I will go to those formerly desolate cities that are now filled with people who have returned from exile in many nations. I will capture vast amounts of plunder, for the people are rich with livestock and other possessions now. They think the whole world revolves around them!’

我去要抢财为掳物，夺货为掠物，反手攻击那从前荒凉、现在有人居住之地，又攻击那住世界中间、从列国招聚、得了牲畜财货的民。’

我去那里要抢财为掳物，夺货为掠物，反手攻击那从前荒凉、现在有人居住之地，又攻击那从列国招聚出来、得了牲畜财货、住在地的高处的百姓。’

我去那里要抢财为掳物，夺货为掠物，反手攻击那从前荒凉、现在有人居住之地，又攻击那从列国招聚出来、得了牲畜财货、住在地的高处的百姓。’

我要抢掠他们的财物，下手攻击那曾是废墟的城邑和从各国归来的百姓。他们住在世界的中心，牲畜货物甚多。

你要抢夺财物，掳掠货物，伸手攻击那些从前荒废、现在有人居住的地方，攻击那些从列邦招聚出来，得了牲畜财物，又住在世界中心的人民。

我去要搶財為擄物，奪貨為掠物，反手攻擊那從前荒涼、現在有人居住之地，又攻擊那住世界中間、從列國招聚、得了牲畜財貨的民。』

我去那裏要搶財為擄物，奪貨為掠物，反手攻擊那從前荒涼、現在有人居住之地，又攻擊那從列國招聚出來、得了牲畜財貨、住在地的高處的百姓。』

我去那裏要搶財為擄物，奪貨為掠物，反手攻擊那從前荒涼、現在有人居住之地，又攻擊那從列國招聚出來、得了牲畜財貨、住在地的高處的百姓。』

我要搶掠他們的財物，下手攻擊那曾是廢墟的城邑和從各國歸來的百姓。他們住在世界的中心，牲畜貨物甚多。

你要搶奪財物，擄掠貨物，伸手攻擊那些從前荒廢、現在有人居住的地方，攻擊那些從列邦招聚出來，得了牲畜財物，又住在世界中心的人民。

我去要搶那可搶的，要劫那可劫的，要反手攻擊那從前荒廢、如今有人居住之地，攻擊那從列國中招聚回來、得了牲畜財物、住在地上臍心的人民。

其地昔為荒墟、今則有人居處、集自列邦、聚貨財、豢牲畜、居其高處、我必攻之、刦掠其物、

昔斯地變為荒邱、今則有人居處、來自列邦、聚貨財、養牲畜、安居斯土、我攻伐之、攘奪其物、

昔荒蕪、今有人居處之地、其民集自列邦、養牲貿易、貿易或作獲財安居斯地、斯地原文作地之高處爾欲攻斯民、攘奪刧掠其物、

I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.”

I will rob those people. I’ll steal everything they have. Then I’ll turn my attention to the destroyed houses where people are living again. They have returned there from other nations. Now they are rich. They have plenty of livestock and all kinds of goods. They are living in Israel. It is the center of the earth.’

to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth.

in order to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against ruins now inhabited and against a people gathered from the nations, who have been acquiring cattle and possessions and who live at the center of the world.

to capture spoils and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the ruins that are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who live at the center of the world.’

to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.

to take the spoil and to take the prey; to turn thy hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and against the people that are gathered out of the nations, that have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the middle of the earth.

in order to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against ruins now inhabited and against a people gathered from the nations, who have been acquiring cattle and possessions and who live at the center of the world.’

To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places[ that are now] inhabited, and upon the people[ that are] gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

to loot and plunder, to attack the inhabited ruins and the people gathered from the nations, who are acquiring cattle and goods, who live at the center of the earth.”

to take the plunder and to take prey; to turn your hand against the waste places that are inhabited, and against the people who are gathered out of the nations, who have gotten livestock and goods, who dwell in the middle of the earth.’

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He will carry off its wealth, plundering everything it has so he can pay his army.

I am sending Assyria against a godless nation, against a people with whom I am angry. Assyria will plunder them, trampling them like dirt beneath its feet.

A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be enjoying peace after recovering from war and after its people have returned from many lands to the mountains of Israel.

“ This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: This land— though it is now desolate and has no people and animals— will once more have pastures where shepherds can lead their flocks.Once again shepherds will count their flocks in the towns of the hill country, the foothills of Judah, the Negev, the land of Benjamin, the vicinity of Jerusalem, and all the towns of Judah. I, the Lord, have spoken!

When I whistle to them, they will come running, for I have redeemed them. From the few who are left, they will grow as numerous as they were before.Though I have scattered them like seeds among the nations, they will still remember me in distant lands. They and their children will survive and return again to Israel.I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will resettle them in Gilead and Lebanon until there is no more room for them all.

Upon hearing this, the angel of the Lord prayed this prayer:“ O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for seventy years now you have been angry with Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. How long until you again show mercy to them?”

I will slaughter the people of Ashdod and destroy the king of Ashkelon. Then I will turn to attack Ekron, and the few Philistines still left will be killed,” says the Sovereign Lord.

“ But all who devour you will be devoured, and all your enemies will be sent into exile. All who plunder you will be plundered, and all who attack you will be attacked.

“ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I cleanse you from your sins, I will repopulate your cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt.The fields that used to lie empty and desolate in plain view of everyone will again be farmed.And when I bring you back, people will say,‘ This former wasteland is now like the Garden of Eden! The abandoned and ruined cities now have strong walls and are filled with people!’

But again Gaal said,“ No, people are coming down from the hills. And another group is coming down the road past the Diviners’ Oak.”

“ Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, the man who is my partner,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.“ Strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the lambs.

Fields will again be bought and sold in this land about which you now say,‘ It has been ravaged by the Babylonians, a desolate land where people and animals have all disappeared.’Yes, fields will once again be bought and sold— deeds signed and sealed and witnessed— in the land of Benjamin and here in Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the hill country, in the foothills of Judah and in the Negev, too. For someday I will restore prosperity to them. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Therefore, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says,“ I will take revenge on my enemies and pay back my foes!I will raise my fist against you. I will melt you down and skim off your slag. I will remove all your impurities.

“ Say this also:‘ This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The towns of Israel will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem as his own.’”