Chapter 4

The Lord’s Future Reign

1 In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house

will be the highest of all—

the most important place on earth.

It will be raised above the other hills,

and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.

2 People from many nations will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the house of Jacob’s God.

There he will teach us his ways,

and we will walk in his paths.”

For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion;

his word will go out from Jerusalem.

3 The Lord will mediate between peoples

and will settle disputes between strong nations far away.

They will hammer their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will no longer fight against nation,

nor train for war anymore.

4 Everyone will live in peace and prosperity,

enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees,

for there will be nothing to fear.

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies

has made this promise!

5 Though the nations around us follow their idols,

we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever.

Israel’s Return from Exile

6 “In that coming day,” says the Lord,

“I will gather together those who are lame,

those who have been exiles,

and those whom I have filled with grief.

7 Those who are weak will survive as a remnant;

those who were exiles will become a strong nation.

Then I, the Lord, will rule from Jerusalem*

as their king forever.”

8 As for you, Jerusalem,

the citadel of God’s people,*

your royal might and power

will come back to you again.

The kingship will be restored

to my precious Jerusalem.

9 But why are you now screaming in terror?

Have you no king to lead you?

Have your wise people all died?

Pain has gripped you like a woman in childbirth.

10 Writhe and groan like a woman in labor,

you people of Jerusalem,*

for now you must leave this city

to live in the open country.

You will soon be sent in exile

to distant Babylon.

But the Lord will rescue you there;

he will redeem you from the grip of your enemies.

11 Now many nations have gathered against you.

“Let her be desecrated,” they say.

“Let us see the destruction of Jerusalem.* ”

12 But they do not know the Lord’s thoughts

or understand his plan.

These nations don’t know

that he is gathering them together

to be beaten and trampled

like sheaves of grain on a threshing floor.

13 “Rise up and crush the nations, O Jerusalem!”*

says the Lord.

“For I will give you iron horns and bronze hooves,

so you can trample many nations to pieces.

You will present their stolen riches to the Lord,

their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.”

Chapter 5

1 *  Mobilize! Marshal your troops!

The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem.

They will strike Israel’s leader

in the face with a rod.

A Ruler from Bethlehem

2 *  But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

are only a small village among all the people of Judah.

Yet a ruler of Israel

whose origins are in the distant past,

will come from you on my behalf.

3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies

until the woman in labor gives birth.

Then at last his fellow countrymen

will return from exile to their own land.

4 And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength,

in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

Then his people will live there undisturbed,

for he will be highly honored around the world.

5 And he will be the source of peace.

When the Assyrians invade our land

and break through our defenses,

we will appoint seven rulers to watch over us,

eight princes to lead us.

6 They will rule Assyria with drawn swords

and enter the gates of the land of Nimrod.

He will rescue us from the Assyrians

when they pour over the borders to invade our land.

The Remnant Purified

7 Then the remnant left in Israel*

will take their place among the nations.

They will be like dew sent by the Lord

or like rain falling on the grass,

which no one can hold back

and no one can restrain.

8 The remnant left in Israel

will take their place among the nations.

They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,

like a strong young lion among flocks of sheep and goats,

pouncing and tearing as they go

with no rescuer in sight.

9 The people of Israel will stand up to their foes,

and all their enemies will be wiped out.

10 “In that day,” says the Lord,

“I will slaughter your horses

and destroy your chariots.

11 I will tear down your walls

and demolish your defenses.

12 I will put an end to all witchcraft,

and there will be no more fortune-tellers.

13 I will destroy all your idols and sacred pillars,

so you will never again worship the work of your own hands.

14 I will abolish your idol shrines with their Asherah poles

and destroy your pagan cities.

15 I will pour out my vengeance

on all the nations that refuse to obey me.”

Chapter 6

The Lord’s Case against Israel

Listen to what the Lord is saying:

“Stand up and state your case against me.

Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints.

2 And now, O mountains,

listen to the Lord’s complaint!

He has a case against his people.

He will bring charges against Israel.

3 “O my people, what have I done to you?

What have I done to make you tired of me?

Answer me!

4 For I brought you out of Egypt

and redeemed you from slavery.

I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you.

5 Don’t you remember, my people,

how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed

and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead?

And remember your journey from Acacia Grove* to Gilgal,

when I, the Lord, did everything I could

to teach you about my faithfulness.”

6 What can we bring to the Lord?

Should we bring him burnt offerings?

Should we bow before God Most High

with offerings of yearling calves?

7 Should we offer him thousands of rams

and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?

Should we sacrifice our firstborn children

to pay for our sins?

8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,

and this is what he requires of you:

to do what is right, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God.

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment

9 Fear the Lord if you are wise!

His voice calls to everyone in Jerusalem:

“The armies of destruction are coming;

the Lord is sending them.*

10 What shall I say about the homes of the wicked

filled with treasures gained by cheating?

What about the disgusting practice

of measuring out grain with dishonest measures?*

11 How can I tolerate your merchants

who use dishonest scales and weights?

12 The rich among you have become wealthy

through extortion and violence.

Your citizens are so used to lying

that their tongues can no longer tell the truth.

13 “Therefore, I will wound you!

I will bring you to ruin for all your sins.

14 You will eat but never have enough.

Your hunger pangs and emptiness will remain.

And though you try to save your money,

it will come to nothing in the end.

You will save a little,

but I will give it to those who conquer you.

15 You will plant crops

but not harvest them.

You will press your olives

but not get enough oil to anoint yourselves.

You will trample the grapes

but get no juice to make your wine.

16 You keep only the laws of evil King Omri;

you follow only the example of wicked King Ahab!

Therefore, I will make an example of you,

bringing you to complete ruin.

You will be treated with contempt,

mocked by all who see you.”