1 Just look at those|strong="H1945" lawmakers who|strong="H1945" write|strong="H3789" evil|strong="H0205" laws and|strong="H5999" make life hard for|strong="H5999" the|strong="H3789" people.
2 They|strong="H5971" are|strong="H4941" not|strong="H1961" fair to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" poor|strong="H6041". They|strong="H5971" take|strong="H0962" away|strong="H5186" the|strong="H0853" rights|strong="H1779" of|strong="H4941" the|strong="H0853" poor|strong="H6041" and|strong="H4941" allow people|strong="H5971" to|strong="H1961" steal|strong="H1497" from|strong="H1961" widows|strong="H0490" and|strong="H4941" orphans|strong="H3490".
3 Lawmakers, you|strong="H5921" will|strong="H4310" have|strong="H3117" to|strong="H0935" explain what|strong="H4100" you|strong="H5921" have|strong="H3117" done|strong="H6213". What|strong="H4100" will|strong="H4310" you|strong="H5921" do|strong="H6213" then|strong="H0935"? Your|strong="H5921" destruction|strong="H7722" is|strong="H4310" coming|strong="H0935" from|strong="H0935" a|strong="H0935" faraway country. Where|strong="H0575" will|strong="H4310" you|strong="H5921" run|strong="H5127" for|strong="H5921" help|strong="H5833"? Your|strong="H5921" money and|strong="H0935" your|strong="H5921" riches|strong="H3519" will|strong="H4310" not help|strong="H5833" you|strong="H5921".
4 You|strong="H3605" will|strong="H3027" have|strong="H3605" to|strong="H7725" bow|strong="H3766" down|strong="H5307" like|strong="H3808" a|strong="H5750" prisoner|strong="H0616". You|strong="H3605" will|strong="H3027" fall|strong="H5307" down|strong="H5307" like|strong="H3808" a|strong="H5750" dead man|strong="H3605", but|strong="H3808" that|strong="H3605" will|strong="H3027" not|strong="H3808" help you|strong="H3605". God|strong="H3808" will|strong="H3027" still|strong="H5750" be|strong="H5750" angry|strong="H0639" and|strong="H3027" ready to|strong="H7725" punish you|strong="H3605".
5 The|strong="H3027" Lord says, “I|strong="H3027" will|strong="H3027" use|strong="H1931" Assyria|strong="H0804" like|strong="H0639" a|strong="H0639" stick. In|strong="H3027" my|strong="H3027" anger|strong="H0639" I|strong="H3027" will|strong="H3027" use|strong="H1931" Assyria|strong="H0804" to|strong="H3027" punish Israel.
6 I|strong="H7760" will|strong="H1471" send|strong="H7971" Assyria to|strong="H5921" fight against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" people|strong="H5971" who|strong="H1471" do|strong="H6680" evil. I|strong="H7760" am angry|strong="H5678" with|strong="H5921" them|strong="H5921", and|strong="H7971" I|strong="H7760" will|strong="H1471" command|strong="H6680" Assyria to|strong="H5921" fight against|strong="H5921" them|strong="H5921". Assyria will|strong="H1471" defeat them|strong="H5921" and|strong="H7971" take|strong="H7760" their|strong="H5921" wealth. Israel|strong="H5971" will|strong="H1471" be|strong="H1471" like|strong="H4823" dirt for|strong="H5921" Assyria to|strong="H5921" walk on|strong="H5921" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" streets|strong="H2351".
7 “But|strong="H3588" Assyria does|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" understand that|strong="H3588" I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H1471" use|strong="H1931" him|strong="H3772". He|strong="H1931" does|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" think|strong="H3824" of|strong="H3824" himself|strong="H1931" as|strong="H2803" my|strong="H3588" tool. He|strong="H1931" only wants to|strong="H3824" destroy|strong="H8045" other people|strong="H1471". He|strong="H1931" only plans|strong="H2803" to|strong="H3824" destroy|strong="H8045" many nations|strong="H1471".
8 Assyria says|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" himself|strong="H3808", ‘All|strong="H3162" of|strong="H4428" my|strong="H3588" officers|strong="H8269" are|strong="H8269" like|strong="H3808" kings|strong="H4428"!
9 The|strong="H0518" city of|strong="H3808" Calno is|strong="H3808" no|strong="H3808" better than|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0518" city of|strong="H3808" Carchemish|strong="H3751". Arpad|strong="H0774" is|strong="H3808" like|strong="H3808" Hamath|strong="H2574", and|strong="H8111" Samaria|strong="H8111" is|strong="H3808" like|strong="H3808" Damascus|strong="H1834".
