Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.

They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.