Judgment to Come
(Isaiah 7:17–25)

1This is the word of the LORD {YHWH} that came to Micah (who is like God) the Moreshite (possession of Gath) in the days of Jotham (YHWH is perfect), Ahaz (he has grasped), and Hezekiah (YHWH has made strong), kings of Judah (praised)—what he saw regarding Samaria (watch mountain) and Jerusalem (city of peace):

2Hear, O peoples, all of you;

listen, O earth, and everyone in it!

May the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH} bear witness against you⁺,

the Lord from His holy temple.

3For behold, the LORD {YHWH} comes forth

from His dwelling place;

He will come down and tread

on the high places of the earth.

4The mountains will melt beneath Him,

and the valleys will split apart,

like wax before the fire,

like water rushing down a slope.

5All this is for the transgression of Jacob (he grasps the heel)

and the sins of the house of Israel (he wrestles with God).

What is the transgression of Jacob?

Is it not Samaria (watch mountain)?

And what is the high place of Judah (praised)?

Is it not Jerusalem (city of peace)?

6Therefore I will make Samaria (watch mountain)

a heap of rubble in the open field,

a planting area for a vineyard.

I will pour her stones into the valley

and expose her foundations.

7All her carved images will be smashed to pieces;

all her wages will be burned in the fire,

and I will destroy all her idols.

Since she collected the wages of a prostitute,

they will be used again on a prostitute.

Weeping and Mourning

8Because of this I will lament and wail;

I will walk barefoot and naked.

I will howl like a jackal (a serpent)a

and mourn like an ostrich \like daughters of an ostrich/.b

9For her wound is incurable;

it has reached even Judah (praised);

it has approached the gate of my people,

as far as Jerusalem itself (city of peace).

10Do not tell it in Gath (tell);c do not weep at all.

Roll in the dust (house of dust) in Beth-leaphrah.d

11Depart in shameful nakedness,

O dwellers of Shaphir (pleasant).e

The dwellers of Zaanan (come out)f

will not come out.

Beth-ezel (adjoining house)g is in mourning;

its support is taken from you⁺.

12For the dwellers of Maroth (bitter)h pined for good,

but calamity came down from the LORD {YHWH},

even to the gate of Jerusalem (city of peace).

13Harness your chariot horses,

O dweller of Lachish (team of horses).i

You were the beginning of sin to the Daughter of Zion,

for the transgressions of Israel (he wrestles with God) were found in you.

14Therefore, send farewell gifts (give dowry)j to Moresheth-gath (possession of Gath);k

the houses of Achzib (deception)l will prove deceptive

to the kings of Israel (he wrestles with God).

15I will again bring a conqueror against you,

O dweller of Mareshah (conqueror).m

The glory of Israel (he wrestles with God) will come to Adullam (justice of the people).

16Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hair

in mourning for your precious children;

make yourselves as bald as an eagle,

for they will go from you into exile.