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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Therefore,” says the Sovereign Lord,“ an enemy is coming! He will surround them and shatter their defenses. Then he will plunder all their fortresses.”This is what the Lord says:“ A shepherd who tries to rescue a sheep from a lion’s mouth will recover only two legs or a piece of an ear. So it will be for the Israelites in Samaria lying on luxurious beds, and for the people of Damascus reclining on couches.“ Now listen to this, and announce it throughout all Israel,” says the Lord, the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.“ On the very day I punish Israel for its sins, I will destroy the pagan altars at Bethel. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.And I will destroy the beautiful homes of the wealthy— their winter mansions and their summer houses, too— all their palaces filled with ivory,” says the Lord.

The fortified towns will be silent and empty, the houses abandoned, the streets overgrown with weeds. Calves will graze there, chewing on twigs and branches.

Ephraim was the most fruitful of all his brothers, but the east wind— a blast from the Lord— will arise in the desert. All their flowing springs will run dry, and all their wells will disappear. Every precious thing they own will be plundered and carried away.The people of Samaria must bear the consequences of their guilt because they rebelled against their God. They will be killed by an invading army, their little ones dashed to death against the ground, their pregnant women ripped open by swords.”

What sorrow awaits the proud city of Samaria— the glorious crown of the drunks of Israel. It sits at the head of a fertile valley, but its glorious beauty will fade like a flower. It is the pride of a people brought down by wine.For the Lord will send a mighty army against it. Like a mighty hailstorm and a torrential rain, they will burst upon it like a surging flood and smash it to the ground.The proud city of Samaria— the glorious crown of the drunks of Israel— will be trampled beneath its enemies’ feet.It sits at the head of a fertile valley, but its glorious beauty will fade like a flower. Whoever sees it will snatch it up, as an early fig is quickly picked and eaten.

And the people of Israel and Samaria, who spoke with such pride and arrogance, will soon know it.They said,“ We will replace the broken bricks of our ruins with finished stone, and replant the felled sycamore fig trees with cedars.”But the Lord will bring Rezin’s enemies against Israel and stir up all their foes.The Syrians from the east and the Philistines from the west will bare their fangs and devour Israel. But even then the Lord’s anger will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike.

Look! The Lord is about to destroy the earth and make it a vast wasteland. He devastates the surface of the earth and scatters the people.Priests and laypeople, servants and masters, maids and mistresses, buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, bankers and debtors— none will be spared.The earth will be completely emptied and looted. The Lord has spoken!The earth mourns and dries up, and the land wastes away and withers. Even the greatest people on earth waste away.The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant.Therefore, a curse consumes the earth. Its people must pay the price for their sin. They are destroyed by fire, and only a few are left alive.The grapevines waste away, and there is no new wine. All the merrymakers sigh and mourn.The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled; the happy cries of celebration are heard no more. The melodious chords of the harp are silent.Gone are the joys of wine and song; alcoholic drink turns bitter in the mouth.The city writhes in chaos; every home is locked to keep out intruders.Mobs gather in the streets, crying out for wine. Joy has turned to gloom. Gladness has been banished from the land.The city is left in ruins, its gates battered down.

The pagan shrines of your ancestors will be ruined, and the temples of Israel will be destroyed; I will bring the dynasty of King Jeroboam to a sudden end.”

For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.“ Then the Lord will bring things on you, your nation, and your family unlike anything since Israel broke away from Judah. He will bring the king of Assyria upon you!”In that day the Lord will whistle for the army of southern Egypt and for the army of Assyria. They will swarm around you like flies and bees.They will come in vast hordes and settle in the fertile areas and also in the desolate valleys, caves, and thorny places.In that day the Lord will hire a“ razor” from beyond the Euphrates River— the king of Assyria— and use it to shave off everything: your land, your crops, and your people.

You keep only the laws of evil King Omri; you follow only the example of wicked King Ahab! Therefore, I will make an example of you, bringing you to complete ruin. You will be treated with contempt, mocked by all who see you.”

Then I said,“ Lord, how long will this go on?” And he replied,“ Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland;until the Lord has sent everyone away, and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.If even a tenth— a remnant— survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.”

But the land will become empty and desolate because of the wickedness of those who live there.

Now the terrors of war will rise among your people. All your fortifications will fall, just as when Shalman destroyed Beth arbel. Even mothers and children were dashed to death there.

I will tear down your walls and demolish your defenses.

“ In that day Israel’s glory will grow dim; its robust body will waste away.The whole land will look like a grainfield after the harvesters have gathered the grain. It will be desolate, like the fields in the valley of Rephaim after the harvest.