14. I have taken the riches of all these people,like one who reaches into a bird’s nest.I have taken these nations,like a person taking eggs.No one raised a hand against me.No one opened his mouth to stop me.”
15. An ax is not better than the person who swings it.A saw is not better than the person who uses it.A stick cannot control the person who picks it up.A club cannot pick up the person!
16. So the Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies,will send a terrible disease against Assyria’s soldiers.The strength of Assyria will be burned up.It will be like a fire burning until everything is gone.
17. God, the Light of Israel, will be like a fire.The Holy One will be like a flame.He will be like a firethat suddenly burns the weeds and thorns.
18. The fire burns away the great trees and rich farmlands.It will destroy everything.Things will be like a sick man who wastes away.
19. Only a few trees will be left standing.There will be so few even a child will be able to count them.
20. At that time some people will be left alive in Israelfrom the family of Jacob.They will not continue to dependon the person who defeated them.They will learn truly to depend on the Lord,the Holy One of Israel.
21. The people who are left alive in Jacob’s familywill again follow the powerful God.
22. Israel, your people are very many.They are like the grains of sand by the sea.But only a few of them will be left alive to return to the Lord.God has announced that he will destroy the landcompletely and fairly.
23. The Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, will certainly destroy this land.He will destroy it as he has announced.
24. This is what the Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, says:“My people living in Jerusalem,don’t be afraid of the Assyrians.They beat you with a rod.They raise a stick to hurt you, as Egypt did.
25. But after a short time my anger will stop.Then I will turn my anger to destroying them.”
26. Then the Lord of heaven’s armies will beat the Assyrians with a whip.He will defeat them as he defeated Midian at the rock of Oreb.He will raise his stick over the watersas he did in Egypt.
27. Then the troubles that Assyria puts on youwill be removed.The load they make you carrywill be taken away.
28. The army of Assyria will enter near Aiath.They will walk through Migron.They will store their food in Micmash.