UST ISA Chapter 18

18 How terrible it will be for the people who live in the land

where insects’ wings buzz loudly!

That is the land of Cush,

through which rivers flow.

2 The king of that land sends ambassadors down the river in papyrus boats,

sailing over the surface of the water.

But his messengers who travel so quickly can go back to their nation

because Judah does not need to make an alliance with them.

The people of that nation are tall and have smooth skin.

Others throughout the world fear that nation

because it conquers other countries and takes their territories.

Great rivers flow through its land.

3 People who live throughout the world

should pay attention to the signs that Yahweh himself

is going to take action to defeat the enemies of Judah.

4 Yahweh told me this:

“I am watching quietly from heaven where I live, but I will act soon.

It is as if it is late summer

and the heat seems to shimmer during the day

and a heavy mist forms overnight

but thunderstorms form suddenly.”

5 When Yahweh defeats Judah’s’ enemies, it will be as if

grapes were ready for people to harvest.

It will be as if the blossoms had fallen off those vines

and grapes had grown where the flowers were.

It will be as if Yahweh uses pruning hooks

to cut off the sprigs that hold the grape bunches

and as if he also cuts off the branches that have grown from the vine.

6 The bodies of the dead enemy soldiers will remain on the battlefield.

There are birds that live in the mountains that eat flesh.

Those birds will eat those bodies during the summer.

Wild animals will eat those bodies during the winter.

7 When Yahweh defeats that enemy army,

ambassadors will return from that nation

whose people are tall and have smooth skin.

Others throughout the world fear that nation

because it conquers other countries and takes their territories.

Great rivers flow through its land.

But those ambassadors will be bringing gifts to Yahweh,

the commander of the heavenly armies,

at Mount Zion, the place where he has chosen to be present.