10 I|strong="H0834" defeated those|strong="H0834" evil kingdoms|strong="H4467" and|strong="H3027" now|strong="H3027" I|strong="H0834" control|strong="H3027" them|strong="H3027". The|strong="H0834" idols|strong="H0457" those|strong="H0834" people|strong="H0834" worship are|strong="H0834" better|strong="H3027" than the|strong="H0834" idols|strong="H0457" of|strong="H3027" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" and|strong="H3027" Samaria|strong="H8111".
11 I|strong="H0834" defeated Samaria|strong="H8111" and|strong="H3389" her|strong="H3651" gods. I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" also|strong="H6213" defeat Jerusalem|strong="H3389" and|strong="H3389" the|strong="H0834" idols|strong="H0457" her|strong="H3651" people|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" made|strong="H6213".’”
12 When|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3605" Lord|strong="H0136" finishes|strong="H1214" doing what|strong="H4639" he|strong="H3588" planned|strong="H3824" to|strong="H1961" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" and|strong="H4428" Mount|strong="H2022" Zion|strong="H6726", he|strong="H3588" will|strong="H1961" punish|strong="H6485" Assyria|strong="H0804". The|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Assyria|strong="H0804" is|strong="H3605" very proud|strong="H5869". His|strong="H3605" pride|strong="H8597" made|strong="H4639" him|strong="H5921" do|strong="H4639" many bad things|strong="H3605", so|strong="H1961" God|strong="H0136" will|strong="H1961" punish|strong="H6485" him|strong="H5921".
13 The|strong="H0559" king of|strong="H3027" Assyria said|strong="H0559", “I|strong="H3588" am very wise|strong="H2451". By|strong="H3027" my|strong="H3588" own wisdom|strong="H2451" and|strong="H3027" power|strong="H3027" I|strong="H3588" have|strong="H3027" done|strong="H6213" many great things|strong="H6264". I|strong="H3588" have|strong="H3027" defeated many nations|strong="H5971". I|strong="H3588" have|strong="H3027" taken|strong="H5493" their|strong="H3588" wealth and|strong="H3027" their|strong="H3588" people|strong="H5971" as|strong="H3588" slaves. I|strong="H3588" am a|strong="H3588" very powerful man|strong="H0047".
14 With|strong="H3027" my|strong="H3605" own|strong="H1961" hands|strong="H3027" I|strong="H0589" have|strong="H1961" taken|strong="H0622" the|strong="H3605" riches|strong="H2428" of|strong="H0776" all|strong="H3605" these|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971"—like|strong="H1961" someone taking eggs|strong="H1000" from|strong="H3027" a|strong="H1961" bird’s nest|strong="H7064". A|strong="H1961" bird|strong="H3671" often leaves|strong="H5800" its|strong="H3605" nest|strong="H7064" and|strong="H0776" eggs|strong="H1000", and|strong="H0776" there|strong="H1961" is|strong="H0776" nothing|strong="H3808" to|strong="H1961" protect the|strong="H3605" nest|strong="H7064". There|strong="H1961" is|strong="H0776" no|strong="H3808" bird|strong="H3671" to|strong="H1961" chirp and|strong="H0776" fight with|strong="H3027" its|strong="H3605" wings|strong="H3671" and|strong="H0776" beak|strong="H6310", so|strong="H1961" anyone|strong="H3605" can|strong="H3808" come|strong="H1961" take|strong="H0622" the|strong="H3605" eggs|strong="H1000". And|strong="H0776" there|strong="H1961" is|strong="H0776" no|strong="H3808" one|strong="H3605" to|strong="H1961" stop|strong="H3808" me|strong="H0589" from|strong="H3027" taking all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" on|strong="H0776" earth|strong="H0776".”
15 An|strong="H5130" ax is|strong="H7626" not|strong="H3808" better|strong="H5921" than|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0853" one|strong="H3808" who|strong="H3808" cuts with|strong="H5921" it|strong="H0518". A|strong="H0518" saw|strong="H4883" is|strong="H7626" not|strong="H3808" better|strong="H5921" than|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0853" one|strong="H3808" who|strong="H3808" uses it|strong="H0518". Is|strong="H7626" a|strong="H0518" stick|strong="H6086" stronger than|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0853" one|strong="H3808" who|strong="H3808" picks it|strong="H0518" up|strong="H7311"? It|strong="H0518" can’t|strong="H3808" do|strong="H0518" anything|strong="H3808" to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" person who|strong="H3808" is|strong="H7626" using it|strong="H0518" to|strong="H5921" punish someone!
