Isaiah 14

1 The Lord will have compassion on Jacob;

once again he will choose Israel

and will settle them in their own land.

Foreigners will join them

and unite with the descendants of Jacob.

2 Nations will take them

and bring them to their own place.

And Israel will take possession of the nations

and make them male and female servants in the Lord’s land.

They will make captives of their captors

and rule over their oppressors.

3 On the day the Lord gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil and from the harsh labor forced on you, 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:

How the oppressor has come to an end!

How his fury has ended!

5 The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked,

the scepter of the rulers,

6 which in anger struck down peoples

with unceasing blows,

and in fury subdued nations

with relentless aggression.

7 All the lands are at rest and at peace;

they break into singing.

8 Even the junipers and the cedars of Lebanon

gloat over you and say,

“Now that you have been laid low,

no one comes to cut us down.”

9 The realm of the dead below is all astir

to meet you at your coming;

it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you—

all those who were leaders in the world;

it makes them rise from their thrones—

all those who were kings over the nations.

10 They will all respond,

they will say to you,

“You also have become weak, as we are;

you have become like us.”

11 All your pomp has been brought down to the grave,

along with the noise of your harps;

maggots are spread out beneath you

and worms cover you.

12 How you have fallen from heaven,

morning star, son of the dawn!

You have been cast down to the earth,

you who once laid low the nations!

13 You said in your heart,

“I will ascend to the heavens;

I will raise my throne

above the stars of God;

I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,

on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.

14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.”

15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,

to the depths of the pit.

16 Those who see you stare at you,

they ponder your fate:

“Is this the man who shook the earth

and made kingdoms tremble,

17 the man who made the world a wilderness,

who overthrew its cities

and would not let his captives go home?”

18 All the kings of the nations lie in state,

each in his own tomb.

19 But you are cast out of your tomb

like a rejected branch;

you are covered with the slain,

with those pierced by the sword,

those who descend to the stones of the pit.

Like a corpse trampled underfoot,

20 you will not join them in burial,

for you have destroyed your land

and killed your people.

Let the offspring of the wicked

never be mentioned again.

21 Prepare a place to slaughter his children

for the sins of their ancestors;

they are not to rise to inherit the land

and cover the earth with their cities.

22 “I will rise up against them,”

declares the Lord Almighty.

“I will wipe out Babylon’s name and survivors,

her offspring and descendants,”

declares the Lord.

23 “I will turn her into a place for owls

and into swampland;

I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,”

declares the Lord Almighty.

24 The Lord Almighty has sworn,

“Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,

and as I have purposed, so it will happen.

25 I will crush the Assyrian in my land;

on my mountains I will trample him down.

His yoke will be taken from my people,

and his burden removed from their shoulders.”

26 This is the plan determined for the whole world;

this is the hand stretched out over all nations.

27 For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him?

His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?

28 This prophecy came in the year King Ahaz died:

29 Do not rejoice, all you Philistines,

that the rod that struck you is broken;

from the root of that snake will spring up a viper,

its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent.

30 The poorest of the poor will find pasture,

and the needy will lie down in safety.

But your root I will destroy by famine;

it will slay your survivors.

31 Wail, you gate! Howl, you city!

Melt away, all you Philistines!

A cloud of smoke comes from the north,

and there is not a straggler in its ranks.

32 What answer shall be given

to the envoys of that nation?

“The Lord has established Zion,

and in her his afflicted people will find refuge.”

1 For the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2 And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the Lord’s land as male and female slaves. They will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them.

3 When the Lord has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:

“How the oppressor has ceased,

the insolent fury ceased!

5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked,

the scepter of rulers,

6 that struck the peoples in wrath

with unceasing blows,

that ruled the nations in anger

with unrelenting persecution.

7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet;

they break forth into singing.

8 The cypresses rejoice at you,

the cedars of Lebanon, saying,

‘Since you were laid low,

no woodcutter comes up against us.’

9 Sheol beneath is stirred up

to meet you when you come;

it rouses the shades to greet you,

all who were leaders of the earth;

it raises from their thrones

all who were kings of the nations.

10 All of them will answer

and say to you:

‘You too have become as weak as we!

You have become like us!’

11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,

the sound of your harps;

maggots are laid as a bed beneath you,

and worms are your covers.

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,

O Day Star, son of Dawn!

How you are cut down to the ground,

you who laid the nations low!

13 You said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God

I will set my throne on high;

I will sit on the mount of assembly

in the far reaches of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.’

15 But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the far reaches of the pit.

16 Those who see you will stare at you

and ponder over you:

‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,

who shook kingdoms,

17 who made the world like a desert

and overthrew its cities,

who did not let his prisoners go home?’

18 All the kings of the nations lie in glory,

each in his own tomb;

19 but you are cast out, away from your grave,

like a loathed branch,

clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword,

who go down to the stones of the pit,

like a dead body trampled underfoot.

20 You will not be joined with them in burial,

because you have destroyed your land,

you have slain your people.

“May the offspring of evildoers

nevermore be named!

21 Prepare slaughter for his sons

because of the guilt of their fathers,

lest they rise and possess the earth,

and fill the face of the world with cities.”

22 “I will rise up against them,” declares the Lord of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, descendants and posterity,” declares the Lord. 23 “And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” declares the Lord of hosts.

