CHAPTER 4
In the last
days
the mountain
of the house
of the LORD
will be
established
as the chief
of the mountains;
it will be raised
above
the hills,
and the peoples
will stream
to it.
And many
nations
will come
and say,
“Come,
let us go up
to
the mountain
of the LORD,
to
the house
of the God
of Jacob.
He will teach us
His ways,
so that we may walk
in His paths.”
For
the law
will go forth
from Zion
and the word
of the LORD
from Jerusalem.
Then He will judge
between
many
peoples
and arbitrate
for strong
nations
far and wide.
Then they will beat
their swords
into plowshares
and their spears
into pruning hooks.
Nation
will no longer
take up
the sword
against
nation,
nor
will they train
anymore
for war.
And each man
will sit
under
his own vine
and under
his own fig tree,
with no
one to frighten him.
For
the mouth
of the LORD
of Hosts
has spoken.
Though
each
of the peoples
may walk
in the name
of his god,
yet we
will walk
in the name
of the LORD
our God
forever
and ever.
“On that
day,”
declares
the LORD,
“I will gather
the lame;
I will assemble
the outcast,
even those whom
I have afflicted.
And I will make
the lame
into a remnant,
and the outcast
into a strong
nation.
Then the LORD
will rule
over them
in Mount
Zion
from that day
and forever.
And you,
O watchtower
of the flock,
O Stronghold
of the daughter
of Zion—
the former
dominion
will be restored
to you;
sovereignty
will come
to the Daughter
of Jerusalem.
Why
do you now
cry
aloud?
Is there no
king
among you?
Has
your counselor
perished
so that
anguish
grips you
like a woman in labor?
Writhe
in agony,
O Daughter
of Zion,
like a woman in labor.
For
now
you will leave
the city
and camp
in the open fields.
You will go
to
Babylon;
there
you will be rescued;
there
the LORD
will redeem you
from the hand
of your enemies!
But now
many
nations
have assembled
against you,
saying,
“Let her be defiled,
and let us feast our eyes
on Zion.”
But they
do not
know
the thoughts
of the LORD
or
understand
His plan:
that
He has gathered them
like sheaves
to the threshing floor.
Rise
and thresh,
O Daughter
of Zion,
for
I will give you
horns
of iron
and hooves
of bronze
to break to pieces
many
peoples.
Then you will devote their gain
to the LORD,
their wealth
to the Lord
of all
the earth.