16 But|strong="H3651" Assyria doesn’t understand this|strong="H3651". So|strong="H3651" the|strong="H3068" Lord|strong="H3068" GOD|strong="H3068" All-Powerful will|strong="H3068" send|strong="H7971" a|strong="H7971" terrible disease|strong="H7332" against him|strong="H7971". He|strong="H3651" will|strong="H3068" lose his|strong="H3068" wealth and|strong="H3068" power like|strong="H3651" a|strong="H7971" sick man|strong="H0784" losing weight. Then|strong="H3651" Assyria’s glory|strong="H3519" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H3068" destroyed. It|strong="H3651" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H3068" like|strong="H3651" a|strong="H7971" fire|strong="H0784" burning|strong="H3344" until everything is|strong="H3068" gone.
17 The|strong="H3117" Light|strong="H0216" of|strong="H3117" Israel|strong="H3478" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" like|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" fire|strong="H0784". The|strong="H3117" Holy|strong="H6918" One|strong="H0259" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" like|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" flame|strong="H3852". He|strong="H3117" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" like|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" fire|strong="H0784" that|strong="H3117" first|strong="H0259" begins to|strong="H1961" burn|strong="H1197" the|strong="H3117" weeds and|strong="H3478" thorns|strong="H7898"
18 and|strong="H5315" then|strong="H1961" spreads to|strong="H5704" burn up|strong="H5704" the|strong="H5704" tall trees and|strong="H5315" vineyards. Finally|strong="H5704", everything will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" destroyed|strong="H3615"—even|strong="H5704" the|strong="H5704" people|strong="H5315". Assyria will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" like|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" rotting log.
19 There|strong="H1961" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" few|strong="H4557" trees|strong="H6086" left|strong="H1961" standing in|strong="H3789" the|strong="H1961" forest|strong="H3293"—so|strong="H1961" few|strong="H4557" that|strong="H1961" even a|strong="H1961" child|strong="H5288" could|strong="H5288" count|strong="H4557" them|strong="H1961".
20 Then|strong="H1961" the|strong="H5921" people|strong="H3808" from|strong="H5921" Jacob’s|strong="H3290" family|strong="H1004" who|strong="H1931" are|strong="H3117" left|strong="H1961" living in|strong="H5921" Israel|strong="H3478" will|strong="H3068" stop|strong="H3808" depending on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" one|strong="H6918" who|strong="H1931" beat|strong="H5221" them|strong="H5921". They|strong="H3117" will|strong="H3068" learn to|strong="H1961" depend on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H5921" Holy|strong="H6918" One|strong="H6918" of|strong="H1004" Israel|strong="H3478".
21 Those who|strong="H0410" are|strong="H1368" left|strong="H7725" in|strong="H0413" Jacob’s|strong="H3290" family will|strong="H3290" again|strong="H7725" follow the|strong="H0413" Powerful|strong="H1368" God|strong="H0410".
22 Israel|strong="H3478", your|strong="H7725" people|strong="H5971" are|strong="H3478" as|strong="H1961" many as|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3588" sands of|strong="H3220" the|strong="H3588" sea|strong="H3220", but|strong="H3588" only|strong="H0518" a|strong="H1961" few of|strong="H3220" them|strong="H7725" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" left|strong="H7725" to|strong="H7725" come|strong="H1961" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H7725" God. But|strong="H3588" before that|strong="H3588" happens|strong="H1961", your|strong="H7725" country will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" destroyed. God has|strong="H1961" announced that|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" will|strong="H1961" destroy the|strong="H3588" land. And|strong="H3478" then|strong="H1961" justice|strong="H6666" will|strong="H1961" come|strong="H1961" into|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3588" land like|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" river|strong="H3588" flowing full|strong="H7725".
23 The|strong="H3605" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" All-Powerful really will|strong="H0776" destroy|strong="H3605" this|strong="H3588" land|strong="H0776".
24 The|strong="H0559" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" All-Powerful says|strong="H0559", “My|strong="H5921" people|strong="H5971" living|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" Zion|strong="H6726", don’t|strong="H0408" be|strong="H0408" afraid|strong="H3372" of|strong="H3427" Assyria|strong="H0804"! Yes|strong="H3651", he|strong="H3651" will|strong="H4714" beat|strong="H5221" you|strong="H5921", and|strong="H4714" it|strong="H5921" will|strong="H4714" be|strong="H0408" just as|strong="H3651" the|strong="H0559" time when|strong="H3427" Egypt|strong="H4714" beat|strong="H5221" you|strong="H5921" with|strong="H5921" a|strong="H5375" stick.
