Isaiah 37:21-35

New International Reader's Version

“ ‘ “You will not win the battle over Zion.
    Its people hate you and make fun of you.
The people of Jerusalem lift up their heads proudly
    as you run away.
²³ Who have you laughed at?
    Who have you spoken evil things against?
    Who have you raised your voice against?
Who have you looked at so proudly?
    You have done it against me.
    I am the Holy One of Israel!
²⁴ Through your messengers
    you have laughed at me again and again.
And you have said,
    ‘I have many chariots.
With them I have climbed to the tops of the mountains.
    I’ve climbed the highest mountains in Lebanon.
I’ve cut down its tallest cedar trees.
    I’ve cut down the best of its juniper trees.
I’ve reached its farthest mountains.
    I’ve reached its finest forests.
²⁵ I’ve dug wells in other lands.
    I’ve drunk the water from them.
I’ve walked through all the streams of Egypt.
    I’ve dried up every one of them.’

²⁶ “ ‘ “But I, the Lord, say, ‘Haven’t you heard what I have done?
    Long ago I arranged for you to do this.
In days of old I planned it.
    Now I have made it happen.
You have turned cities with high walls
    into piles of stone.
²⁷ Their people do not have any power left.
    They are troubled and put to shame.
They are like plants in the field.
    They are like new green plants.
They are like grass that grows on a roof.
    It dries up before it is completely grown.

²⁸ “ ‘ “ ‘But I know where you are.
    I know when you come and go.
    I know how very angry you are with me.
²⁹ You roar against me and brag.
    And I have heard your bragging.
So I will put my hook in your nose.
    I will put my bit in your mouth.
And I will make you go home
    by the same way you came.’ ” ’ ”

“This year you will eat what grows by itself.
    Next year you will eat what grows from that.
But in the third year you will plant your crops and gather them in.
    You will plant your grapevines and eat their fruit.
³¹ The people of the kingdom of Judah who are still alive will be like plants.
    Once more they will put down roots and produce fruit.
³² Out of Jerusalem will come the people who remain.
    Out of Mount Zion will come those who are still left alive.
My great love will make sure that happens.
    I rule over all.

“ ‘He will not enter this city.
    He will not even shoot an arrow at it.
He will not come near it with a shield.
    He will not build a ramp in order to climb over its walls.
³⁴ By the way that he came he will go home.
    He will not enter this city,’
    announces the Lord.
³⁵ ‘I will guard this city and save it.
    I will do it for myself.
    And I will do it for my servant David.’ ”