24 The Lord of hosts has sworn:

“As I have planned,

so shall it be,

and as I have purposed,

so shall it stand,

25 that I will break the Assyrian in my land,

and on my mountains trample him underfoot;

and his yoke shall depart from them,

and his burden from their shoulder.”

26 This is the purpose that is purposed

concerning the whole earth,

and this is the hand that is stretched out

over all the nations.

27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed,

and who will annul it?

His hand is stretched out,

and who will turn it back?

28 In the year that King Ahaz died came this oracle:

29 Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of you,

that the rod that struck you is broken,

for from the serpent’s root will come forth an adder,

and its fruit will be a flying fiery serpent.

30 And the firstborn of the poor will graze,

and the needy lie down in safety;

but I will kill your root with famine,

and your remnant it will slay.

31 Wail, O gate; cry out, O city;

melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you!

For smoke comes out of the north,

and there is no straggler in his ranks.

32 What will one answer the messengers of the nation?

“The Lord has founded Zion,

and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge.”

1 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob,

And will yet choose Israel,

And set them in their own land:

And the strangers shall be joined with them,

And they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.

2 And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place:

And the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord

For servants and handmaids:

And they shall take them captives, whose captives they were;

And they shall rule over their oppressors.

3 And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, 4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say,

How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

5 The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.

6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke,

He that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.

7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.

8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying,

Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.

9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming:

It stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth;

It hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

10 All they shall speak and say unto thee,

Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?

11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols:

The worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!

How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven,

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying,

Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof;

That opened not the house of his prisoners?

18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them,

Lie in glory, every one in his own house.

19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch,

And as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword,

That go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.

20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial,

Because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people:

The seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers;

That they do not rise, nor possess the land,

Nor fill the face of the world with cities.

22 For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts,

And cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant,

And son, and nephew, saith the Lord.

23 I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water:

And I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of hosts.

24 The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying,

Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass;

And as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

25 That I will break the Assyrian in my land,

And upon my mountains tread him under foot:

Then shall his yoke depart from off them,

And his burden depart from off their shoulders.

26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth:

And this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.

27 For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it?

And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

28 In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.

29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina,

Because the rod of him that smote thee is broken:

For out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice,

And his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

30 And the firstborn of the poor shall feed,

And the needy shall lie down in safety:

And I will kill thy root with famine,

And he shall slay thy remnant.

31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city;

Thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved:

For there shall come from the north a smoke,

And none shall be alone in his appointed times.

32 What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation?

That the Lord hath founded Zion,

And the poor of his people shall trust in it.

1 But the Lord will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. He will choose Israel as his special people once again. He will bring them back to settle once again in their own land. And people from many different nations will come and join them there and unite with the people of Israel. 2 The nations of the world will help the people of Israel to return, and those who come to live in the Lord’s land will serve them. Those who captured Israel will themselves be captured, and Israel will rule over its enemies.

3 In that wonderful day when the Lord gives his people rest from sorrow and fear, from slavery and chains, 4 you will taunt the king of Babylon. You will say,

“The mighty man has been destroyed.

Yes, your insolence is ended.

5 For the Lord has crushed your wicked power

and broken your evil rule.

6 You struck the people with endless blows of rage

and held the nations in your angry grip

with unrelenting tyranny.

7 But finally the earth is at rest and quiet.

Now it can sing again!

8 Even the trees of the forest—

the cypress trees and the cedars of Lebanon—

sing out this joyous song:

‘Since you have been cut down,

no one will come now to cut us down!’

9 “In the place of the dead there is excitement

over your arrival.

The spirits of world leaders and mighty kings long dead

stand up to see you.

10 With one voice they all cry out,

‘Now you are as weak as we are!

11 Your might and power were buried with you.

The sound of the harp in your palace has ceased.

Now maggots are your sheet,

and worms your blanket.’

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,

O shining star, son of the morning!

You have been thrown down to the earth,

you who destroyed the nations of the world.

13 For you said to yourself,

‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars.

I will preside on the mountain of the gods

far away in the north.

14 I will climb to the highest heavens

and be like the Most High.’

15 Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead,

down to its lowest depths.

16 Everyone there will stare at you and ask,

‘Can this be the one who shook the earth

and made the kingdoms of the world tremble?

17 Is this the one who destroyed the world

and made it into a wasteland?

Is this the king who demolished the world’s greatest cities

and had no mercy on his prisoners?’

18 “The kings of the nations lie in stately glory,

each in his own tomb,

19 but you will be thrown out of your grave

like a worthless branch.

Like a corpse trampled underfoot,

you will be dumped into a mass grave

with those killed in battle.

You will descend to the pit.

20 You will not be given a proper burial,

for you have destroyed your nation

and slaughtered your people.

The descendants of such an evil person

will never again receive honor.

21 Kill this man’s children!

Let them die because of their father’s sins!

They must not rise and conquer the earth,

filling the world with their cities.”

22 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:

“I, myself, have risen against Babylon!

I will destroy its children and its children’s children,”

says the Lord.

23 “I will make Babylon a desolate place of owls,

filled with swamps and marshes.

I will sweep the land with the broom of destruction.

I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

24 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sworn this oath:

“It will all happen as I have planned.

It will be as I have decided.

25 I will break the Assyrians when they are in Israel;

I will trample them on my mountains.

My people will no longer be their slaves

nor bow down under their heavy loads.

