5 Assyria won’t end well.

The rod of my anger and the staff of my rage is in their hands,[ref]

6 I’ve sent their king against an arrogant nation

≈ and against the people that I’m angry with.

I order him to plunder the plunder and to prey on the prey,

and to trample them—trodden down like the mud in the streets.

7 However, that’s not what’s in his mind,

and he doesn’t even think about those things,

because he’s bent on destruction

and the elimination of not just a few nations.

8 In fact, he says,

“Aren’t all my commanders like kings?

9 We destroyed Kalno liked we did at Karkemish,

Hamat like Arpad, and Shomron (Samaria) like Damascus.

10 I’ve already punished idolatrous kingdoms,

and their idols and images were more impressive that those in Yerushalem and Shomron,

11 so just like I did to Shomron and its idols,

I’ll will also do to Yerushalem and its idols.”

12 In due course, when my master has finished all his work against Mt. Tsiyyon (Zion) and against Yerushalem, I’ll deal with the result of the Assyrian king’s proud plans and the arrogant attitude that he displays, 13 because he says,

“It was my own strength and initiatives that got me this far,

and by using my wisdom, because I was discerning.

Now I’ve removed the boundaries of the peoples,

and I’ve stolen their treasures,

and like a powerful animal, I’ve brought down the inhabitants.

14 My hand has seized the wealth of the nations

just like someone taking the eggs out of a nest.

I gathered it from all over the world

but no one fluttered a wing, or opened a mouth and chirped.

15 Will the axe say its greater than the person who swings it?

≈ Will the saw praise itself more than the one who uses it?

As if a rod could move those who’re lifting it up,

≈ or a staff could lift up what’s not made from wood.

16 Therefore, my master, army commander Yahweh

will make his muscular warriors waste away,

and instead of the Assyrian king getting glory,

he’ll get his fingers burnt like with a burning flame.

17 Then Yisrael’s light will become a fire,

≈ and its holy one a flame,

→ and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.

18 His beautiful forest and his fruitful land

will be steadily destroyed,

like a sick person who wastes away.

19 There’ll be so few trees left in his forest that even a child could count them.

20 At that time, the remnant of Yisrael, i.e., the survivors of Yakov’s descendants, will no longer rely on that king who makes them suffer, but instead will rely on Yahweh, Yisrael’s holy one. 21 A remnant of Yisrael will return to their powerful god. 22 Although the Israelis are currently very numerous, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed because justice must prevail[ref] 23 Yes, complete destruction has been decreed by my master Yahweh and he’s about to apply it throughout the country.

24 Because of that, my master, army commander Yahweh says, “My people living in Tsiyyon (Zion), don’t be afraid of the Assyrians. They’ll beat you with a rod and raise their staff against you like the Egyptians did 25 for a little while longer, and then I’ll be upset with the Assyrians and my anger will lead to their destruction. 26 Army commnander Yahweh will wave a whip against them, like when the Midianites were struck at Orev rock, and wave his staff over the sea like they did leaving Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim). 27 Then at that time, he’ll lift his load off your shoulders and his yoke from off your neck, and that yoke will be broken as you begin to thrive again.

28 The enemy has come to Ayat, passed through Migron, storing their supplies north of Yerushalem at Mikmas. 29 They’ve crossed over the pass. They camped at Geba. Ramah is trembling, and Gibeah of Shaul has fled.

30 Cry out for help daughter of Gallim,

pay attention Layshah,

you’ll suffer Antoti.

31 Madmenah flees,

the residents of Gevim are taken to safety.

32 Yet today he will stand at Nod,

shaking his fist at the daughter of Tsiyyon—

the hill of Yerushalem.

33 Listen, my master, army commander Yahweh will cut off the branches with a crash,

and the tallest of the tall will be cut down,

≈ and the high and mighty will be brought low.

34 He’ll chop down the thickets in the forest with an axe,

→ and Lebanon will be felled by the mighty one.

24 [ref]◙ 25 ◙ 26 ◙ 27 ◙