10. As my hand seized the kingdoms of the idols, kingdoms whose images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria—
11. shall I not deal with Jerusalem and her images as I dealt with Samaria and her idols?’ ”
12. When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes.
13. For he says: “ ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings.
14. As one reaches into a nest, so my hand reached for the wealth of the nations; as people gather abandoned eggs, so I gathered all the countries; not one flapped a wing, or opened its mouth to chirp.’ ”
15. Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it, or the saw boast against the one who uses it? As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up, or a club brandish the one who is not wood!
16. Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors; under his pomp a fire will be kindled like a blazing flame.
17. The Light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns and his briers.
18. The splendor of his forests and fertile fields it will completely destroy, as when a sick person wastes away.
19. And the remaining trees of his forests will be so few that a child could write them down.
20. In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.
21. A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.
22. Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous.
23. The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land.