Isaiah 17:4–11

JUDGMENT AGAINST ISRAEL

⁴On that day

the splendor of Jacob will fade,

and his healthy body^C will become emaciated.^j

⁵It will be as if a reaper had gathered standing grain—

his arm harvesting the heads of grain—

and as if one had gleaned heads of grain

in Rephaim Valley.^k

⁶Only gleanings will be left in Israel,^l

as if an olive tree had been beaten—

two or three olives at the very top of the tree,

four or five on its fruitful branches.

This is the declaration of the Lord,

the God of Israel.

⁷On that day people will look to their Maker and will turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.^{m 8}They will not look to the altarsⁿ they made with their hands or to the Asherahs and shrines^Ao they made with their fingers.

⁹On that day their strong cities will be

like the abandoned woods and mountaintops

that were abandoned because of the Israelites;

there will be desolation.

¹⁰For you have forgotten the God of your salvation,

and you have failed to remember

the rock of your strength;^p

therefore you will plant beautiful plants

and set out cuttings from exotic vines.

¹¹On the day that you plant,

you will help them to grow,

and in the morning

you will help your seed to sprout,

but the harvest will vanish

on the day of disease and incurable pain.