14. Do not stand at the crossroadsto destroy those who are trying to escape.Do not capture those who escape alive and turn them over to their enemyin their time of trouble.
15. “The Lord’s day of judging is coming soonto all the nations.The same evil things you did to other peoplewill happen to you;they will come back upon your own head.
16. Because you drank in my Temple,all the nations will drink on and on.They will drink and drinkuntil they disappear.
17. But on Mount Zion some will escape the judgment,and it will be a holy place.The people of Jacob will take back their landfrom those who took it from them.
18. The people of Jacob will be like a fireand the people of Joseph like a flame.But the people of Esau will be like dry stalks.The people of Jacob will set them on fire and burn them up.There will be no one left of the people of Esau.”This will happen because the Lord has said it.
19. Then God’s people will regain southern Judah from Edom;they will take back the mountains of Edom.They will take back the western hillsfrom the Philistines.They will regain the lands of Ephraim and Samaria,and Benjamin will take over Gilead.
20. People from Israel who once were forced to leave their homeswill take the land of the Canaanites,all the way to Zarephath.People from Judah who once were forced to leave Jerusalem and live in Sepharadwill take back the cities of southern Judah.