20
In that day the remnant left in Israel,
the survivors in the house of Jacob,
will no longer depend on allies
who seek to destroy them.
But they will faithfully trust the Lord ,
the Holy One of Israel.
21
A remnant will return; 1
yes, the remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.
22
But though the people of Israel are as numerous
as the sand of the seashore,
only a remnant of them will return.
The Lord has rightly decided to destroy his people.
23
Yes, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
has already decided to destroy the entire land. 2
24
So this is what the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, says: “O my people in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians when they oppress you with rod and club as the Egyptians did long ago.
25
In a little while my anger against you will end, and then my anger will rise up to destroy them.”
26
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will lash them with his whip, as he did when Gideon triumphed over the Midianites at the rock of Oreb, or when the Lord ’s staff was raised to drown the Egyptian army in the sea.
27
In that day the Lord will end the bondage of his people.
He will break the yoke of slavery
and lift it from their shoulders. 3
28
Look, the Assyrians are now at Aiath.
They are passing through Migron
and are storing their equipment at Micmash.
29
They are crossing the pass
and are camping at Geba.
Fear strikes the town of Ramah.
All the people of Gibeah, the hometown of Saul,
are running for their lives.
30
Scream in terror,
you people of Gallim!
Shout out a warning to Laishah.
Oh, poor Anathoth!
31
There go the people of Madmenah, all fleeing.
The citizens of Gebim are trying to hide.
32
The enemy stops at Nob for the rest of that day.
He shakes his fist at beautiful Mount Zion, the mountain of Jerusalem.
33
But look! The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
will chop down the mighty tree of Assyria with great power!
He will cut down the proud.
That lofty tree will be brought down.
34
He will cut down the forest trees with an ax.
Lebanon will fall to the Mighty One. 4