THE LORD’S RULE FROM RESTORED ZION

4 In the last daysr

the mountain of the Lord’s houses

will be established

at the top of the mountains

and will be raised above the hills.

Peoples will stream to it,t

2 and many nations will come and say,u

“Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord,v

to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us about his waysw

so we may walk in his paths.”

For instruction will go out of Zionx

and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

3 He will settle disputes among many peoplesy

and provide arbitration for strong nations

that are far away.

They will beat their swords into plows

and their spears into pruning knives.

Nation will not take up the sword against nation,

and they will never again train for war.

4 But each person will sit under his grapevinez

and under his fig tree

with no one to frighten him.aa

For the mouth of the Lordab of Armies

has spoken.

5 Though all the peoples walk

in the name of their own gods,ac

we will walkad in the name of the Lord our God

forever and ever.ae

6 On that day—

this is the Lord’s declaration—

I will assemble the lame

and gather the scattered,af

those I have injured.

7 I will make the lame into a remnant,ag

those far removed into a strong nation.

Then the Lord will reign over themah in Mount Zion

from this time on and forever.

8 And you, watchtower for the flock,ai

fortified hillB of Daughter Zion,

the former ruleaj will come to you;

sovereignty will come to Daughter Jerusalem.

FROM EXILE TO VICTORY

9 Now, why are you shouting loudly?ak

Is there no king with you?

Has your counselor perishedal

so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?

10 Writhe and cry out,C,am Daughter Zion,

like a woman in labor,

for now you will leave the cityan

and camp in the open fields.

You will go to Babylon;

there you will be rescued;ao

there the Lord will redeem youa

from the grasp of your enemies!

11 Many nations have now assembled against you;b

they say, “Let her be defiled,

and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”

12 But they do not know the Lord’s intentionsc

or understand his plan,

that he has gathered them

like sheaves to the threshing floor.

13 Rise and thresh,d Daughter Zion,

for I will make your horns iron

and your hooves bronze

so you can crush many peoples.e

Then youA will set apart their plunderf

for the Lord,

their wealth for the Lord of the whole earth.

FROM DEFEATED RULER TO CONQUERING KING

5 Now, daughter who is under attack,

you slash yourself in grief;

a siege is set against us!

They are striking the judgeg of Israel

on the cheek with a rod.