me to announce the year when he will set his people free. He wants me to announce the day when he will pay his enemies back. Our God has sent me to comfort all those who are sad.He wants me to help those in Zion who are filled with sorrow. I will put beautiful crowns on their heads in place of ashes. I will anoint them with olive oil to give them joy instead of sorrow. I will give them a spirit of praise in place of a spirit of sadness. They will be like oak trees that are strong and straight. The Lord himself will plant them in the land. That will show how glorious he is.

The Lord said,“ I have seen how my people are suffering in Egypt. I have heard them cry out because of their slave drivers. I am concerned about their suffering.

Did he turn the world into a desert? Did he destroy its cities? Did he refuse to let his prisoners go home?’

Hazael, the king of Aram, treated Israel badly. He did it the whole time Jehoahaz was king.But the Lord helped Israel. He was tender and kind to them. He showed concern for them. He did all these things because of the covenant he had made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he hasn’t been willing to destroy Israel. And he hasn’t driven them out of his land.

You used to live as sinners when you followed the ways of this world. You served the one who rules over the spiritual forces of evil. He is the spirit who is now at work in those who don’t obey God.At one time we all lived among them. Our desires were controlled by sin. We tried to satisfy what they wanted us to do. We followed our desires and thoughts. God was angry with us like he was with everyone else. That’s because of the kind of people we all were.

“ City of Zion, be full of joy! People of Jerusalem, shout! See, your king comes to you. He always does what is right. He has won the victory. He is humble and riding on a donkey. He is sitting on a donkey’s colt.I will take the chariots away from Ephraim. I will remove the war horses from Jerusalem. I will break the bows that are used in battle. Your king will announce peace to the nations. He will rule from ocean to ocean. His kingdom will reach from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.I will set your prisoners free from where their enemies are keeping them. I will do it because of the blood that put into effect my covenant with you.Return to your place of safety, you prisoners who still have hope. Even now I announce that I will give you back much more than you had before.

So the Lord brought the army commanders of the king of Assyria against them. They took Manasseh as a prisoner. They put a hook in his nose. They put him in bronze chains. And they took him to Babylon.When Manasseh was in trouble, he asked the Lord his God to help him. He made himself very humble in the sight of the God of his people.Manasseh prayed to him. When he did, the Lord felt sorry for him. He answered his prayer. The Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

The places where people go across the Euphrates River have been captured. The swamps have been set on fire. And the soldiers are terrified.”The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,“ The city of Babylon is like a threshing floor when cattle are walking on it. The time to destroy it will soon come.”The people of Jerusalem say,“ Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, has destroyed us. He has thrown us into a panic. He has emptied us out like a jar. Like a snake he has swallowed us up. He has filled his stomach with our rich food. Then he has spit us out of his mouth.”The people continue,“ May the people of Babylon pay for the harmful things they have done to us. May those who live in Babylon pay for spilling the blood of our people.” That’s what the people who live in Zion say.

After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The people of Israel groaned because they were slaves. They also cried out to God. Their cry for help went up to him.God heard their groans. He remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.So God looked on the Israelites with concern for them.

Then Jehoahaz asked the Lord for help. The Lord listened to him. The Lord saw how badly the king of Aram was treating Israel.

It was the night before Herod was going to bring him to trial. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. Two chains held him there. Lookouts stood guard at the entrance.Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared. A light shone in the prison cell. The angel struck Peter on his side. Peter woke up.“ Quick!” the angel said.“ Get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s wrists.Then the angel said to him,“ Put on your clothes and sandals.” Peter did so.“ Put on your coat,” the angel told him.“ Follow me.”Peter followed him out of the prison. But he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he was seeing a vision.They passed the first and second guards. Then they came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself. They went through it. They walked the length of one street. Suddenly the angel left Peter.Then Peter realized what had happened. He said,“ Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel. He set me free from Herod’s power. He saved me from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

The groans of those who are dying are heard from the city. Those who are wounded cry out for help. But God doesn’t charge anyone with doing what is wrong.