1I saw the Lord standing beside the altar : and he said, Smite the capitals , that the thresholds may shake ; and break them in pieces on the head of all of them ; and I will slay the last of them with the sword : there shall not one of them flee away , and there shall not one of them escape . 2Though they dig into Sheol , thence shall my hand take them ; and though they climb up to heaven , thence will I bring them down . 3And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel , I will search and take them out thence ; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea , thence will I command the serpent , and it shall bite them . 4And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword , and it shall slay them : and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil , and not for good .
The Sovereignty of God
5For the Lord , Jehovah of hosts , is he that toucheth the land and it melteth, and all that dwell therein shall mourn; and it shall rise up wholly like the River , and shall sink again, like the River of Egypt ; 6it is he that buildeth his chambers in the heavens , and hath founded his vault upon the earth ; he that calleth for the waters of the sea , and poureth them out upon the face of the earth ; Jehovah is his name .
The Remnant of Israel
7Are ye not as the children of the Ethiopians unto me , O children of Israel ? saith Jehovah . Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt , and the Philistines from Caphtor , and the Syrians from Kir ? 8Behold , the eyes of the Lord Jehovah are upon the sinful kingdom , and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; save that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob , saith Jehovah . 9For , lo , I will command , and I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations , like as grain is sifted in a sieve , yet shall not the least kernel fall upon the earth. 10All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword , who say, The evil shall not overtake nor meet us .
The Promise of Restoration and Blessing
11In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen , and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up its ruins , and I will build it as in the days of old ; 12that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the nations that are called by my name , saith Jehovah that doeth this . 13Behold , the days come , saith Jehovah , that the plowman shall overtake the reaper , and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed ; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine , and all the hills shall melt . 14And I will bring back the captivity of my people Israel , and they shall build the waste cities , and inhabit them ; and they shall plant vineyards , and drink the wine thereof ; they shall also make gardens , and eat the fruit of them . 15And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them , saith Jehovah thy God .