Peace and Security through Obedience

1In days to come

the mountain of the LORD's house

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and shall be raised up above the hills.

Peoples shall stream to it,

2and many nations shall come and say:

‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob;

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths.’

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3He shall judge between many peoples,

and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;

they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,

and their spears into pruning-hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war any more;

4but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,

and no one shall make them afraid;

for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

5For all the peoples walk,

each in the name of its god,

but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God

for ever and ever.

Restoration Promised after Exile

6On that day, says the LORD,

I will assemble the lame

and gather those who have been driven away,

and those whom I have afflicted.

7The lame I will make the remnant,

and those who were cast off, a strong nation;

and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion

now and for evermore.

8And you, O tower of the flock,

hill of daughter Zion,

to you it shall come,

the former dominion shall come,

the sovereignty of daughter Jerusalem.

9Now why do you cry aloud?

Is there no king in you?

Has your counsellor perished,

that pangs have seized you like a woman in labour?

10Writhe and groan,4.10 Meaning of Heb uncertain O daughter Zion,

like a woman in labour;

for now you shall go forth from the city

and camp in the open country;

you shall go to Babylon.

There you shall be rescued,

there the LORD will redeem you

from the hands of your enemies.

11Now many nations

are assembled against you,

saying, ‘Let her be profaned,

and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.’

12But they do not know

the thoughts of the LORD;

they do not understand his plan,

that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing-floor.

13Arise and thresh,

O daughter Zion,

for I will make your horn iron

and your hoofs bronze;

you shall beat in pieces many peoples,

and shall4.13 Gk Syr Tg: Heb and I will devote their gain to the LORD,

their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.