Isaiah 10:1-9

Good News Translation

10 You are doomed! You make unjust laws that oppress my people. ² That is how you keep the poor from having their rights and from getting justice. That is how you take the property that belongs to widows and orphans. ³ What will you do when God punishes you? What will you do when he brings disaster on you from a distant country? Where will you run to find help? Where will you hide your wealth? ⁴ You will be killed in battle or dragged off as prisoners. Yet even so the Lord's anger will not be ended; his hand will still be stretched out to punish.

The Emperor of Assyria as the Instrument of God

^5 (A)The Lord said, “Assyria! I use Assyria like a club to punish those with whom I am angry. ⁶ I sent Assyria to attack a godless nation, people who have made me angry. I sent them to loot and steal and trample the people like dirt in the streets.”

⁷ But the Assyrian emperor has his own violent plans in mind. He is determined to destroy many nations. ⁸ He boasts, “Every one of my commanders is a king! ⁹ I conquered the cities of Calno and Carchemish, the cities of Hamath and Arpad. I conquered Samaria and Damascus.