25 But|strong="H3588" after|strong="H5921" a|strong="H3588" short time|strong="H5750" my|strong="H5921" anger|strong="H0639" will|strong="H5750" stop. I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H5750" be|strong="H5750" satisfied that|strong="H3588" Assyria has|strong="H3588" punished you|strong="H3588" enough|strong="H4592".”
26 Then|strong="H5375" the|strong="H5921" LORD|strong="H3068" All-Powerful will|strong="H3068" beat Assyria with|strong="H3068" a|strong="H5375" whip|strong="H7752", just as|strong="H3068" he|strong="H3068" defeated Midian|strong="H4080" at|strong="H5921" Raven Rock|strong="H6697". He|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" punish his|strong="H5921" enemies, as|strong="H3068" he|strong="H3068" did when|strong="H3068" he|strong="H3068" raised|strong="H5375" his|strong="H5921" stick over|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" sea|strong="H3220" and|strong="H3068" led his|strong="H5921" people from|strong="H5921" Egypt|strong="H4714".
27 He|strong="H1931" will|strong="H1961" take|strong="H5493" away|strong="H5493" the|strong="H6440" troubles Assyria brought|strong="H1961" you|strong="H6440"—troubles that|strong="H3117" are|strong="H3117" like|strong="H1961" heavy weights carried|strong="H5921" with|strong="H5921" a|strong="H1961" yoke|strong="H5923" on|strong="H5921" your|strong="H5921" neck|strong="H6677". But|strong="H1961" that|strong="H3117" yoke|strong="H5923" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" taken|strong="H5493" off|strong="H5921" your|strong="H5921" neck|strong="H6677". The|strong="H6440" burden|strong="H5448" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" lifted from|strong="H5493" your|strong="H5921" shoulders|strong="H7926".
28 The|strong="H5921" army of|strong="H3627" Assyria will|strong="H0935" enter|strong="H0935" near|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" “Ruins” (Aiath|strong="H5857"). The|strong="H5921" army will|strong="H0935" walk on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" “Threshing Floor” (Migron|strong="H4051"). It|strong="H5921" will|strong="H0935" keep|strong="H0935" its|strong="H5921" food in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" “Storehouse” (Micmash|strong="H4363").
29 The|strong="H7586" army will cross|strong="H5674" the|strong="H7586" river at|strong="H7586" the|strong="H7586" “Crossing|strong="H5674"” (Maabarah) and|strong="H7586" sleep at|strong="H7586" Geba|strong="H1387". Ramah|strong="H7414" will be afraid|strong="H2729". The|strong="H7586" people at|strong="H7586" Gibeah|strong="H1390" of|strong="H1390" Saul|strong="H7586" will run|strong="H5127" away|strong="H5127".
30 Cry|strong="H6963" out, Bath Gallim|strong="H1554"! Laishah|strong="H3919", listen|strong="H7181"! Anathoth|strong="H6068", answer me|strong="H6963"!
31 The|strong="H3427" people|strong="H3427" of|strong="H3427" Madmenah|strong="H4088" are running away|strong="H5074". The|strong="H3427" people|strong="H3427" of|strong="H3427" Gebim|strong="H1374" are hiding.
32 This|strong="H3117" day|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3117" army|strong="H3389" will|strong="H1004" stop|strong="H5975" at|strong="H3117" Nob|strong="H5011" and|strong="H3027" prepare to|strong="H3389" fight against|strong="H3027" Mount|strong="H2022" Zion, the|strong="H3117" hill|strong="H2022" of|strong="H1004" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
33 Look|strong="H2009", the|strong="H3068" Lord|strong="H3068" GOD|strong="H3068" All-Powerful will|strong="H3068" use his|strong="H3068" great power and|strong="H3068" chop down|strong="H1438" that|strong="H3068" great tree. Their|strong="H3068" highest officials|strong="H1364" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H3068" brought|strong="H7311" down|strong="H1438". Their|strong="H3068" most|strong="H6635" important leaders will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H3068" humbled.
34 God will|strong="H3844" cut down|strong="H5307" his enemies. Like|strong="H5307" the|strong="H5307" tall trees of|strong="H5307" Lebanon|strong="H3844" he will|strong="H3844" cut them|strong="H5307" down|strong="H5307" with|strong="H5307" an|strong="H5307" ax.