and will fall under the slain.
For all this his anger is not turned away,
but his hand is stretched out still.
5 Alas Assyrian, the rod of my anger, the staff in whose hand is
my indignation! 6 I will send him against a profane nation, and against
the people who anger me will I give him a charge to take the spoil and to
take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7 However he doesn’t mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is
in his heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations. 8 For he says,
“Aren’t all of my princes kings? 9 Isn’t Calno like Carchemish? Isn’t
Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t Samaria like Damascus?” 10 As my hand has found the
kingdoms of the idols, whose engraved images exceeded those of Jerusalem and
of Samaria; 11 shall I not, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, so do
to Jerusalem and her idols? 12 Therefore it will happen that, when the
Lord has performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will
punish the fruit of the willful proud heart of the king of Assyria, and the
insolence of his haughty looks. 13 For he has said, “By the strength of my hand I have done
it, and by my wisdom; for I have understanding: and I have removed the boundaries
of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures. Like a valiant man I
have brought down their rulers. 14 My hand has
found the riches of the peoples like a nest, and like one gathers eggs that are
abandoned, have I gathered all the earth. There was no one who moved their
wing, or that opened their mouth, or chirped.”
15 Should an axe brag
against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who
saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a
staff should lift up someone who is not wood. 16 Therefore the
Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory
a burning will be kindled like the burning of fire. 17 The light of
Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; and it will burn and
devour his thorns and his briers in one day. 18 He will consume the glory
of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body. It will be
as when a standard bearer faints. 19 The remnant of the trees of his
forest shall be few, so that a child could write their number.
20 It will come to
pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and those who have escaped from
the house of Jacob will no more again lean on him who struck them, but
shall lean on Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 A remnant will
return, even the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 22 For
though your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant
of them will return. A destruction is determined, overflowing with
righteousness. 23 For the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will make a full end,
and that determined, in the midst of all the earth. 24 Therefore the Lord,
Yahweh of Armies, says “My people who dwell in Zion, don’t be afraid
of the Assyrian, though he strike you with the rod, and lift up his staff
against you, as Egypt did. 25 For yet a very little while,
and the indignation against you will be accomplished, and my anger
will be directed to his destruction.” 26 Yahweh of Armies will stir
up
a scourge against him, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb.
His rod will be over the sea, and he will lift it up like he did against
Egypt. 27 It will happen in that day, that his burden will depart from
off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be
destroyed because of the anointing oil.
28 He has come to Aiath. He has passed
through Migron. At Michmash he stores his baggage. 29 They have gone over
the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of
Saul has fled. 30 Cry aloud with your voice, daughter of Gallim! Listen,
Laishah! You poor Anathoth! 31 Madmenah is a fugitive. The inhabitants of
Gebim flee for safety. 32 This very day he will halt at Nob. He shakes
his hand at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
33 Behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will lop the boughs with terror.
The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.
34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon
will fall by the Mighty One.
