1Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who write oppressive decrees

2to deprive the needy of justice, and to rob the poor amongst my people of their rights, that widows may be their plunder, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!

3What will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

4They will only bow down under the prisoners, and will fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

5Alas Assyrian, the rod of my anger, the staff in whose hand is my indignation!

6I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people who anger me I will give him a command to take the plunder and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7However, he doesn’t mean so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off not a few nations.

8For he says, “Aren’t all of my princes kings?

9Isn’t Calno like Carchemish? Isn’t Hamath like Arpad? Isn’t Samaria like Damascus?”

10As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, whose engraved images exceeded those of Jerusalem and of Samaria,

11shall I not, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

12Therefore it will happen that when the Lord has performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the wilful proud heart of the king of Assyria, and the insolence of his arrogant looks.

13For he has said, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding. I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures. Like a valiant man I have brought down their rulers.

14My hand has found the riches of the peoples like a nest, and like one gathers eggs that are abandoned, I have gathered all the earth. There was no one who moved their wing, or that opened their mouth, or chirped.”

15Should an axe brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood.

16Therefore the Lord, GOD of Hosts, will send amongst his fat ones leanness; and under his glory a burning will be kindled like the burning of fire.

17The light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.

18He will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, both soul and body. It will be as when a standard bearer faints.

19The remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few, so that a child could write their number.

20It will come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and those who have escaped from the house of Jacob will no more again lean on him who struck them, but shall lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.

21A remnant will return, even the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

22For though your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.

23For the Lord, GOD of Hosts, will make a full end, and that determined, throughout all the earth.

24Therefore the Lord, GOD of Hosts, says, “My people who dwell in Zion, don’t be afraid of the Assyrian, though he strike you with the rod, and lift up his staff against you, as Egypt did.

25For yet a very little while, and the indignation against you will be accomplished, and my anger will be directed to his destruction.”

26The LORD of Hosts will stir up a scourge against him, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb. His rod will be over the sea, and he will lift it up like he did against Egypt.

27It will happen in that day that his burden will depart from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing oil.

28He has come to Aiath. He has passed through Migron. At Michmash he stores his baggage.

29They have gone over the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saul has fled.

30Cry aloud with your voice, daughter of Gallim! Listen, Laishah! You poor Anathoth!

31Madmenah is a fugitive. The inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.

32This very day he will halt at Nob. He shakes his hand at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

33Behold, the Lord, GOD of Hosts, will lop the boughs with terror. The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.

34He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.