Isaiah 10

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10 <1> Just look at those lawmakers who write evil laws and make life hard for the people. <2> They are not fair to the poor. They take away the rights of the poor and allow people to steal from widows and orphans.

<3> Lawmakers, you will have to explain what you have done. What will you do then? Your destruction is coming from a faraway country. Where will you run for help? Your money and your riches will not help you. <4> You will have to bow down like a prisoner. You will fall down like a dead man, but that will not help you. God will still be angry and ready to punish you.

<5> [The Lord says,] "I will use Assyria[115] like a stick. In my anger I will use Assyria to punish Israel. <6> I will send Assyria to fight against the people who do evil. I am angry with them, and I will command Assyria to fight against them. Assyria will defeat them and take their wealth. Israel will be like dirt for Assyria to walk on in the streets.

<7> "But Assyria does not understand that I will use him. Assyria does not think of himself as my tool. Assyria only wants to destroy other people. Assyria only plans to destroy many nations. <8> Assyria says to himself, 'All of my officers are like kings! <9> The city of Calno is no better than the city of Carchemish. Arpad is like Hamath, and Samaria is like Damascus. <10> I defeated those evil kingdoms and now I control them. The idols[116] those people worship are better than the idols of Jerusalem and Samaria. <11> I defeated Samaria and her gods. I will also defeat Jerusalem and the idols her people have made.'"

<12> My Master will finish doing what he planned to Jerusalem and Mount Zion.[117] Then he will punish Assyria. The king of Assyria is very proud. His pride made him do many bad things, so God will punish him.

<13> The king of Assyria said, "I am very wise. By my own wisdom and power I have done many great things. I have defeated many nations. I have taken their wealth and their people as slaves. I am a very powerful man. <14> With my own hands I have taken the riches of all these people-like someone taking eggs from a bird's nest. A bird often leaves its nest and eggs, and there is nothing to protect the nest. There is no bird to chirp and fight with its wings and beak, so anyone can come take the eggs. And there is no one to stop me from taking all the people on earth."

God Punishes Assyria's Pride

<15> An ax is not better than the one who cuts with it. A saw is not better than the one who uses it. A stick is not more powerful and important than the one who picks it up and uses it to punish someone. <16> But Assyria doesn't understand this. So the Lord All-Powerful will send a terrible disease against him. He will lose his wealth and power, like a sick man losing weight. Then Assyria's glory will be destroyed. It will be like a fire burning until everything is gone. <17> Israel's Light will be like a fire. The Holy One will be like a flame. He will be like a fire that first begins to burn the weeds and thorns <18> and then spreads to burn up the tall trees and vineyards.[118] Finally, everything will be destroyed-even the people. Assyria will be like a rotting log. <19> There will be a few trees le ft standing in the forest-so few that even a child could count them.

<20> Then the people from Jacob's family who are left living in Israel will stop depending on the one who beat them. They will learn to depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. <21> Those who are left in Jacob's family will again follow the Powerful God.[119]

<22> Your people are as many as the sands of the sea, but only a few of them will be left to come back to the Lord. They will return to God, but first, your country will be destroyed. God has announced that he will destroy the land, and then justice will come into the land; it will be like a river flowing full. <23> My Master, the Lord All-Powerful, really will destroy this land.

<24> My Master, the Lord All-Powerful, says, "My people living in Zion,[120] don't be afraid of Assyria[121]! Yes, he will beat you, and it will be as the time when Egypt beat you with a stick. <25> But after a short time my anger will stop. I will be satisfied that Assyria has punished you enough."

<26> Then the Lord All-Powerful will beat Assyria with a whip, as he defeated Midian at Raven Rock.[122] He will punish Assyria, as the time he raised the stick over the sea[123] and led his people from Egypt.

<27> Assyria will bring troubles to you-they will be like weights you have to carry on a yoke[124] on your shoulders. But that pole will be taken off your neck. It will be broken by your Strength.

The Army of Assyria Invades Israel

<28>[125] The army of Assyria will enter near the "Ruins" (Aiath). The army will walk on the "Threshing Floor" (Migron). It will keep its food in the "Storehouse" (Micmash). <29> The army will cross the river at the "Crossing" (Maabarah) and sleep at Geba. Ramah will be afraid. The people at Gibeah of Saul[126] will run away.

<30> Cry out, Bath Gallim[127]! Laishah, listen! Anathoth, answer me! <31> The people of Madmenah are running away. The people of Gebim[128] are hiding. <32> This day the army will stop at Nob and prepare to fight against Mount Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

<33> Look, our Master, the Lord All-Powerful, will use his great power and chop down that great tree. Great and important people will be cut down and become unimportant. <34> The Lord will cut down his enemies like an ax is used to cut down the tall trees in Lebanon.[129]