Isaiah 30:19-33
People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you won’t weep anymore. When you cry out to the Lord for help, he will have mercy on you. As soon as he hears you, he’ll answer you. He might treat you like prisoners. You might eat the bread of trouble. You might drink the water of suffering. But he will be your Teacher. He won’t hide himself anymore. You will see him with your own eyes. You will hear your Teacher’s voice behind you. You will hear it whether you turn to the right or the left. It will say, “Here is the path I want you to take. So walk on it.” Then you will get rid of the silver statues of your gods. You won’t have anything to do with the gold statues either. All of them are “unclean.” So you will throw them away like dirty rags. You will say to them, “Get away from us!”
The Lord will send rain on the seeds you plant in the ground. The crops that grow will be rich and plentiful. At that time your cattle will eat grass in rolling meadows. The oxen and donkeys that work the soil will eat the finest feed and crushed grain. The farmers will use pitchforks and shovels to separate it from the straw. At that time the towers of your enemies will fall down. Their soldiers will die. Streams of water will flow on every high mountain and hill. The moon will shine like the sun. And the sunlight will be seven times brighter than usual. It will be like the light of seven full days. That will happen when the Lord bandages and heals the wounds and bruises he has brought on his people.
The Lord will come from far away
in all his power and glory.
He will show his burning anger.
Thick clouds of smoke will be all around him.
His mouth will speak angry words.
The words from his tongue will be like a destroying fire.
His breath will be like a rushing flood
that rises up to the neck.
He’ll separate out the nations he is going to destroy.
He’ll place a bit in their jaws.
It will lead them down the road to death.
You will sing
as you do on the night you celebrate a holy feast.
Your hearts will be filled with joy.
You will be as joyful as people playing their flutes
as they go up to the mountain of the Lord.
He is the Rock of Israel.
The Lord will cause people to hear his powerful voice.
He will make them see his arm coming down to punish them.
It will come down with burning anger and destroying fire.
It will come down with rain, thunderstorms and hail.
The voice of the Lord will tear the Assyrians apart.
He will strike them down with his scepter.
He will strike them
with his club to punish them.
Each time he does, his people will celebrate
with the music of harps and tambourines.
He will use his powerful arm
to strike down the Assyrians in battle.
In the Valley of Ben Hinnom, Topheth has been prepared for a long time.
It has been made ready for the king of Assyria.
Its fire pit has been made deep and wide.
It has plenty of wood for the fire.
The breath of the Lord
will be like a stream of burning sulfur.
It will set the wood on fire.
Isaiah 31:1-9
The Lord Will Judge Those Who Depend on Egypt
How terrible it will be for those who go down to Egypt for help!
How terrible for those who depend on horses!
They trust in how many chariots they have.
They trust in how strong their horsemen are.
But they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel.
They don’t ask the Lord for his help.
He too is wise. He can bring horrible trouble.
He does what he says he’ll do.
He’ll rise up against that evil nation.
He’ll fight against those who help them.
The men of Egypt are only human beings.
They aren’t God.
Their horses are only flesh and blood.
They aren’t spirits.
The Lord will reach out his powerful hand
to punish everyone.
The Egyptians provide help.
But they will be tripped up.
The people of Judah receive the help.
But they will fall down.
All of them will be destroyed.
The Lord says to me,
“A powerful lion stands over its food and growls.
A lot of shepherds can be brought together to drive it away.
But the lion is not frightened by their shouts.
It is not upset by the noise they make.
In the same way, I will come down from heaven.
I will fight on Mount Zion and on its hills.
Nothing will drive me away.
I am the Lord who rules over all.
Like a bird hovering over its nest, I will guard Jerusalem.
I will keep it safe.
I will ‘pass over’ it and save it.
I am the Lord who rules over all.”
People of Israel, return to the Lord. He’s the God you have so strongly opposed. You sinned when you made your gods out of silver and gold. The time will come when all of you will turn away from them.
The Lord says, “The Assyrians will be killed by swords.
But the swords that kill them will not be used by human beings.
The Assyrians will run away from those swords.
But their young men will be caught
and forced to work hard.
Their hiding places will be destroyed
when terror strikes them.
Their commanders will see their enemy’s battle flags.
Then they will be filled with panic,”
announces the Lord.
His fire blazes out from Mount Zion.
His furnace burns in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 32:1-20
The King Who Will Do What Is Right
A king will come who will do what is right.
His officials will govern fairly.
Each official will be like a place to get out of the wind.
He will be like a place to hide from storms.
He’ll be like streams of water flowing in the desert.
He’ll be like the shadow of a huge rock in a dry and thirsty land.
Then the eyes of those who see won’t be closed anymore.
The ears of those who hear will listen to the truth.
People who are afraid will know and understand.
Tongues that stutter will speak clearly.
Foolish people won’t be considered noble anymore.
Those who are worthless won’t be highly respected.
Foolish people say foolish things.
Their minds are set on doing evil things.
They don’t do what is right.
They tell lies about the Lord.
They don’t give hungry people any food.
They don’t let thirsty people have any water.
Those who are worthless use sinful methods.
They make evil plans against poor people.
They destroy them with their lies.
They do it even when those people are right.
But those who are noble make noble plans.
And by doing noble things they succeed.
The Sinful Women in Jerusalem
You women who are so contented,
pay attention to me.
You who feel so secure,
listen to what I have to say.
You feel secure now.
But in a little over a year you will tremble with fear.
The grape harvest will fail.
There won’t be any fruit.
So tremble, you contented women.
Tremble with fear, you who feel so secure.
Take off your fine clothes.
Wrap yourselves in rags.
Beat your chests to show how sad you are.
The pleasant fields have been destroyed.
The fruitful vines have dried up.
My people’s land is overgrown with thorns and bushes.
Mourn for all the houses that were once filled with joy.
Cry over this city that used to be full of wild parties.
The royal palace will be left empty.
The noisy city will be deserted.
The fort and lookout tower will become
a dry and empty desert forever.
Donkeys will enjoy being there.
Flocks will eat there.
That will continue until the Holy Spirit
is poured out on us from heaven.
Then the desert will be turned into rich farm lands.
The rich farm lands will seem like a forest.
In the desert, the Lord will make sure people do what is right.
In the rich farm lands he will make sure they treat one another fairly.
Doing what is right will bring peace and rest.
When my people do that, they will stay calm
and trust in the Lord forever.
They will live in a peaceful land.
Their homes will be secure.
They will enjoy peace and quiet.
Hail might strip the forests bare.
Cities might be completely destroyed.
But how blessed you people will be!
You will plant your seeds by every stream.
You will let your cattle and donkeys
wander anywhere they want to.
