The Lord’s Rule from Restored Zion

1In the last daysa

the mountain of the Lord’s houseb

will be established

at the top of the mountains

and will be raised above the hills.

Peoples will stream to it,c

2and many nations will come and say,a

“Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord,b

to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us about his waysc

so we may walk in his paths.”

For instruction will go out of Ziond

and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

3He will settle disputes among many peoplesa

and provide arbitration for strong nations

that are far away.

They will beat their swords into plows

and their spears into pruning knives.

Nation will not take up the sword against nation,

and they will never again train for war.

4But each person will sit under his grapevinea

and under his fig tree

with no one to frighten him.b

For the mouth of the Lordc of Armies

has spoken.

5Though all the peoples walk

in the name of their own gods,a

we will walkb in the name of the Lord our God

forever and ever.c

6On that day —

this is the Lord’s declaration —

I will assemble the lame

and gather the scattered,a

those I have injured.

7I will make the lame into a remnant,a

those far removed into a strong nation.

Then the Lord will reign over themb in Mount Zion

from this time on and forever.

8And you, watchtower for the flock,a

fortified hillA of Daughter Zion,

the former ruleb will come to you;

sovereignty will come to Daughter Jerusalem.

From Exile to Victory

9Now, why are you shouting loudly?a

Is there no king with you?

Has your counselor perishedb

so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?

10Writhe and cry out,a a Daughter Zion,

like a woman in labor,

for now you will leave the cityb

and camp in the open fields.

You will go to Babylon;

there you will be rescued;c

there the Lord will redeem youd

from the grasp of your enemies!

11Many nations have now assembled against you;a

they say, “Let her be defiled,

and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”

12But they do not know the Lord’s intentionsa

or understand his plan,

that he has gathered them

like sheaves to the threshing floor.

13Rise and thresh,a Daughter Zion,

for I will make your horns iron

and your hooves bronze

so you can crush many peoples.b

Then youA will set apart their plunderc

for the Lord,

their wealth for the Lord of the whole earth.