Arrogant Assyria Also Judged

5 “Woe to Assyria, gthe rod of My anger

And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.

6 I will send him against han ungodly nation,

And against the people of My wrath

I will igive him charge,

To seize the spoil, to take the prey,

And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7 jYet he does not mean so,

Nor does his heart think so;

But it is in his heart to destroy,

And cut off not a few nations.

8 kFor he says,

‘Are not my princes altogether kings?

9 Is not lCalno mlike Carchemish?

Is not Hamath like Arpad?

Is not Samaria nlike Damascus?

10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols,

Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria,

11 As I have done to Samaria and her idols,

Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?’ ”

12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has 2performed all His work oon Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, p“I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks.”

13 qFor he says:

“By the strength of my hand I have done it,

And by my wisdom, for I am prudent;

Also I have removed the boundaries of the people,

And have robbed their treasuries;

So I have put down the inhabitants like a 3valiant man.

14 rMy hand has found like a nest the riches of the people,

And as one gathers eggs that are left,

I have gathered all the earth;

And there was no one who moved his wing,

Nor opened his mouth with even a peep.”

15 Shall sthe ax boast itself against him who chops with it?

Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it?

As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up,

Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!

16 Therefore the Lord, the 4Lord of hosts,

Will send leanness among his fat ones;

And under his glory

He will kindle a burning

Like the burning of a fire.

17 So the Light of Israel will be for a fire,

And his Holy One for a flame;

tIt will burn and devour

His thorns and his briers in one day.

18 And it will consume the glory of his forest and of uhis fruitful field,

Both soul and body;

And they will be as when a sick man wastes away.

19 Then the rest of the trees of his forest

Will be so few in number

That a child may write them.