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.
23. Yes, destruction has been announced; the Lord God of heavenly forces will carry it out against the entire land.
24. Therefore, the Lord God of heavenly forces says: My people who live in Zion, don’t fear Assyria, which strikes you with the rod and raises its staff against you as Egypt did.
25. In a very short time my fury will end, and my anger at the world will be finished.
26. Therefore, the Lord of heavenly forces will crack a whip against Assyria,as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb.He will raise a rod over the sea,as he did in Egypt.
27. On that day, God will remove the burden from your shoulderand destroy the yoke on your neck.He has gone up from Samaria,
28. come against Aiath,passed to Migron.At Michmash he stored his equipment.
29. They crossed at the pass: "We’ll camp at Geba!"Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul has fled.
30. Cry aloud, Daughter Gallim!Listen, Laishah! Answer her, Anathoth!
31. Madmenah has flown.Gebim’s inhabitants sought refuge.
32. This very day he will stand at Noband shake his fist at Daughter Zion’s mountain,the hill of Jerusalem!