23. I will also make it a possession for the bittern and pools of water, and I will sweep it with brooms of destruction, saith the Lord of the hosts.
24. The Lord of the hosts has sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
25. That I will break the Assyrian in my land and upon my mountains tread him under foot; then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.
26. This is the counsel that is purposed upon the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the Gentiles.
27. For the Lord of the hosts has purposed, and who shall disannul it? His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
28. In the year that King Ahaz died was this burden.
29. Rejoice not thou, whole Philistia, because thou didst break the rod of him that smote thee: for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.
30. And the firstborn of the poor shall be fed, and the needy shall lie down in safety; and I will cause thy root to die of famine, and he shall slay thy remnant.
31. Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Philistia, art dissolved; for there shall come from the north a smoke, and not one shall be left in thy assemblies.
32. What shall one then answer the messengers of the Gentiles? That the Lord has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people shall have confidence.