26 I have a plan for the whole earth,

a hand of judgment upon all the nations.

27 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken—

who can change his plans?

When his hand is raised,

who can stop him?”

28 This message came to me the year King Ahaz died:

29 Do not rejoice, you Philistines,

that the rod that struck you is broken—

that the king who attacked you is dead.

For from that snake a more poisonous snake will be born,

a fiery serpent to destroy you!

30 I will feed the poor in my pasture;

the needy will lie down in peace.

But as for you, I will wipe you out with famine

and destroy the few who remain.

31 Wail at the gates! Weep in the cities!

Melt with fear, you Philistines!

A powerful army comes like smoke from the north.

Each soldier rushes forward eager to fight.

32 What should we tell the Philistine messengers? Tell them,

“The Lord has built Jerusalem;

its walls will give refuge to his oppressed people.”

1 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob. 2 Then people will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them for servants and maids in the land of the Lord; they will take them captive whose captives they were, and rule over their oppressors.

3 It shall come to pass in the day the Lord gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, 4 that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say:

“How the oppressor has ceased,

The golden city ceased!

5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked,

The scepter of the rulers;

6 He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke,

He who ruled the nations in anger,

Is persecuted and no one hinders.

7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet;

They break forth into singing.

8 Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you,

And the cedars of Lebanon,

Saying, ‘Since you were cut down,

No woodsman has come up against us.’

9 “Hell from beneath is excited about you,

To meet you at your coming;

It stirs up the dead for you,

All the chief ones of the earth;

It has raised up from their thrones

All the kings of the nations.

10 They all shall speak and say to you:

‘Have you also become as weak as we?

Have you become like us?

11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,

And the sound of your stringed instruments;

The maggot is spread under you,

And worms cover you.’

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,

O Lucifer, son of the morning!

How you are cut down to the ground,

You who weakened the nations!

13 For you have said in your heart:

‘I will ascend into heaven,

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;

I will also sit on the mount of the congregation

On the farthest sides of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,

I will be like the Most High.’

15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,

To the lowest depths of the Pit.

16 “Those who see you will gaze at you,

And consider you, saying:

‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,

Who shook kingdoms,

17 Who made the world as a wilderness

And destroyed its cities,

Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’

18 “All the kings of the nations,

All of them, sleep in glory,

Everyone in his own house;

19 But you are cast out of your grave

Like an abominable branch,

Like the garment of those who are slain,

Thrust through with a sword,

Who go down to the stones of the pit,

Like a corpse trodden underfoot.

20 You will not be joined with them in burial,

Because you have destroyed your land

And slain your people.

The brood of evildoers shall never be named.

21 Prepare slaughter for his children

Because of the iniquity of their fathers,

Lest they rise up and possess the land,

And fill the face of the world with cities.”

22 “For I will rise up against them,” says the Lord of hosts,

“And cut off from Babylon the name and remnant,

And offspring and posterity,” says the Lord.

23 “I will also make it a possession for the porcupine,

And marshes of muddy water;

I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” says the Lord of hosts.

24 The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying,

“Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass,

And as I have purposed, so it shall stand:

25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land,

And on My mountains tread him underfoot.

Then his yoke shall be removed from them,

And his burden removed from their shoulders.

26 This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth,

And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.

27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed,

And who will annul it?

His hand is stretched out,

And who will turn it back?”

28 This is the burden which came in the year that King Ahaz died.

29 “Do not rejoice, all you of Philistia,

Because the rod that struck you is broken;

For out of the serpent’s roots will come forth a viper,

And its offspring will be a fiery flying serpent.

30 The firstborn of the poor will feed,

And the needy will lie down in safety;

I will kill your roots with famine,

And it will slay your remnant.

31 Wail, O gate! Cry, O city!

All you of Philistia are dissolved;

For smoke will come from the north,

And no one will be alone in his appointed times.”

32 What will they answer the messengers of the nation?

That the Lord has founded Zion,

And the poor of His people shall take refuge in it.

1 The Lord will show mercy to the people of Jacob, and he will again choose the people of Israel. He will settle them in their own land. Then non-Israelite people will join the Israelites and will become a part of the family of Jacob. 2 Nations will take the Israelites back to their land. Then those men and women from the other nations will become slaves to Israel in the Lord’s land. In the past the Israelites were their slaves, but now the Israelites will defeat those nations and rule over them.

3 The Lord will take away the Israelites’ hard work and will comfort them. They will no longer have to work hard as slaves. 4 On that day Israel will sing this song about the king of Babylon:

The cruel king who ruled us is finished;

his angry rule is finished!

5 The Lord has broken the scepter of evil rulers

and taken away their power.

6 The king of Babylon struck people in anger

again and again.

He ruled nations in anger

and continued to hurt them.

7 But now, the whole world rests and is quiet.

Now the people begin to sing.

8 Even the pine trees are happy,

and the cedar trees of Lebanon rejoice.

They say, “The king has fallen,

so no one will ever cut us down again.”

9 The place of the dead is excited

to meet you when you come.

It wakes the spirits of the dead,

the leaders of the world.

It makes kings of all nations

stand up from their thrones to greet you.

10 All these leaders will make fun of you

and will say,

“Now you are weak, as we are.

Now you are just like us.”

11 Your pride has been sent down to the place of the dead.

The music from your harps goes with it.

