17. the man who made the world a wilderness,who overthrew its citiesand would not let his captives go home?’
18. All the kings of the nations lie in state,each in his own tomb.
19. But you are cast out of your tomblike a rejected branch;you are covered with the slain,with those pierced by the sword,those who descend to the stones of the pit.Like a corpse trampled underfoot,
20. you will not join them in burial,for you have destroyed your landand killed your people.Let the offspring of the wickednever be mentioned again.
21. Prepare a place to slaughter his childrenfor the sins of their ancestors;they are not to rise to inherit the landand cover the earth with their cities.
22. ‘I will rise up against them,’declares the Lord Almighty.‘I will wipe out Babylon’s name and survivors,her offspring and descendants,’declares the Lord.
23. ‘I will turn her into a place for owlsand into swampland;I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,’declares the Lord Almighty.
24. The Lord Almighty has sworn,‘Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,and as I have purposed, so it will happen.
25. I will crush the Assyrian in my land;on my mountains I will trample him down.His yoke will be taken from my people,and his burden removed from their shoulders.’
26. This is the plan determined for the whole world;this is the hand stretched out over all nations.
27. For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him?His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?
28. This prophecy came in the year King Ahaz died:
29. Do not rejoice, all you Philistines,that the rod that struck you is broken;from the root of that snake will spring up a viper,its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent.
30. The poorest of the poor will find pasture,and the needy will lie down in safety.But your root I will destroy by famine;it will slay your survivors.
31. Wail, you gate! Howl, you city!Melt away, all you Philistines!A cloud of smoke comes from the north,and there is not a straggler in its ranks.
32. What answer shall be givento the envoys of that nation?‘The Lord has established Zion,and in her his afflicted people will find refuge.’