Isaiah 14:20–31

²⁰You 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.

²¹Kill 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.”

²²This 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!”

A Message about Assyria

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

“It will all happen as I have planned.

It will be as I have decided.

²⁵I 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.

²⁶I have a plan for the whole earth,

a hand of judgment upon all the nations.

²⁷The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken—

who can change his plans?

When his hand is raised,

who can stop him?”

A Message about Philistia

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

²⁹Do 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!

³⁰I 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.

³¹Wail 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.