Flies are spread out like your bed beneath you,

and worms cover your body like a blanket.

12 King of Babylon, morning star, you have fallen from heaven,

even though you were as bright as the rising sun!

In the past all the nations on earth bowed down before you,

but now you have been cut down.

13 You told yourself,

“I will go up to heaven.

I will put my throne

above God’s stars.

I will sit on the mountain of the gods,

on the slopes of the sacred mountain.

14 I will go up above the tops of the clouds.

I will be like God Most High.”

15 But you were brought down to the grave,

to the deep places where the dead are.

16 Those who see you stare at you.

They think about what has happened to you

and say, “Is this the same man who caused great fear on earth,

who shook the kingdoms,

17 who turned the world into a desert,

who destroyed its cities,

who captured people in war

and would not let them go home?”

18 Every king of the earth has been buried with honor,

each in his own grave.

19 But you are thrown out of your grave,

like an unwanted branch.

You are covered by bodies

that died in battle,

by bodies to be buried in a rocky pit.

You are like a dead body other soldiers walk on.

20 You will not be buried with those bodies,

because you ruined your own country

and killed your own people.

The children of evil people

will never be mentioned again.

21 Prepare to kill his children,

because their father is guilty.

They will never again take control of the earth;

they will never again fill the world with their cities.

22 The Lord All-Powerful says this:

“I will fight against those people;

I will destroy Babylon and its people,

its children and their descendants,” says the Lord.

23 “I will make Babylon fit only for owls

and for swamps.

I will sweep Babylon as with a broom of destruction,”

says the Lord All-Powerful.

24 The Lord All-Powerful has made this promise:

“These things will happen exactly as I planned them;

they will happen exactly as I set them up.

25 I will destroy the king of Assyria in my country;

I will trample him on my mountains.

He placed a heavy load on my people,

but that weight will be removed.

26 “This is what I plan to do for all the earth.

And this is the hand that I have raised over all nations.”

27 When the Lord All-Powerful makes a plan,

no one can stop it.

When the Lord raises his hand to punish people,

no one can stop it.

28 This message was given in the year that King Ahaz died:

29 Country of Philistia, don’t be happy

that the king who struck you is now dead.

He is like a snake that will give birth to another dangerous snake.

The new king will be like a quick, dangerous snake to bite you.

30 Even the poorest of my people will be able to eat safely,

and people in need will be able to lie down in safety.

But I will kill your family with hunger,

and all your people who are left will die.

31 People near the city gates, cry out!

Philistines, be frightened,

because a cloud of dust comes from the north.

It is an army, full of men ready to fight.

32 What shall we tell the messengers from Philistia?

Say that the Lord has made Jerusalem strong

and that his poor people will go there for safety.

1 For Jehovah will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the sojourner shall join himself with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. 2 And the peoples shall take them, and bring them to their place; and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of Jehovah for servants and for handmaids: and they shall take them captive whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.

3 And it shall come to pass in the day that Jehovah shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy trouble, and from the hard service wherein thou wast made to serve, 4 that thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! 5 Jehovah hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers; 6 that smote the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, that ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained. 7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. 8 Yea, the fir-trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid low, no hewer is come up against us. 9 Sheol from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming; it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10 All they shall answer and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? 11 Thy pomp is brought down to Sheol, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and worms cover thee.

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations! 13 And thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to Sheol, to the uttermost parts of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall gaze at thee, they shall consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17 that made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities thereof; that let not loose his prisoners to their home? 18 All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, every one in his own house. 19 But thou art cast forth away from thy sepulchre like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, that are thrust through with the sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a dead body trodden under foot. 20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people; the seed of evil-doers shall not be named for ever.

21 Prepare ye slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers, that they rise not up, and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities. 22 And I will rise up against them, saith Jehovah of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son’s son, saith Jehovah. 23 I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith Jehovah of hosts.

24 Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: 25 that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulder. 26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. 27 For Jehovah of hosts hath purposed, and who shall annul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

28 In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.

29 Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of thee, because the rod that smote thee is broken; for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth an adder, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. 30 And the first-born of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety; and I will kill thy root with famine, and thy remnant shall be slain. 31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou art melted away, O Philistia, all of thee; for there cometh a smoke out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks.

32 What then shall one answer the messengers of the nation? That Jehovah hath founded Zion, and in her shall the afflicted of his people take refuge.

1 For Jehovah will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in rest in their own land; and the stranger shall be united to them, and they shall be joined to the house of Jacob. 2 And the peoples shall take them and bring them to their place; and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of Jehovah for servants and handmaids; and they shall take them captive whose captives they were, and they shall rule over their oppressors. 3 And it shall come to pass in the day that Jehovah shall give thee rest from thy sorrow and from thy trouble and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,

