Isaiah 33:1–13

A Message about Assyria

¹What sorrow awaits you Assyrians, who have destroyed others

but have never been destroyed yourselves.

You betray others,

but you have never been betrayed.

When you are done destroying,

you will be destroyed.

When you are done betraying,

you will be betrayed.

²But Lord, be merciful to us,

for we have waited for you.

Be our strong arm each day

and our salvation in times of trouble.

³The enemy runs at the sound of your voice.

When you stand up, the nations flee!

⁴Just as caterpillars and locusts strip the fields and vines,

so the fallen army of Assyria will be stripped!

⁵Though the Lord is very great and lives in heaven,

he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness.

⁶In that day he will be your sure foundation,

providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.

The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.

⁷But now your brave warriors weep in public.

Your ambassadors of peace cry in bitter disappointment.

⁸Your roads are deserted;

no one travels them anymore.

The Assyrians have broken their peace treaty

and care nothing for the promises they made before witnesses.

They have no respect for anyone.

⁹The land of Israel wilts in mourning.

Lebanon withers with shame.

The plain of Sharon is now a wilderness.

Bashan and Carmel have been plundered.

¹⁰But the Lord says: “Now I will stand up.

Now I will show my power and might.

¹¹You Assyrians produce nothing but dry grass and stubble.

Your own breath will turn to fire and consume you.

¹²Your people will be burned up completely,

like thornbushes cut down and tossed in a fire.

¹³Listen to what I have done, you nations far away!

And you that are near, acknowledge my might!”