This is what the Lord says to me:

“As a lion(A) growls,
    a great lion over its prey—
and though a whole band of shepherds(B)
    is called together against it,
it is not frightened by their shouts
    or disturbed by their clamor(C)
so the Lord Almighty will come down(D)
    to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
Like birds hovering(E) overhead,
    the Lord Almighty will shield(F) Jerusalem;
he will shield it and deliver(G) it,
    he will ‘pass over’(H) it and will rescue it.”

Return,(I) you Israelites, to the One you have so greatly revolted(J) against. For in that day(K) every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold(L) your sinful hands have made.(M)

“Assyria(N) will fall by no human sword;
    a sword, not of mortals, will devour(O) them.
They will flee before the sword
    and their young men will be put to forced labor.(P)
Their stronghold(Q) will fall because of terror;
    at the sight of the battle standard(R) their commanders will panic,(S)
declares the Lord,
    whose fire(T) is in Zion,
    whose furnace(U) is in Jerusalem.

Read full chapter

The Lord has said to me:
When the lion growls,
    the young lion, over its prey,
    though a band of shepherds is summoned against it,
    isn’t scared off by their noise
    or frightened by their roar.
So the Lord of heavenly forces will go down
    to fight on Mount Zion and on her hill.
Like birds flying aloft,
    so the Lord of heavenly forces will shield Jerusalem:
    shielding and saving, sparing and rescuing.

People of Israel, return to the one whom you have deeply betrayed! On that day, you will each reject the idols of silver and the idols of gold, which you have sinfully made for yourselves.

Assyria will fall, but not by a human sword—
    a sword not made by humans will devour them.
    They will flee before the sword;
    their young men will become forced laborers.
In horror they will flee from their stronghold;
    their officers will be terrified at the signal,
        says the Lord, whose fire is in Zion
        and whose oven is in Jerusalem.

Read full chapter