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,d

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,e

to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us about His waysf

so we may walk in His paths.”

For instruction will go out of •Ziong

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3He will settle disputes among many peoplesh

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 man will sit under his grapevinei

and under his fig tree

with no one to frighten him.j

For the mouth of the LORDk of •Hosts

has promised this.

5Though all the peoples each walk

in the name of their gods,l

we will walkm in the name of •Yahweh our God

forever and ever.n

6On that day —

this is the LORD’s declaration —

I will assemble the lame

and gather the scattered,o

those I have injured.

7I will make the lame into a remnant,p

those far removed into a strong nation.

Then the LORD will rule over themq in Mount Zion

from this time on and forever.

8And you, watchtower for the flock,r

fortified hills of Daughter Zion,

the former rulet will come to you,

sovereignty will come to Daughter Jerusalem.

From Exile to Victory

9Now, why are you shouting loudly?u

Is there no king with you?

Has your counselor perishedv

so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?

10Writhe and cry out,w, x Daughter Zion,

like a woman in labor,

for now you will leave the cityy

and camp in the open fields.

You will go to Babylon;

there you will be rescued;z

there the LORD will redeem youaa

from the power of your enemies!

11Many nations have now assembled against you;ab

they say, “Let her be defiled,

and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”

12But they do not know the LORD’s intentionsac

or understand His plan,

that He has gathered them

like sheaves to the threshing floor.

13Rise and thresh,ad Daughter Zion,

for I will make your horns iron

and your hooves bronze,

so you can crush many peoples.ae

Then youaf will •set apart their plunderag

to the LORD for destruction,

their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.