24-27 Therefore the Master, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, says: “My dear, dear people who live in Zion, don’t be terrorized by the Assyrians when they beat you with clubs and threaten you with rods like the Egyptians once did. In just a short time my anger against you will be spent and I’ll turn my destroying anger on them. I, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, will go after them with a cat-o’-nine-tails and finish them off decisively—as Gideon downed Midian at the rock Oreb, as Moses turned the tables on Egypt. On that day, Assyria will be pulled off your back, and the yoke of slavery lifted from your neck.”

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27-32 Assyria’s on the move: up from Rimmon,
    on to Aiath,
through Migron,
    with a bivouac at Micmash.
They’ve crossed the pass,
    set camp at Geba for the night.
Ramah trembles with fright.
    Gibeah of Saul has run off.
Cry for help, daughter of Gallim!
    Listen to her, Laishah!
    Do something, Anathoth!
Madmenah takes to the hills.
    The people of Gebim flee in panic.
The enemy’s soon at Nob—nearly there!
    In sight of the city he shakes his fist
At the mount of dear daughter Zion,
    the hill of Jerusalem.

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24 Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says:

“My people who live in Zion,(A)
    do not be afraid(B) of the Assyrians,
who beat(C) you with a rod(D)
    and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did.
25 Very soon(E) my anger against you will end
    and my wrath(F) will be directed to their destruction.(G)

26 The Lord Almighty will lash(H) them with a whip,
    as when he struck down Midian(I) at the rock of Oreb;
and he will raise his staff(J) over the waters,(K)
    as he did in Egypt.

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