14. My hand found the wealth of the peoplesas if it were in a nest.Just as one gathers abandoned eggs,I have gathered the entire earth;no creature fluttered a wing or opened a mouth to chirp."
15. Will the ax glorify itself over the one who chops with it?Or will the saw magnify itself over its user?As if a rod could wave the one who lifts it!As if a staff could lift up the one not made of wood!
16. Therefore, the Lord God of heavenly forceswill make the well-fed people waste away;and among his officials,a blaze will burn like scorching fire.
17. The light of Israel will become a fire,its holy one a flame,which will burn and devourits thorns and thistlesin a single day.
18. Its abundant forest and farmlandwill be finished completely,as when a sick person wastes away;
19. its forest’s remaining trees will be no more than a child can count.
20. On that day, what’s left of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer depend on the one who beat them. Instead, they will faithfully depend on the Lord, the holy one of Israel.
21. A few will return, what’s left of Jacob, to the mighty God.
22. Although your people, Israel, were like the sand of the sea, only a few survivors will return. The end is announced, overflowing with justice.