23. I will turn Babylon into a marsh, and owls will live there. I will sweep Babylon with a broom that will sweep everything away. I, the Lord Almighty, have spoken.”
24. The Lord Almighty has sworn an oath: “What I have planned will happen. What I have determined to do will be done.
25. I will destroy the Assyrians in my land of Israel and trample upon them on my mountains. I will free my people from the Assyrian yoke and from the burdens they have had to bear.
26. This is my plan for the world, and my arm is stretched out to punish the nations.”
27. The Lord Almighty is determined to do this; he has stretched out his arm to punish, and no one can stop him.
28. This is a message that was proclaimed in the year that King Ahaz died.
29. People of Philistia, the rod that beat you is broken, but you have no reason to be glad. When one snake dies, a worse one comes in its place. A snake's egg hatches a flying dragon.
30. The Lord will be a shepherd to the poor of his people and will let them live in safety. But he will send a terrible famine on you Philistines, and it will not leave any of you alive.