At that time the strong cities in Israel will be deserted. They will be as they were when the Israelites drove the Canaanites away. They will be like places that are taken over by bushes and weeds. The whole land will become dry and empty.

在那日，他们的坚固城必像树林中和山顶上所撇弃的地方，就是从前在以色列人面前被人撇弃的。这样，地就荒凉了。

当那日，他们坚固的城必因以色列人的缘故，如同树林中和山顶上所撇弃的地方。这样，地就荒芜了。

当那日，他们坚固的城必因以色列人的缘故，如同树林中和山顶上所撇弃的地方。这样，地就荒芜了。

到那日，他们因以色列人到来而遗弃的坚城必变为山林和高岗，一片荒凉。

到那日，他们那些因以色列人而撇弃的坚固城，必像树林中和山顶上被撇弃的地方，这样，地就荒凉了。

到那日，那些在以色列子孙面前被遗弃的坚固城，必像树林中和山顶上的被遗弃之所；于是那地就变得荒凉；

在那日，他們的堅固城必像樹林中和山頂上所撇棄的地方，就是從前在以色列人面前被人撇棄的。這樣，地就荒涼了。

當那日，他們堅固的城必因以色列人的緣故，如同樹林中和山頂上所撇棄的地方。這樣，地就荒蕪了。

當那日，他們堅固的城必因以色列人的緣故，如同樹林中和山頂上所撇棄的地方。這樣，地就荒蕪了。

到那日，他們因以色列人到來而遺棄的堅城必變為山林和高崗，一片荒涼。

到那日，他們那些因以色列人而撇棄的堅固城，必像樹林中和山頂上被撇棄的地方，這樣，地就荒涼了。

當那日子、你堅固的城必像希未人中和亞摩利人中被撇棄的地方，就是他們從前在以色列人面前所撇棄的；而地就荒涼了。

到那日，那些在以色列子孫面前被遺棄的堅固城，必像樹林中和山頂上的被遺棄之所；於是那地就變得荒涼；

是日也、其堅城見棄、若昔於以色列人前、林中山上所遺之處、地盡荒蕪、

當是日雅各家鞏固之城、變為荒寂、與昔以色列族未至之時、山林中所遺之古跡、無以異也。

當是日其鞏固之城將見遺棄、如昔迦南人因以色列人之故、在林中、在山上、所遺棄之城邑、地則荒蕪、

In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation.

In that day their strong cities will be like the deserted places of the wooded heights and the hilltops, which they deserted because of the children of Israel, and there will be desolation.

Their largest cities will be like a deserted forest, like the land the Hivites and Amorites abandoned when the Israelites came here so long ago. It will be utterly desolate.

On that day their strong cities will be like the abandoned woods and mountaintops that were abandoned because of the Israelites; there will be desolation.

On that day their strong cities will be like abandoned places in the forest, Or like branches which they abandoned before the sons of Israel; And the land will be a desolation.

In that day his strong cities will be as a forsaken bough And an uppermost branch, Which they left because of the children of Israel; And there will be desolation.

In that day shall their strong cities be as the forsaken places in the wood and on the mountain top, which were forsaken from before the children of Israel; and it shall be a desolation.

On that day their strong cities will be like the abandoned woods and mountaintops that were abandoned because of the Israelites; there will be desolation.

In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation.

At that time their fortified cities will be like the abandoned summits of the Amorites, which they abandoned because of the Israelites; there will be desolation.

In that day, their strong cities will be like the forsaken places in the woods and on the mountain top, which were forsaken from before the children of Israel; and it will be a desolation.

So the Lord and King says,“ Enemies will take over your land. They will pull down your places of safety. They will rob your forts.”The Lord says,“ Suppose a shepherd saves only two leg bones from a lion’s mouth. Or he might save only a piece of an ear. That is how the Israelites living in Samaria will be saved. They will only have a board from a bed and a piece of cloth from a couch.”“ Listen to me,” announces the Lord.“ Be a witness against the people of Jacob,” says the Lord God who rules over all.“ I will punish Israel for their sins. When I do, I will destroy their altars at Bethel. The horns that stick out from the upper corners of their main altar will be cut off. They will fall to the ground.I will tear down their winter houses. I will also pull down their summer houses. The houses they have decorated with ivory will be destroyed. And their princely houses will be torn down,” announces the Lord.

Cities that have high walls around them will become empty. They will be settlements with no one in them. They will be like a desert. Calves will eat and lie down in them. They will strip bare the branches of their trees.

Even though they are doing well among the other tribes, trouble will come to them. I will send a hot and dry wind from the east. It will blow in from the desert. Their springs will not have any water. Their wells will dry up. All their treasures will be taken out of their storerooms.The people of Samaria must pay for their sins. They have refused to obey me. They will be killed by swords. Their little children will be smashed on the ground. Their pregnant women will be ripped wide open.”

