Israel Will Be Destroyed

1I saw the Lord standing next to the altar in the temple. He said to me,

“Strike the tops of the temple pillars.

Then the heavy stones at the base of the entrance will shake.

Bring everything down on the heads of everyone there.

I will kill with my swords

those who are left alive.

None of the Israelites will escape.

None will get away.

2They might dig down deep.

But my powerful hand will take them out of there.

They might climb up to the heavens.

But I will bring them down from there.

3They might hide on top of Mount Carmel.

But I will hunt them down

and grab them.

They might hide from me at the bottom of the ocean.

But even there I will command the serpent to bite them.

4Their enemies might take them away

as prisoners to another country.

But there I will command Israel’s enemies

to cut them down with swords.

I will keep my eye on Israel to harm them.

I will not help them.”

5The Lord rules over all.

The Lord touches the earth, and it melts.

Everyone who lives in it mourns.

The whole land rises like the Nile River.

Then it settles back down again

like that river in Egypt.

6The Lord builds his palace high in the heavens.

He lays its foundation on the earth.

He sends for the waters in the clouds.

Then he pours them out on the surface of the land.

His name is the Lord.

7“You Israelites are just like

the people of Cush to me,”

announces the Lord.

“I brought Israel up from Egypt.

I also brought the Philistines from Crete

and the Arameans from Kir.

8“I am the Lord and King.

My eyes are watching the sinful kingdom of Israel.

I will wipe it off the face of the earth.

But I will not totally destroy the people of Jacob,”

announces the Lord.

9“I will give an order.

I will shake the people of Israel

among all the nations.

They will be like grain that is shaken through a screen.

Not a pebble will fall to the ground.

10All the sinners among my people

will be killed by swords.

They say, ‘Nothing bad will ever happen to us.’

Israel Will Be Made Like New Again

11“The time will come when I will set up

David’s fallen shelter.

I will repair its broken walls.

I will rebuild what was destroyed.

I will make it what it used to be.

12Then my people will take control of those

who are left alive in Edom.

They will also possess all the nations

that belong to me,”

announces the Lord.

He will do all these things.

13“The days are coming,” announces the Lord.

“At that time those who plow the land

will catch up with those who harvest the crops.

Those who stomp on grapes

will catch up with those who plant the vines.

Fresh wine will drip from the mountains.

It will flow down from all the hills.

14I will bring my people Israel back home.

I will bless them with great success again.

They will rebuild the destroyed cities and live in them.

They will plant vineyards and drink the wine they produce.

They will make gardens and eat their fruit.

15I will plant Israel in their own land.

They will never again be removed

from the land I have given them,”

says the Lord your God.