Messages about Judah and Israel
Peace that lasts for ever
1This is the message that I was given about Judah and Jerusalem:
2In the future, the mountain
with the LORD's temple
will be the highest of all.
It will reach above the hills;
every nation will rush to it.
3Many people will come and say,
“Let's go to the mountain
of the LORD God of Jacob
and worship in his temple.”
The LORD will teach us his Law
from Jerusalem,
and we will obey him.
4He will settle arguments
between nations.
They will beat their swords
and their spears
into rakes and shovels;
they will never make war
or attack one another.
5People of Israel, let's live
by the light of the LORD.
Following sinful customs
6Our LORD, you have deserted
your people, Israel,
because they follow customs
of nations from the east.
They worship Philistine gods
and are close friends
of foreigners.
7They have endless treasures
of silver and gold;
they have countless horses
and war chariots.
8Everywhere in the country
they worship the idols
they have made.
9And so, all of them
will be ashamed and disgraced.
Don't help them!
A day of judgment
10Every one of you,
hide among the rocks
and in the ground,
because the LORD is fearsome,
marvellous, and glorious.
11When the LORD comes,
everyone who is proud
will be made humble,
and the LORD alone
will be honoured.
12The LORD All-Powerful
has chosen a day
when those who are proud
and conceited
will be put down.
13The tall and towering
cedars of Lebanon
will be destroyed.
So will the oak trees of Bashan,
14all high mountains and hills,
15every strong fortress,
16all the seagoing ships,
and every beautiful boat.
17When that day comes,
everyone who is proud
will be put down.
Only the LORD will be honoured.
18Idols will be gone for good.
19You had better hide
in caves and holes—
the LORD will be fearsome,
marvellous, and glorious
when he comes to terrify
people on earth.
20On that day everyone will throw
to the rats and bats
their idols of silver and gold
they made to worship.
21The LORD will be fearsome,
marvellous, and glorious
when he comes to terrify
people on earth—
they will hide in caves
and in the hills.
22Stop trusting the power
of humans.
They are all going to die,
so how can they help?