RESTORATION OF ISRAEL’S MOUNTAINS

36 “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord.m 2 This is what the Lord God says: Because the enemy has said about you, “Aha!n The ancient heightso have become our possession,” ’ 3 therefore, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Because they have made you desolate and have trampled you from every side, so that you became a possession for the rest of the nations and an object of people’s gossip and slander,p 4 therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God. This is what the Lord God says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and abandoned cities, which have become plunderq and a mockery to the rest of the nations all around.

5 “ ‘This is what the Lord God says: Certainly in my burning zeal I speak against the rest of the nations and all of Edom,r who tookC my land as their own possession with wholehearted rejoicing and utter contempts so that its pastureland becameD plunder. 6 Therefore, prophesy concerning Israel’s land, and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: This is what the Lord God says: Look, I speak in my burning zealt because you have endured the insults of the nations. 7 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: I swearE that the nations all around you will endure their own insults.u

8 “ ‘You, mountains of Israel, will produce your branchesv and bear your fruit for my people Israel, since their arrival is near. 9 Look! I am on your side; I will turn toward you,w and you will be tilled and sown. 10 I will fill you with people, with the whole house of Israel in its entirety.a The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11 I will fill you with people and animals,b and they will increase and be fruitful. I will make you inhabited as you once were and make you better off than you were before. Then you will know that I am the Lord.c 12 I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk on you; they will possess you,d and you will be their inheritance. You will no longer deprive them of their children.

13 “ ‘This is what the Lord God says: Because some are saying to you, “You devour people and deprive your nation of children,”e 14 therefore, you will no longer devour people and deprive your nation of children.A This is the declaration of the Lord God. 15 I will no longer allow the insults of the nations to be heard against you, and you will not have to endure the reproach of the peoples anymore;f you will no longer cause your nation to stumble.B This is the declaration of the Lord God.’ ”