4 that thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased, —the exactress of gold ceased! 5 Jehovah hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers. 6 He that smote the peoples in wrath with a relentless stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted unsparingly. 7 The whole earth is at rest, is quiet: they break forth into singing. 8 Even the cypresses rejoice at thee, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. 9 Sheol from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming, stirring up the dead for thee, all the he-goats of the earth; making to rise from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10 All of them shall answer and say unto thee, Art thou also become powerless as we; art thou become like unto us! 11 —Thy pomp is brought down to Sheol, the noise of thy lyres: the maggot is spread under thee, and worms cover thee. 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, Lucifer, son of the morning! Thou art cut down to the ground, that didst prostrate the nations! 13 And thou that didst say in thy heart, I will ascend into the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of •God, and I will sit upon the mount of assembly, in the recesses of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High: 15 none the less art thou brought down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee; they shall consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that shook kingdoms; 17 that made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities thereof; that dismissed not his prisoners homewards? 18 —All the kings of the nations, all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house; 19 but thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, covered with the slain—those thrust through with the sword, that go down to the stones of the pit: like a carcase trodden under foot. 20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial; for thou hast destroyed thy land, hast slain thy people. Of the seed of evildoers no mention shall be made for ever. 21 Prepare ye slaughter for his children, because of the iniquity of their fathers; that they may not rise up and possess the earth, nor fill the face of the world with cities. 22 For I will rise up against them, saith Jehovah of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and scion and descendant, saith Jehovah. 23 And I will make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water; and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith Jehovah of hosts.

24 Jehovah of hosts hath sworn saying, Assuredly as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, it shall stand: 25 to break the Assyrian in my land; and upon my mountains will I tread him under foot; and his yoke shall depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. 26 This is the counsel which is purposed concerning the whole earth; and this is the hand which is stretched out upon all the nations. 27 For Jehovah of hosts hath purposed, and who shall frustrate it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? 28 In the year of the death of king Ahaz was this burden: 29 Rejoice not thou, Philistia, all of thee, because the rod that smote thee is broken; for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a viper, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. 30 And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety; but I will kill thy root with famine, and thy remnant shall be slain. 31 Howl, O gate! cry, O city! thou, Philistia, art wholly dissolved; for there cometh from the north a smoke, and none remaineth apart in his gatherings of troops. 32 And what shall be answered to the messengers of the nation? That Jehovah hath founded Zion, and the afflicted of his people find refuge in it.

1 The Lord will have compassion for Jacob and again choose Israel. 

He will resettle them in their own country. 

Foreigners will join them 

and unite with the descendants of Jacob. 

2 People will take them 

and bring them to their own place. 

The nation of Israel will possess nations 

as male and female slaves in the Lord’s land. 

They will take their captors captive 

and rule their oppressors. 

3 When that day comes, the Lord will give you relief 

from your pain and suffering, 

from the hard slavery you were forced to do. 

4 Then you will mock the king of Babylon with this saying, 

“How the tyrant has come to an end! 

How his attacks have come to an end!” 

5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, 

the scepter of rulers. 

6 They struck the people with fury, 

with blows that didn’t stop. 

They ruled nations in anger, 

persecuting them without restraint. 

7 The whole earth rests and is peaceful. 

It breaks out into shouts of joy. 

8 Even the cypresses rejoice over you. 

The cedars of Lebanon say, 

“Since you have fallen, 

no lumberjack has come to attack us.” 

9 Sheol below wakes up to meet you when you come. 

It wakes up the ghosts of the dead, 

all who were leaders on earth. 

It raises all who were kings of the nations from their thrones. 

10 All of them will greet you, 

“You also have become weak like us! 

You have become like one of us!” 

11 Your pride has been brought down to Sheol 

along with the music of your harps. 

Maggots are spread out ⸤like a bed⸥ under you, 

and worms cover you. 

12 How you have fallen from heaven, you morning star, son of the dawn! 

How you have been cut down to the ground, you conqueror of nations! 

13 You thought, 

“I’ll go up to heaven and set up my throne above God’s stars. 

I’ll sit on the mountain far away in the north 

where the gods assemble. 

14 I’ll go above the top of the clouds. 

I’ll be like the Most High.” 

15 But you’ve been brought down to Sheol, 

to the deepest part of the pit. 

16 Those who see you stare at you; they look at you closely and say, 

“Is this the man who made the earth tremble, 

who shook the kingdoms, 

17 who made the world like a desert and tore down its cities, 

who didn’t let his prisoners go home?” 

18 All the kings of the nations, all of them, 

have been buried with honor, each in his own tomb. 

19 But you are thrown out of your tomb like a rejected branch. 

You are covered with those who were killed in battle. 

You go down to the stones of the pit like a trampled corpse. 

20 You won’t be joined by the kings in the tomb, 

because you have destroyed your land and killed your people. 

The descendants of the wicked will never be mentioned again. 

21 Prepare a place to slaughter their sons 

because of their ancestors’ guilt. 

They won’t be able to rise, possess the earth, 

and rebuild cities all over it. 

22 “I’ll rise up against them,” declares the Lord of Armies. 

“I’ll cut off the name of the survivors from Babylon, 

its offspring and descendants,” declares the Lord. 

23 “It will become the possession of herons. 

It will become pools of water. 

I’ll sweep it with the broom of destruction,” declares the Lord of Armies. 

24 The Lord of Armies has taken an oath: 

“It will happen exactly as I’ve intended. 

It will turn out exactly as I’ve planned. 

25 I’ll crush Assyria on my land. 

I’ll trample it underfoot on my mountains. 

Then its yokewill be removed from my people, 

and its burden will be removed from their shoulders.” 

26 This is the plan determined for the whole earth. 

This is how he will use his power against all the nations. 

27 The Lord of Armies has planned it. Who can stop it? 

He is ready to use his power. Who can turn it back? 

