Messages about Judah and Israel

Peace that lasts for ever

1This is the message2.1 message: See the note at 1.1. that I was given about Judah and Jerusalem:

2In the future, the mountain

with the LORD's temple

will be the highest of all.

It will reach above the hills;

every nation will rush to it.

3Many people will come and say,

“Let's go to the mountain

of the LORD God of Jacob

and worship in his temple.”

The LORD will teach us his Law

from Jerusalem,

and we will obey him.

4He will settle arguments2.4: Jl 3.10; Mic 4.3.

between nations.

They will beat their swords

and their spears

into rakes and shovels;

they will never make war

or attack one another.

5People of Israel, let's live

by the light of the LORD.

Following sinful customs

6Our LORD, you have deserted

your people, Israel,

because they follow customs

of nations from the east.

They worship Philistine gods

and are close friends

of foreigners.2.6 because…foreigners: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

7They have endless treasures

of silver and gold;

they have countless horses

and war chariots.

8Everywhere in the country

they worship the idols

they have made.

9And so, all of them

will be ashamed and disgraced.

Don't help them!

A day of judgment

10Every one of you,2.10: Rev 6.15; 2 Th 1.9.

hide among the rocks

and in the ground,

because the LORD is fearsome,

marvellous, and glorious.

11When the LORD comes,

everyone who is proud

will be made humble,

and the LORD alone

will be honoured.

12The LORD All-Powerful

has chosen a day

when those who are proud

and conceited

will be put down.

13The tall and towering

cedars of Lebanon

will be destroyed.

So will the oak trees of Bashan,

14all high mountains and hills,

15every strong fortress,

16all the seagoing ships,2.16 seagoing ships: The Hebrew text has “ships of Tarshish”, which may have been a Phoenician city in Spain. “Ships of Tarshish” probably means large, seagoing ships.

and every beautiful boat.

17When that day comes,

everyone who is proud

will be put down.

Only the LORD will be honoured.

18Idols will be gone for good.

19You had better hide

in caves and holes—

the LORD will be fearsome,

marvellous, and glorious

when he comes to terrify

people on earth.

20On that day everyone will throw

to the rats and bats

their idols of silver and gold

they made to worship.

21The LORD will be fearsome,

marvellous, and glorious

when he comes to terrify

people on earth—

they will hide in caves

and in the hills.

22Stop trusting the power

of humans.

They are all going to die,

so how can they help?