Judgment against Israel

On that day
the splendor of Jacob will fade,
and his healthy body[a] will become emaciated.(A)
It will be as if a reaper had gathered standing grain—
his arm harvesting the heads of grain—
and as if one had gleaned heads of grain
in the Valley of Rephaim.(B)
Only gleanings will be left in Israel,(C)
as if an olive tree had been beaten—
two or three berries at the very top of the tree,
four or five on its fruitful branches.
This is the declaration of the Lord,
the God of Israel.

On that day people will look to their Maker and will turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.(D) They will not look to the altars(E) they made with their hands or to the Asherahs and incense altars(F) they made with their fingers.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 17:4 Lit and the fat of his flesh

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