Restoration of Judah

1But the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land; and aliens will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2And the nations will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess the nations14.2 Heb them as male and female slaves in the LORD's land; they will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them.

Downfall of the King of Babylon

3When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, 4you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:

How the oppressor has ceased!

How his insolence14.4 Q Ms Compare Gk Syr Vg: meaning of MT uncertain has ceased!

5The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked,

the sceptre of rulers,

6that struck down the peoples in wrath

with unceasing blows,

that ruled the nations in anger

with unrelenting persecution.

7The whole earth is at rest and quiet;

they break forth into singing.

8The cypresses exult over you,

the cedars of Lebanon, saying,

‘Since you were laid low,

no one comes to cut us down.’

9Sheol beneath is stirred up

to meet you when you come;

it rouses the shades to greet you,

all who were leaders of the earth;

it raises from their thrones

all who were kings of the nations.

10All of them will speak

and say to you:

‘You too have become as weak as we are!

You have become like us!’

11Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,

and the sound of your harps;

maggots are the bed beneath you,

and worms are your covering.

12How you are fallen from heaven,

O Day Star, son of Dawn!

How you are cut down to the ground,

you who laid the nations low!

13You said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;

I will raise my throne

above the stars of God;

I will sit on the mount of assembly

on the heights of Zaphon;14.13 Or assembly in the far north

14I will ascend to the tops of the clouds,

I will make myself like the Most High.’

15But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the depths of the Pit.

16Those who see you will stare at you,

and ponder over you:

‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,

who shook kingdoms,

17who made the world like a desert

and overthrew its cities,

who would not let his prisoners go home?’

18All the kings of the nations lie in glory,

each in his own tomb;

19but you are cast out, away from your grave,

like loathsome carrion,14.19 Cn Compare Gk: Heb like a loathed branch

clothed with the dead, those pierced by the sword,

who go down to the stones of the Pit,

like a corpse trampled underfoot.

20You will not be joined with them in burial,

because you have destroyed your land,

you have killed your people.

May the descendants of evildoers

nevermore be named!

21Prepare slaughter for his sons

because of the guilt of their father.14.21 Syr Compare Gk: Heb fathers

Let them never rise to possess the earth

or cover the face of the world with cities.

22I will rise up against them, says the LORD of hosts, and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, offspring and posterity, says the LORD. 23And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says the LORD of hosts.

An Oracle concerning Assyria

24The LORD of hosts has sworn:

As I have designed,

so shall it be;

and as I have planned,

so shall it come to pass:

25I will break the Assyrian in my land,

and on my mountains trample him under foot;

his yoke shall be removed from them,

and his burden from their shoulders.

26This is the plan that is planned

concerning the whole earth;

and this is the hand that is stretched out

over all the nations.

27For the LORD of hosts has planned,

and who will annul it?

His hand is stretched out,

and who will turn it back?

An Oracle concerning Philistia

28In the year that King Ahaz died this oracle came:

29Do not rejoice, all you Philistines,

that the rod that struck you is broken,

for from the root of the snake will come forth an adder,

and its fruit will be a flying fiery serpent.

30The firstborn of the poor will graze,

and the needy lie down in safety;

but I will make your root die of famine,

and your remnant I14.30 Q Ms Vg: MT he will kill.

31Wail, O gate; cry, O city;

melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you!

For smoke comes out of the north,

and there is no straggler in its ranks.

32What will one answer the messengers of the nation?

‘The LORD has founded Zion,

and the needy among his people

will find refuge in her.’