How terrible it will be for the city of Samaria! It sits on a hill like a wreath of flowers. The leaders of Ephraim are drunk. They take pride in their city. It sits above a valley that has rich soil. How terrible it will be for the glorious beauty of that fading flower!The Lord will bring the strong and powerful king of Assyria against Samaria. The Lord will throw that city down to the ground with great force. It will be like a hailstorm. It will be like a wind that destroys everything. It will be like a driving rain and a flooding storm.That city is like a wreath. The leaders of Ephraim are drunk. They take pride in their city. But its enemies will walk all over it.It sits on a hill above a rich valley. The city is like a wreath of flowers whose glorious beauty is fading away. But it will become like figs that are ripe before harvest. As soon as people see them, they pick them and swallow them.

All the people will know about it. Ephraim’s people and those who live in Samaria will know about it. Their hearts are very proud. They say,“ The brick buildings have fallen down. But we will rebuild them with blocks of stone. The fig trees have been chopped down. But we’ll plant cedar trees in place of them.”In spite of that, the Lord has made Rezin’s enemies stronger. He has stirred up Assyria to fight against Israel.Arameans from the east have opened their mouths and swallowed up Israel. So have Philistines from the west. Even then, the Lord is still angry. His hand is still raised against them.

The Lord is going to completely destroy everything on earth. He will twist its surface. He’ll scatter those who live on it.Priests and people alike will suffer. So will masters and their servants. And so will women and their female servants. Sellers and buyers alike will suffer. So will those who borrow and those who lend. And so will those who owe money and those who lend it.The earth will be completely destroyed. Everything of value will be taken out of it. That’s what the Lord has said.The earth will dry up completely. The world will dry up and waste away. The heavens will fade away along with the earth.The earth is polluted by its people. They haven’t obeyed the laws of the Lord. They haven’t done what he told them to do. They’ve broken the covenant that will last forever.So the Lord will send a curse on the earth. Its people will pay for what they’ve done. They will be burned up. Very few of them will be left.The vines and fresh wine will dry up completely. Those who used to have a good time will groan.The happy sounds of tambourines will be gone. The noise of those who enjoy wild parties will stop. The joyful music of harps will become silent.People will no longer sing as they drink wine. Beer will taste bitter to those who drink it.Destroyed cities will lie empty. People will lock themselves inside their houses.In the streets people will cry out for wine. All joy will turn into sadness. All joyful sounds will be driven out of the earth.All the buildings will be knocked down. Every city gate will be smashed to pieces.

“ The high places where Isaac’s people worship other gods will be destroyed. The other places of worship in Israel will also be torn down. I will use my sword to attack Jeroboam’s royal family.”

Even before then, the lands of the two kings you fear will be ruined.The Lord will also bring the king of Assyria against you. And he will bring him against your people and the whole royal family. That will be a time of trouble. It will be unlike any since the people of Ephraim broke away from Judah.”At that time the Lord will whistle for the Egyptians. They will come like flies from the Nile River in Egypt. He will also whistle for the Assyrians. They will come from their country like bees.All of them will come and camp in the deep valleys. They will camp in caves in the rocks. And they’ll camp near bushes and water holes.At that time the Lord will use the Assyrians to punish you. Ahaz had hired them earlier from east of the Euphrates River. Now their king will be like a razor in the Lord’s hand. He will shave the hair from your head and private parts. He will also shave off your beards.

You have followed the evil practices of King Omri of Israel. You have done what the family of King Ahab did. You have followed their bad example. So I will let you be destroyed. Others will make fun of you. The nations will laugh at you.”

Then I said,“ Lord, how long will it be like that?” He answered,“ It will last until the cities of Israel are destroyed. It will last until no one is living in them. It will last until the houses are deserted. The fields will be completely destroyed.It will last until the Lord has sent everyone far away. The land will be totally deserted.Suppose only a tenth of the people remain there. Even then the land will be completely destroyed again. But when oak trees and terebinth trees are cut down, stumps are left. And my holy people will be like stumps that begin to grow again.”

But the rest of the earth will be deserted. The people who live in it have done many evil things.

But the roar of battle will come against you. All your forts will be completely destroyed. It will happen just as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in a battle. Mothers and their children were smashed on the ground.

I will destroy the cities in your land. I will tear down all your forts.

“ In days to come, the glory of Jacob’s people will fade. Their strength will get weaker and weaker.It will be as when workers cut and gather grain in the Valley of Rephaim. They gather up stalks in their arms. Only a few heads of grain are left.