1. I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said:Strike the capitals of the pillars so that the thresholds shake;knock them down on the heads of all the people.Then I will kill the rest of them with the sword. None of those who flee will get away; none of the fugitives will escape.
2. If they dig down to Sheol, from there My hand will take them;if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down.
3. If they hide themselveson the top of Carmel,from there I will track them down and seize them;if they conceal themselvesfrom My sight on the sea floor, from there I will commandthe sea serpent to bite them.
4. And if they are drivenby their enemies into captivity, from there I will commandthe sword to kill them. I will fix My eyes on themfor harm and not for good.
5. The Lord, the God of Hosts —He touches the earth; it melts, and all who dwell in it mourn;all of it rises like the Nileand subsides like the Nile of Egypt.
6. He builds His upper chambersin the heavens and lays the foundation of His vaulton the earth. He summons the waters of the seaand pours them out on the face of the earth. Yahweh is His name.
7. Israelites, are you not like the Cushites to Me? This is the Lord’s declaration.Didn’t I bring Israel from the land of Egypt,the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Arameans from Kir?
8. Look, the eyes of the Lord Godare on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy itfrom the face of the earth. However, I will not totally destroythe house of Jacob —this is the Lord’s declaration —
9. for I am about to give the command,and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations,as one shakes a sieve,but not a pebble will fall to the ground.
10. All the sinners among My people who say: “Disaster will never overtake or confront us,” will die by the sword.
11. In that dayI will restore the fallen booth of David: I will repair its gaps,restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old,
12. so that they may possessthe remnant of Edom and all the nationsthat are called by My name —this is the Lord’s declaration —He will do this.
13. Hear this! The days are coming —this is the Lord’s declaration —when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the one who treads grapes,the sower of seed.The mountains will drip with sweet wine,and all the hills will flow with it.
14. I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel. They will rebuild and occupy ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink their wine,make gardens and eat their produce.
15. I will plant them on their land,and they will never again be uprootedfrom the land I have given them. Yahweh your God has spoken.