3The fortress disappears from Ephraim, and a kingdom from Damascus. The remnant of Aram will be like the splendor of the Israelites. This is the declaration of the LORD of Armies.
5It 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.
6Only gleanings will be left in Israel, as if an olive tree had been beaten--two or three olives 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.
9On that day their strong cities will be like the abandoned woods and mountaintops that were abandoned because of the Israelites; there will be desolation.
10For you have forgotten the God of your salvation, and you have failed to remember the rock of your strength; therefore you will plant beautiful plants and set out cuttings from exotic vines.
11On the day that you plant, you will help them to grow, and in the morning you will help your seed to sprout, but the harvest will vanish on the day of disease and incurable pain.
13The nations rage like the rumble of a huge torrent. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills and like tumbleweeds before a gale.