28 This was the divine revelation in the year King Ahaz died. 

29 All you Philistines, don’t rejoice 

that the rod of the one who struck you is broken, 

because a viper will come from that snake’s root, 

and his descendant will be a flying, fiery serpent. 

30 The poorest of the poor will eat, 

and the needy will lie down in safety. 

But I will put your root to death with famine 

and kill off your survivors. 

31 Cry loudly in the gate! 

Cry out in the city! 

Be frightened, all you Philistines! 

Smoke comes from the north, 

and there are no stragglers in its ranks. 

32 How should we answer the messengers from the nations? 

⸤Tell them that⸥ the Lord has laid Zion’s foundation, 

and his humble people will find refuge in it. 

1 For the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and will choose Israel again. He will settle them on their own land. The foreigner will join them and be united with the house of Jacob. 2 The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess them as male and female slaves in the Lord’s land. They will make captives of their captors and will rule over their oppressors.

3 When the Lord gives you rest from your pain, torment, and the hard labor you were forced to do, 4 you will sing this song of contempt about the king of Babylon and say:

How the oppressor has quieted down,

and how the raging has become quiet!

5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked,

the scepter of the rulers.

6 It struck the peoples in anger

with unceasing blows.

It subdued the nations in rage

with relentless persecution.

7 All the earth is calm and at rest;

people shout with a ringing cry.

8 Even the cypresses and the cedars of Lebanon

rejoice over you:

“Since you have been laid low,

no woodcutter has come against us.”

9 Sheol below is eager to greet your coming.

He stirs up the spirits of the departed for you—

all the rulers of the earth.

He makes all the kings of the nations

rise from their thrones.

10 They all respond to you, saying:

“You too have become as weak as we are;

you have become like us!

11 Your splendor has been brought down to Sheol,

along with the music of your harps.

Maggots are spread out under you,

and worms cover you.”

12 Shining morning star,

how you have fallen from the heavens!

You destroyer of nations,

you have been cut down to the ground.

13 You said to yourself:

“I will ascend to the heavens;

I will set up my throne

above the stars of God.

I will sit on the mount of the gods’ assembly,

in the remotest parts of the North.

14 I will ascend above the highest clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.”

15 But you will be brought down to Sheol

into the deepest regions of the Pit.

16 Those who see you will stare at you;

they will look closely at you:

“Is this the man who caused the earth to tremble,

who shook the kingdoms,

17 who turned the world into a wilderness,

who destroyed its cities

and would not release the prisoners to return home?”

18 All the kings of the nations

lie in splendor, each in his own tomb.

19 But you are thrown out without a grave,

like a worthless branch,

covered by those slain with the sword

and dumped into a rocky pit like a trampled corpse.

20 You will not join them in burial,

because you destroyed your land

and slaughtered your own people.

The offspring of evildoers

will never be remembered.

21 Prepare a place of slaughter for his sons,

because of the iniquity of their fathers.

They will never rise up to possess a land

or fill the surface of the earth with cities.

22 “I will rise up against them”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“and I will cut off from Babylon her reputation, remnant, offspring, and posterity”—this is the Lord’s declaration. 23 “I will make her a swampland and a region for screech owls, and I will sweep her away with a broom of destruction.”

This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.

24 The Lord of Hosts has sworn:

As I have purposed, so it will be;

as I have planned it, so it will happen.

25 I will break Assyria in My land;

I will tread him down on My mountain.

Then his yoke will be taken from them,

and his burden will be removed from their shoulders.

26 This is the plan prepared

for the whole earth,

and this is the hand stretched out

against all the nations.

27 The Lord of Hosts Himself has planned it;

therefore, who can stand in its way?

It is His hand that is outstretched,

so who can turn it back?

28 In the year that King Ahaz died, this oracle came:

29 Don’t rejoice, all of you in Philistia,

because the rod of the one who struck you is broken.

For a viper will come from the root of a snake,

and from its egg comes a flying serpent.

30 Then the firstborn of the poor will be well fed,

and the impoverished will lie down in safety,

but I will kill your root with hunger,

and your remnant will be slain.

31 Wail, you gates! Cry out, city!

Tremble with fear, all Philistia!

For a cloud of dust is coming from the north,

and there is no one missing from the invader’s ranks.

32 What answer will be given to the messengers from that nation?

The Lord has founded Zion,

and His afflicted people find refuge in her.

1 But the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel and will settle them in their own land, and aliens will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2 And the nations will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess the nations as male and female slaves in the Lord’s land; they will take captive those who were their captors and rule over those who oppressed them.

3 When the Lord has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:

How the oppressor has ceased!

How his insolence has ceased!

5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked,

the scepter of rulers,

6 that struck down the peoples in wrath

with unceasing blows,

that ruled the nations in anger

with unrelenting persecution.

7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet;

they break forth into singing.

8 The cypresses exult over you,

the cedars of Lebanon, saying,

“Since you were laid low,

no one comes to cut us down.”

9 Sheol beneath is stirred up

to meet you when you come;

it rouses the shades to greet you,

all who were leaders of the earth;

it raises from their thrones

all who were kings of the nations.

10 All of them will speak

and say to you:

“You, too, have become as weak as we!

You have become like us!”

11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,

and the sound of your harps;

maggots are the bed beneath you,

and worms are your covering.

12 How you are fallen from heaven,

O Morning Star, son of Dawn!

