1 At that time
the LORD will punish Leviathan with his sword.
His great, powerful and deadly sword will punish
the serpent that glides through the sea.
He will kill that twisting sea monster.
2 At that time the LORD will sing about his fruitful vineyard. He will say,
3 “I am the LORD. I watch over my vineyard.
I water it all the time.
I guard it day and night.
I do it so no one can harm it.
4 I am not angry with my vineyard.
I wish thorns and bushes would come up in it.
Then I would march out against them in battle.
I would set all of them on fire.
5 So the enemies of my people should come to me for safety.
They should make peace with me.
I will say it again.
They should make peace with me.”
6 In days to come, Jacob’s people will put down roots like a vine.
Israel will bud and bloom.
They will fill the whole world with fruit.
7 The LORD struck down those who struck down Israel.
But he hasn’t punished Israel as much.
The LORD killed those who killed many of his people.
But he hasn’t punished his people as much.
8 The LORD will use war to punish Israel.
He will make them leave their land.
With a strong blast of his anger he will drive them out.
It will be as if the east wind were blowing.
9 The people of Jacob will have to pay for their sin.
Here is how they will show that their sin has been removed.
They will make all the altar stones like limestone.
They will crush them to pieces.
No poles used to worship the female god named Asherah will be left standing.
No incense altars will be left either.
10 Cities that have high walls around them will become empty.
They will be settlements with no one in them.
They will be like a desert.
Calves will eat and lie down in them.
They will strip bare the branches of their trees.
11 When their twigs are dry, they will be broken off.
Then women will come and make fires with them.
The people of Jacob don’t understand the LORD.
So the God who made them won’t be concerned about them.
Their Creator won’t be kind to them.
12 At that time the LORD will separate Israel from other people. He will gather the Israelites together one by one. He will gather them from the Euphrates River to the Wadi of Egypt. 13 At that time a loud trumpet will be blown. Those who were dying in Assyria will come and worship the LORD. So will those who were taken away to Egypt. All of them will worship the LORD on his holy mountain in Jerusalem.
(NIRV) Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Click here for more copyright information.