Isaiah 33

What sorrow awaits you Assyrians
Who have destroyed others but have never been destroyed yourselves!
You betray others but you have never been betrayed!
When you are done destroying, you will be destroyed
When you are done betraying, you will be betrayed

But Lord, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you
Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble
The enemy runs at the sound of your voice
When you stand up, the nations flee
Just as caterpillars and locusts strip the fields and vines
So the fallen army of Assyria will be stripped

Though the Lord is very great and lives in heaven
He will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness
In that day he will be your sure foundation
Providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom and knowledge
The fear of the Lord will be your treasure

But now your brave warriors weep in public
Your ambassadors of peace cry in bitter disappointment
Your roads are deserted; no one travels them anymore
The Assyrians have broken their peace treaty
And care nothing for the promises they made before witnesses
They have no respect for anyone

The land of Israel wilts in mourning
Lebanon withers with shame
The plain of Sharon is now a wilderness
Bashan and Carmel have been plundered

But the Lord says: Now I will stand up
Now I will show my power and might
You Assyrians produce nothing but dry grass and stubble
Your own breath will turn to fire and consume you
Your people will be burned up completely
Like thorn bushes cut down and tossed in a fire

Listen to what I have done, you nations far away
And you that are near, acknowledge my might
The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear
Terror seizes the godless
"Who can live with this devouring fire?" they cry
"Who can survive this all-consuming fire?"

Those who are honest and fair
Who refuse to profit by fraud
Who stay far away from bribes
Who refuse to listen to those who plot murder
Who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong
These are the ones who will dwell on high
The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress
Food will be supplied to them
And they will have water in abundance

Your eyes will see the king in all his splendor
And you will see a land that stretches into the distance
You will think back to this time of terror, asking
"Where are the Assyrian officers who counted our towers?
Where are the bookkeepers who recorded
The plunder taken from our fallen city?"
You will no longer see these fierce, violent people
With their strange, unknown language

Instead, you will see Zion as a place of holy festivals
You will see Jerusalem a city quiet and secure
It will be like a tent whose ropes are taut
And whose stakes are firmly fixed

The Lord will be our Mighty One
He will be like a wide river of protection
That no enemy can cross, that no enemy ship can sail upon
For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver and our king
He will care for us and save us

The enemy's sails hang loose on broken masts with useless tackle
Their treasure will be divided by the people of God
Even the lame will take their share

The people of Israel will no longer say
"We are sick and helpless."
For the Lord will forgive their sins