How you are cut down to the ground,

you who laid the nations low!

13 You said to yourself,

“I will ascend to heaven;

I will raise my throne

above the stars of God;

I will sit on the mount of assembly

on the heights of Zaphon;

14 I will ascend to the tops of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.”

15 But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the depths of the Pit.

16 Those who see you will stare at you

and ponder over you:

“Is this the man who made the earth tremble,

who shook kingdoms,

17 who made the world like a desert

and overthrew its cities,

who would not let his prisoners go home?”

18 All the kings of the nations lie in glory,

each in his own tomb,

19 but you are cast out, away from your grave,

like loathsome carrion,

clothed with the dead, those pierced by the sword,

who go down to the stones of the Pit

like a corpse trampled underfoot.

20 You will not be joined with them in burial

because you have destroyed your land;

you have killed your people.

May the descendants of evildoers

nevermore be named!

21 Prepare a place of slaughter for his sons

because of the guilt of their father.

Let them never rise to possess the earth

or cover the face of the world with cities.

22 I will rise up against them, says the Lord of hosts, and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, offspring and posterity, says the Lord. 23 And I will make it a possession of the screech owl and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says the Lord of hosts.

24 The Lord of hosts has sworn:

As I have designed,

so shall it be,

and as I have planned,

so shall it come to pass:

25 I will break the Assyrian in my land

and on my mountains trample him under foot;

his yoke shall be removed from them

and his burden from their shoulders.

26 This is the plan that is planned

concerning the whole earth,

and this is the hand that is stretched out

over all the nations.

27 For the Lord of hosts has planned,

and who will annul it?

His hand is stretched out,

and who will turn it back?

28 In the year that King Ahaz died this oracle came:

29 Do not rejoice, all you Philistines,

that the rod that struck you is broken,

for from the root of the snake will come forth an adder,

and its fruit will be a flying fiery serpent.

30 In my pastures the poor will graze

and the needy lie down in safety,

but I will make your root die of famine,

and your remnant I will kill.

31 Wail, O gate; cry, O city;

melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you!

For smoke comes out of the north,

and there is no straggler in its ranks.

32 What will one answer the messengers of the nation?

“The Lord has founded Zion,

and the needy among his people

will find refuge in her.”

1 But Yahweh will have compassion on Jacob,

and he will again choose Israel

and set them on their land,

and the immigrant will join himself to them,

and they will attach themselves to the house of Jacob.

2 And the nations will take them

and bring them to their place,

and the house of Israel will take possession of them in the land of Yahweh

as slaves and female slaves.

And this will happen:

they will take their captors captive

and rule over their oppressors.

3 And it shall happen on the day Yahweh gives you rest from your pain and turmoil and hard labor which you had to perform,

4 that you will take this taunt against the king of Babylon,

and you will say:

“How the oppressor has ceased!

his insolence has ceased.

5 Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked,

the scepter of rulers,

6 that struck the peoples in wrath, a blow without ceasing,

that ruled the nations in anger

with unrestrained persecution.

7 All of the earth rests and is quiet;

they break forth into singing.

8 Even the cypresses rejoice over you,

the cedars of Lebanon:

‘Since you were laid down,

no wood cutter comes up against us.’

9 Sheol below is getting excited over you,

to meet you when you come;

it arouses the dead spirits for you,

all of the leaders of the earth.

It raises all of the kings of the nations from their thrones.

10 All of them will respond and say to you,

‘You yourself also were made weak like us!

You have become the same as us!’

11 Your pride is brought down to Sheol,

and the sound of your harps;

maggots are spread out beneath you like a bed,

and your covering is worms.

12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of dawn!

You are cut down to the ground, conqueror of nations!

13 And you yourself said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;

I will raise up my throne above the stars of God;

and I will sit on the mountain of assembly

on the summit of Zaphon;

14 I will ascend to the high places of the clouds,

I will make myself like the Most High.’

15 But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the depths of the pit.

16 Those who see you will stare at you,

they will look closely at you:

‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,

who caused kingdoms to shake,

17 who made the world like the desert

and destroyed its cities,

who would not let his prisoners go home?’

18 All the kings of the nations, all of them, lie in glory,

each one in his house.

19 But as for you, you are thrown away from your grave,

like an abhorrent shoot,

clothed with the slain,

those pierced by the sword,

those who go down to the stones of the pit,

like a corpse that is trodden down.

20 You will not be united with them in burial

because you have destroyed your land,

you have killed your people.

The descendants of evildoers will not be mentioned for eternity!

21 Prepare a place of slaughter for his sons

because of the sin of their ancestors.

Let them not rise and take possession of the earth

or fill up the face of the world with cities.”

22 “And I will rise up against them,”

declares Yahweh of hosts,

“and I will cut off name and a remnant from Babylon,

and offspring and posterity,”

declares Yahweh.

23 “And I will make her a possession of the hedgehog,

and pools of water,

and I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction,”

declares Yahweh of hosts.

24 Yahweh of hosts has sworn, saying,

“Surely just as I have intended, so it shall be.

And just as I have planned, it shall stand:

25 to break Assyria in my land,

and I will trample him down on my mountains;

and he shall remove his yoke from them,

and he shall remove his burden from his shoulders.”

26 This is the plan that is planned concerning all of the earth;

and this is the hand that is stretched out over all of the nations.

