15. Can an ax attack the person who cuts with it?Can a saw make itself greater than the person who saws with it?A rod cannot move the person who lifts it.A wooden stick cannot pick up a person.
16. That is why the Almighty Lord of Armieswill send a degenerative disease against brave men.A flame will be turned into a raging fire under his power.
17. Israel’s light will become a flame.Its Holy One will become a fire.He will burn up and devour the weeds and thornbushes in one day.
18. The majestic forest and the orchardwill destroy both body and soul.They will be like a sick person wasting away.
19. The trees that remain in the forest will be so few thata child could count them.
20. At that time the remaining few Israelites,the survivors of Jacob’s descendantswill no longer depend on the one who struck them.They will only depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.
21. A few, the remaining few of Jacob, will return to the mighty God.
22. Although your people Israel may beas ⌊numerous as⌋ the grains of sand on the seashore,only a few will return.Destruction will be complete and fair.
23. The Almighty Lord of Armies will carry out this destructionthroughout the world as he has determined.
24. The Almighty Lord of Armies says:My people who live in Zion,don’t be afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with a rodor when they raise their staff against youas the Egyptians did.
25. Very soon I will unleash my fury,and my anger will destroy them.
26. Then the Lord of Armies will raise his whip against them.As he struck down Midian at the Rock of Oreband raised his staff over the water,so he will lift it as he did in Egypt.
27. At that time their burden will be removed from your shoulders.Their yoke will be removed from your neck.The yoke will be torn away because you have grown fat.
28. They come to Aiath.They pass through Migron.They store their equipment at Michmash.
29. They go through the mountain pass and lodge at Geba for the night.The people in Ramah tremble; the people in Saul’s Gibeah flee.
30. Cry aloud, you people in Gallim!Pay attention, you people in Laishah and miserable Anathoth!
31. The people in Madmenah flee; those who live in Gebim take shelter.
32. This day they stopped at Nob.They shake their fist at the mountain of my people Zion,at the mountain of Jerusalem.
33. Now look! The Almighty Lord of Armieswill trim the branches with terrifying power.The highest trees will be cut down.The tallest ones will be brought down.
34. He will cut down the underbrush of the forest with an ax.Lebanon will fall in front of the Mighty One.