²⁴ Therefore, as tongues of fire^(A) lick up straw^(B)
    and as dry grass sinks down in the flames,
so their roots will decay^(C)
    and their flowers blow away like dust;^(D)
for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty
    and spurned the word^(E) of the Holy One^(F) of Israel.
²⁵ Therefore the Lord’s anger^(G) burns against his people;
    his hand is raised and he strikes them down.
The mountains shake,^(H)
    and the dead bodies^(I) are like refuse^(J) in the streets.^(K)

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,^(L)
    his hand is still upraised.^(M)

²⁶ He lifts up a banner^(N) for the distant nations,
    he whistles^(O) for those at the ends of the earth.^(P)
Here they come,
    swiftly and speedily!
²⁷ Not one of them grows tired^(Q) or stumbles,
    not one slumbers or sleeps;
not a belt^(R) is loosened at the waist,^(S)
    not a sandal strap is broken.^(T)
28 Their arrows are sharp,^(U)
    all their bows^(V) are strung;
their horses’ hooves^(W) seem like flint,
    their chariot wheels like a whirlwind.^(X)
29 Their roar is like that of the lion,^(Y)
    they roar like young lions;
they growl as they seize^(Z) their prey
    and carry it off with no one to rescue.^(AA)
30 In that day^(AB) they will roar over it
    like the roaring of the sea.^(AC)
And if one looks at the land,
    there is only darkness^(AD) and distress;^(AE)
    even the sun will be darkened^(AF) by clouds.

²⁷ Zion will be delivered with justice,
    her penitent^(A) ones with righteousness.^(B)
28 But rebels and sinners^(C) will both be broken,
    and those who forsake^(D) the Lord will perish.^(E)

²⁹ “You will be ashamed^(F) because of the sacred oaks^(G)
    in which you have delighted;
you will be disgraced because of the gardens^(H)
    that you have chosen.
³⁰ You will be like an oak with fading leaves,^(I)
    like a garden without water.
³¹ The mighty man will become tinder
    and his work a spark;
both will burn together,
    with no one to quench the fire.^(J)”

¹⁹ People will flee to caves^(A) in the rocks
    and to holes in the ground^(B)
from the fearful presence^(C) of the Lord
    and the splendor of his majesty,^(D)
    when he rises to shake the earth.^(E)
20 In that day^(F) people will throw away
    to the moles and bats^(G)
their idols of silver and idols of gold,^(H)
    which they made to worship.^(I)
21 They will flee to caverns in the rocks^(J)
    and to the overhanging crags
from the fearful presence of the Lord
    and the splendor of his majesty,^(K)
    when he rises^(L) to shake the earth.^(M)

²² Stop trusting in mere humans,^(N)
    who have but a breath^(O) in their nostrils.
    Why hold them in esteem?^(P)

⁴ “I will make mere youths their officials;
    children will rule over them.”^(AA)

⁵ People will oppress each other—
    man against man, neighbor against neighbor.^(AB)
The young will rise up against the old,
    the nobody against the honored.

⁶ A man will seize one of his brothers
    in his father’s house, and say,
“You have a cloak, you be our leader;
    take charge of this heap of ruins!”
⁷ But in that day^(AC) he will cry out,
    “I have no remedy.^(AD)
I have no food^(AE) or clothing in my house;
    do not make me the leader of the people.”^(AF)

¹⁸ “Come now, let us settle the matter,”^(A)
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;^(B)
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.^(C)
19 If you are willing and obedient,^(D)
    you will eat the good things of the land;^(E)
20 but if you resist and rebel,^(F)
    you will be devoured by the sword.”^(G)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^(H)

the mountain^(D) of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;^(E)
it will be exalted^(F) above the hills,
    and all nations will stream to it.^(G)

“Come, let us go^(I) up to the mountain^(J) of the Lord,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law^(K) will go out from Zion,
    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.^(L)
4 He will judge^(M) between the nations
    and will settle disputes^(N) for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.^(O)
Nation will not take up sword against nation,^(P)
    nor will they train for war anymore.

⁵ Come, descendants of Jacob,^(Q)
    let us walk in the light^(R) of the Lord.