Years later the king of Egypt died, but the Israelites were still groaning under their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry went up to God,

Now get back to work! You will not be given any straw, but you must still make the same number of bricks."

The foremen realized that they were in trouble when they were told that they had to make the same number of bricks every day as they had made before.

So they got rid of their foreign gods and worshiped the LORD; and he became troubled over Israel's distress.

There the people and the leaders of the Israelite tribes asked one another, "Who will lead the fight against the Ammonites? Whoever does will be the leader of everyone in Gilead."

The Philistines captured him and put his eyes out. They took him to Gaza, chained him with bronze chains, and put him to work grinding at the mill in the prison.

and shouted, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He pushed with all his might, and the building fell down on the five kings and everyone else. Samson killed more people at his death than he had killed during his life.

What the land produces goes to the kings that you put over us because we sinned. They do as they please with us and our livestock, and we are in deep distress!"

A double disaster has fallen on you: your land has been devastated by war, and your people have starved. There is no one to show you sympathy.

At the corner of every street your people collapse from weakness; they are like deer caught in a hunter's net. They have felt the force of God's anger.

I will give it to those who oppressed you, to those who made you lie down in the streets and trampled on you as if you were dirt."

And now in Babylonia the same thing has happened: you are captives, and nothing was paid for you. Those who rule over you boast and brag and constantly show contempt for me.

Driven hard like donkeys or camels, we are tired, but are allowed no rest.

To get food enough to stay alive, we went begging to Egypt and Assyria.

He spent everything he had. Then a severe famine spread over that country, and he was left without a thing.

He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat.

You make my enemies run from me; I destroy those who hate me.

They cry for help, but no one saves them; they call to the LORD, but he does not answer.

Do not stay away from me! Trouble is near, and there is no one to help.

When I look beside me, I see that there is no one to help me, no one to protect me. No one cares for me.

The king of Israel was walking by on the city wall when a woman cried out, "Help me, Your Majesty!"

He replied, "If the LORD won't help you, what help can I provide? Do I have any wheat or wine?

He had hardly finished saying this, when the king arrived and said, "It's the LORD who has brought this trouble on us! Why should I wait any longer for him to do something?"

God's anger is constant. He crushed his enemies who helped Rahab, the sea monster, oppose him.

I was amazed when I looked and saw that there was no one to help me. But my anger made me strong, and I won the victory myself.