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Isaiah 18:5-7
The Voice
Isaiah 18:5-7
The Voice
5 For even before the harvest begins, when the buds blossom
and the flowers make way for the ripening grapes,
God will cut back their shoots with pruning shears,
lop off and clear away the spreading branches.
6 He will leave the trimmings for the birds of prey
and the wild animals on the mountain.
The vultures will feed on their flesh during the summer,
and the wild animals will be nourished on their bones through the winter.
At times God watches “behind the scenes” quietly, calmly. But when it is the right time, God knows where and how to act. Throughout history nations rise and fall, but God is as constant as the summer heat and the cool fall breezes. Many nations such as Ethiopia look for diplomatic solutions and alliances in the face of the Assyrian threat. But Isaiah counsels them to stand back and watch, for he knows what God is about to do. Before the harvest, that is, before the armed rebellion against Assyria is set to begin, God moves in, pruning, lopping, clearing, and preparing the world for a better day.
7 Then those terrifying peoples—the lank and smooth from far away,
from the land divided by rivers, powerful and domineering—
Will honor the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, with gifts.
These proud people will bring them to Mount Zion,
Where the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has placed His special name.
Isaiah 18:5-7
New International Version
Isaiah 18:5-7
New International Version
5 For, before the harvest, when the blossom is gone
and the flower becomes a ripening grape,
he will cut off(A) the shoots with pruning knives,
and cut down and take away the spreading branches.(B)
6 They will all be left to the mountain birds of prey(C)
and to the wild animals;(D)
the birds will feed on them all summer,
the wild animals all winter.
7 At that time gifts(E) will be brought to the Lord Almighty
from a people tall and smooth-skinned,(F)
from a people feared(G) far and wide,
an aggressive nation of strange speech,
whose land is divided by rivers(H)—
the gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the Lord Almighty.(I)
The Voice (VOICE)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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