Isaiah 14

Isaiah 14
A Taunt for Babylon's King

But the Lord will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. He will
Choose Israel as his special people once again. He will bring
Them back to settle once again in their own land, and people
From many different nations will come and join them there and
Unite with the people of Israel. The nations of the world will
Help the people of Israel to return, and those who come to live
In the Lord's land will serve them. Those who captured Israel will
Themselves be captured, and Israel will rule over its enemies
In that wonderful day when the Lord gives his people
Rest from sorrow and fear, from slavery and chains

You will taunt the king of Babylon. You will say
"The mighty man has been destroyed! Yes, your insolence is ended! For
The Lord has crushed your wicked power and broken your evil rule. You
Struck the people with endless blows of rage and held the nations in
Your angry grip with unrelenting tyranny. But finally
The earth is at rest and quiet. Now it can sing again
Even the trees of the forest, the cypress trees and the
Cedars of Lebanon, sing out this joyous song: 'Since you
Have been cut down, no one will come now to cut us down.'"

In the place of the dead there is excitement over your arrival. The
Spirits of world leaders and mighty kings long dead stand
Up to see you. With one voice they all cry out, "Now you
Are as weak as we are! Your might and power were buried
With you. The sound of the harp in your palace has ceased
Now maggots are your sheet, and worms your blanket."

How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the
Morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who
Destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself
"I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars
I will preside on the mountain of the gods, far away in the north
I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High."

Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down
To its lowest depths. Everyone there will stare at you and ask
"Can this be the one who shook the earth and made the kingdoms
Of the world tremble? Is this the one who destroyed the world
And made it into a wasteland? Is this the king who demolished
The world's greatest cities and had no mercy on its prisoners?"

The kings of the nations lie in stately glory, each in his own
Tomb. But you will be thrown out of your grave like a worthless
Branch. Like a corpse trampled underfoot, you will be dumped
Into a mass grave with those killed in battle. You will descend
To the pit. You will not be given a proper burial, for you have
Destroyed your nation and slaughtered your people. The
Descendants of such an evil person will never again receive honor

Kill this man's children! Let them die because of
Their father's sins! They must not rise and conquer
The earth, filling the world with their cities

This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: "I myself have risen
Against Babylon. I will destroy its children and its children's
Children," says the Lord. "I will make Babylon a desolate place of
Owls, filled with swamps and marshes. I will sweep the land with the
Broom of destruction. I, the Lord of Heaven's Armies, have spoken."

A Message about Assyria
The Lord of Heaven's Armies has sworn this oath: "It will all
Happen as I have planned. It will be as I have decided
I will break the Assyrians when they are in Israel. I will
Trample them on my mountains. My people will no longer be their
Slaves, nor bow down under their heavy loads. I have a plan
For the whole earth, a hand of judgment upon all the nations."
The Lord of Heaven's Armies has spoken. Who can change
His plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?

A Message about Philistia
This message came to me the year King Ahaz died
"Do not rejoice, you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is
Broken, that the king who attacked you is dead. For from that
Snake a more poisonous snake will be born, a fiery serpent to
Destroy you. I will feed the poor in my pasture. The needy will
Lie down in peace. But as for you, I will wipe you out with famine
And destroy the few who remain. Wail at the gates! Weep in the
Cities! Melt with fear, you Philistines! A powerful army comes like
Smoke from the north. Each soldier rushes forward, eager to fight."

What should we tell the Philistine messengers?
Tell them, "The Lord has built Jerusalem. Its
Walls will give refuge to his oppressed people."