Now on that day the (A)glory of Jacob will [a]fade,
And (B)the fatness of his flesh will become lean.
It will be (C)like the [b]reaper gathering the standing grain,
As his arm harvests the ears,
Or it will be like one gleaning ears of grain
In the (D)Valley of Rephaim.
Yet (E)gleanings will be left in it like the [c]shaking of an olive tree,
Two or three olives on the topmost branch,
Four or five on the branches of a fruitful tree,
Declares the Lord, the God of Israel.
On that day man will (F)look to his Maker
And his eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel.
And he will not look to the (G)altars, the work of his hands,
Nor will he look to that which his (H)fingers have made,
Even the [d](I)Asherim and incense altars.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 17:4 Lit become little
  2. Isaiah 17:5 Lit gathering of the harvest, the standing grain
  3. Isaiah 17:6 Lit striking
  4. Isaiah 17:8 I.e., wooden symbols of a female deity (Asherah)

On that day, Jacob’s glory will dwindle;
    his sleek body will waste away.
It will be as when harvesters gather grain.
    God will harvest armfuls at a time,
    like one who gathers grain
    in the Rephaim Valley.
Only remaining bits are left,
        like an olive tree that has been shaken:
    two or three olives on the highest branch;
        four or five on a fruitful twig,
        says the Lord God of Israel.

On that day, people will have regard for their maker,
    and their eyes will look to the holy one of Israel.
They will have no regard for altars,
    the work of their hands,
    or look to what their fingers made:
    sacred poles[a] and incense stands.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 17:8 Heb asherim, possibly objects devoted to the goddess Asherah