Through the Bible – Day 279

₁You are in for trouble

if you go to Egypt for help,

or if you depend on

an army of chariots

or a powerful cavalry.

Instead you should depend on

and trust the holy LORD God

of Israel.

₂The LORD isn't stupid!

He does what he promises,

and he can bring doom.

If you are cruel yourself,

or help those who are evil,

you will be destroyed.

₃The Egyptians are mere humans.

They aren't God.

Their horses are made of flesh;

they can't live for ever.

When the LORD shows his power,

he will destroy the Egyptians

and all who depend on them.

Together they will fall.

₄The LORD All-Powerful

said to me,

“I will roar and attack

like a fearless lion

not frightened by the shouts

of shepherds trying to protect

their sheep.

That's how I will come down

and fight on Mount Zion.

₅I, the LORD All-Powerful,

will protect Jerusalem

like a mother bird circling

over her nest.”

₆People of Israel, come back!

You have completely turned

from the LORD.

₇The time is coming

when you will throw away

your idols of silver and gold,

made by your sinful hands.

₈The Assyrians will be killed,

but not by the swords

of humans.

Their young men will try

to escape,

but they will be captured

and forced into slavery.

₉Their fortress will fall

when terror strikes;

their army officers

will be frightened

and run from the battle.

This is what the LORD has said,

the LORD whose fiery furnace

is built on Mount Zion.

₁A king and his leaders

will rule with justice.

₂They will be a place of safety

from stormy winds,

a stream in the desert,

and a rock that gives shade

from the heat of the sun.

₃Then everyone who has eyes

will open them and see,

and those who have ears

will pay attention.

₄All who are impatient

will take time to think;

everyone who stutters

will talk clearly.

₅Fools will no longer

be highly respected,

and crooks won't be given

positions of honour.

₆Fools talk foolishness.

They always make plans

to do sinful things,

to lie about the LORD,

to let the hungry starve,

and to keep water from those

who are thirsty.

₇Cruel people tell lies—

they do evil things,

and make cruel plans

to destroy the poor and needy,

even when they beg

for justice.

₈But helpful people

can always be trusted

to make helpful plans.

₉Listen to what I say,

you women who are carefree

and careless!

₁₀You may not have worries now,

but in about a year,

the grape harvest will fail,

and you will tremble.

₁₁Shake and shudder,

you women without a care!

Strip off your clothes—

put on sackcloth.

₁₂Slap your breasts in sorrow

because of what happened

to the fruitful fields

and vineyards,

₁₃and to the happy homes

in Jerusalem.

The land of my people

is covered with thorns.

₁₄The palace will be deserted,

the crowded city empty.

Fortresses and towers

will for ever become

playgrounds for wild donkeys

and pastures for sheep.

₁₅When the Spirit is given to us

from heaven,

deserts will become orchards

thick as fertile forests.

₁₆Honesty and justice

will prosper there,

₁₇and justice will produce

lasting peace and security.

₁₈You, the LORD's people,

will live in peace,

calm and secure,

₁₉even if hailstones flatten

forests and cities.

₂₀You will have God's blessing,

as you plant your crops

beside streams,

while your donkeys and cattle

roam freely about.

₁You defeated my people.

Now you're in for trouble!

You've never been destroyed,

but you will be destroyed;

you've never been betrayed,

but you will be betrayed.

When you have finished

destroying and betraying,

you will be destroyed

and betrayed in return.

₂Please, LORD, be kind to us!

We depend on you.

Make us strong each morning,

and come to save us

when we are in trouble.

₃Nations scatter when you roar

and show your greatness.

₄We attack our enemies

like swarms of locusts;

we take everything

that belongs to them.

₅You, LORD, are above all others,

and you live in the heavens.

You have brought justice

and fairness to Jerusalem;

₆you are the foundation

on which we stand today.

You always save us and give

true wisdom and knowledge.

Nothing means more to us

than obeying you.

₇Listen! Our bravest soldiers

are running through the streets,

screaming for help.

Our messengers hoped for peace,

but came home crying.

₈No one travels any more;

every road is empty.

Treaties are broken,

and no respect is shown

to any who keep promises.

₉Fields are dry and barren;

Mount Lebanon wilts

with shame.

Sharon Valley is a desert;

the forests of Bashan and Carmel

have lost their leaves.

₁₀But the LORD says,

“Now I will do something

and be greatly praised.

₁₁Your deeds are straw

that will be set on fire

by your very own breath.

₁₂You will be burnt to ashes

like thorns in a fire.

₁₃Everyone, both far and near,

come, look at what I have done.

See my mighty power!”

₁₄Those terrible sinners

on Mount Zion tremble

as they ask in fear,

“How can we possibly live

where a raging fire

never stops burning?”

₁₅But there will be rewards

for those who live right

and tell the truth,

for those who refuse

to take money by force

or accept bribes,

for all who hate murder

and violent crimes.

₁₆They will live in a fortress

high on a rocky cliff,

where they will have food

and plenty of water.

₁₇With your own eyes

you will see the glorious King;

you will see his kingdom

reaching far and wide.

₁₈Then you will ask yourself,

“Where are those officials

who terrified us and forced us

to pay such heavy taxes?”

₁₉You will never again have to see

the proud people who spoke

a strange and foreign language

you could not understand.

₂₀Look to Mount Zion

where we celebrate

our religious festivals.

You will see Jerusalem,

secure as a tent with pegs

that cannot be pulled up

and fastened with ropes

that can never be broken.

₂₁Our wonderful LORD

will be with us!

There will be deep rivers

and wide streams

safe from enemy ships.

₂₂The LORD is our judge

and our ruler;

the LORD is our king

and will keep us safe.

₂₃But your nation is a ship

with its rigging loose,

its mast shaky,

and its sail not spread.

Some day even you who are lame

will take everything you want

from your enemies.

₂₄The LORD will forgive your sins,

and none of you will say,

“I feel ill.”