27 For Yahweh of hosts has planned, and who will frustrate it?

And his hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?

28 In the year of the death of king Ahaz there was this oracle:

29 You must not rejoice, all you Philistines,

that the rod that struck you is broken,

for a viper will come forth from the root of the snake,

and its fruit will be a flying serpent.

30 And the firstborn of the poor will graze,

and the needy will lie down in security;

but I will cause your root to die in famine,

and it will kill your remnant.

31 Wail, gate! Cry, city!

Melt, Philistia, all of you!

For smoke is coming from the north,

and there is no straggler in his ranks.

32 And what will one answer the messengers of the nation?

That Yahweh has founded Zion,

and the needy of his people will take refuge in it.

1 The Lord will show tender love toward Jacob’s people.

Once again he will choose Israel.

He’ll settle them in their own land.

Outsiders will join them.

They and the people of Jacob will become one people.

2 Nations will help Israel

return to their own land.

People from other nations will belong to Israel.

They will serve them as male and female servants in the Lord’s land.

The Israelites will make prisoners of those who had held them as prisoners.

They will rule over those who had crushed them.

3 The Lord will put an end to Israel’s suffering and trouble. They won’t be slaves anymore. 4 They will make fun of the king of Babylonia. They will say,

“See how the one who crushed others has fallen!

See how his anger has come to an end!

5 The Lord has taken away the authority of evil people.

He has broken the power of rulers.

6 When they became angry, they struck nations down.

Their blows never stopped.

In their anger they brought nations under their control.

They attacked them again and again.

7 All of the lands now enjoy peace and rest.

They break out into singing.

8 Even the pine trees are glad.

The cedar trees of Lebanon are happy too.

They say, ‘Babylon, you have fallen.

Now no one comes and cuts us down.’

9 “King of Babylonia, many people in the grave are really excited

about meeting you when you go down there.

The spirits of the dead get up to welcome you.

At one time all of them were leaders in the world.

They were kings over the nations.

They get up from their thrones.

10 All of them call out to you.

They say,

‘You have become weak, just as we are.

You have become like us.’

11 Your grand show of power has been brought down to the grave.

The noise of your harps has come down here along with your power.

Maggots are spread out under you.

Worms cover you.

12 “King of Babylonia, you thought you were the bright morning star.

But now you have fallen from heaven!

You once brought nations down.

But now you have been thrown down to the earth!

13 You said in your heart,

‘I will go up to heaven.

I’ll raise my throne

above the stars of God.

I’ll sit as king on the mountain where the gods meet.

I’ll set up my throne on the highest slopes of the sacred mountain.

14 I will rise above the tops of the clouds.

I’ll make myself like the Most High God.’

15 But now you have been brought down to the grave.

You have been thrown into the deepest part of the pit.

16 “Those who see you stare at you.

They think about what has happened to you.

They say to themselves,

‘Is this the man who shook the earth?

Is he the one who made kingdoms tremble with fear?

17 Did he turn the world into a desert?

Did he destroy its cities?

Did he refuse to let his prisoners go home?’

18 “All of the kings of the nations are buried with honor.

Each of them lies in his own tomb.

19 But you have been thrown out of your tomb.

You are like a branch that is cut off and thrown away.

You are covered with the bodies

of those who have been killed with swords.

You have been tossed into a stony pit along with them.

You are like a dead body that people have walked on.

20 You won’t be buried like other kings.

That’s because you have destroyed your land.

You have killed your people.

“The children of that evil man will be killed.

None of them will be left to carry on the family name.

21 So prepare a place to kill his children.

Kill them because of the sins of the rulers

who lived before them.

They must not rise to power.

They must not rule over the world.

They must not cover the earth with their cities.”

22 “I will rise up against them,”

announces the Lord who rules over all.

“I will destroy Babylon.

It will not be remembered anymore.

No one will be left alive there.

I will destroy its people and their children after them,”

announces the Lord.

23 “I will turn it into a place where nothing but owls can live.

I will turn it into a swamp.

I will sweep through it like a broom and destroy everything,”

announces the Lord who rules over all.

24 The Lord who rules over all has taken an oath. He has said,

“You can be sure that what I have planned will happen.

What I have decided will take place.

25 I will crush the Assyrians in my land.

On my mountains I will walk all over them.

The yokes they put on my people will be removed.

The heavy load they put on their shoulders will be taken away.”

26 That’s how the Lord carries out his plan all over the world.

That’s how he reaches out his powerful hand to punish all of the nations.

27 The Lord who rules over all has planned it.

Who can stop him?

He has reached out his powerful hand.

Who can keep him from using it?

28 A message came to me from the Lord in the year King Ahaz died. The Lord said,

29 “The rod of Assyria has struck all of you Philistines.

But do not be glad that it is broken.

That rod is like a snake that will produce an even more poisonous snake.

It will produce a darting, poisonous serpent.

30 Even the poorest people in Israel will have plenty to eat.

Those who are in need will lie down in safety.

But I will destroy your families.

They will die of hunger.

I will kill any of them who are still left alive.

31 “Cities of Philistia, cry out for help! Scream in pain!

All of you Philistines, melt away in fear!

An army is coming from the north in a cloud of dust.

No one in its ranks is falling behind.

32 What answer should be given

to the messengers from that nation?

Tell them, ‘The Lord has made Zion secure.

His suffering people will find safety there.’ ”