67 lines
2.6 KiB
Markdown
67 lines
2.6 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 4
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1 In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house
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will be the highest of all—
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the most important place on earth.
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It will be raised above the other hills,
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and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
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2 People from many nations will come and say,
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“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
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to the house of Jacob’s God.
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There he will teach us his ways,
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and we will walk in his paths.”
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For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion;
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his word will go out from Jerusalem.
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3 The Lord will mediate between peoples
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and will settle disputes between strong nations far away.
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They will hammer their swords into plowshares
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and their spears into pruning hooks.
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Nation will no longer fight against nation,
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nor train for war anymore.
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4 Everyone will live in peace and prosperity,
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enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees,
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for there will be nothing to fear.
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The Lord of Heaven’s Armies
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has made this promise!
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5 Though the nations around us follow their idols,
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we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever.
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6 “In that coming day,” says the Lord,
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“I will gather together those who are lame,
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those who have been exiles,
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and those whom I have filled with grief.
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7 Those who are weak will survive as a remnant;
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those who were exiles will become a strong nation.
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Then I, the Lord, will rule from Jerusalem
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as their king forever.”
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8 As for you, Jerusalem,
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the citadel of God’s people,
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your royal might and power
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will come back to you again.
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The kingship will be restored
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to my precious Jerusalem.
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9 But why are you now screaming in terror?
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Have you no king to lead you?
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Have your wise people all died?
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Pain has gripped you like a woman in childbirth.
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10 Writhe and groan like a woman in labor,
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you people of Jerusalem,
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for now you must leave this city
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to live in the open country.
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You will soon be sent in exile
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to distant Babylon.
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But the Lord will rescue you there;
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he will redeem you from the grip of your enemies.
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11 Now many nations have gathered against you.
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“Let her be desecrated,” they say.
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“Let us see the destruction of Jerusalem.”
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12 But they do not know the Lord’s thoughts
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or understand his plan.
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These nations don’t know
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that he is gathering them together
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to be beaten and trampled
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like sheaves of grain on a threshing floor.
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13 “Rise up and crush the nations, O Jerusalem!”
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says the Lord.
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“For I will give you iron horns and bronze hooves,
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so you can trample many nations to pieces.
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You will present their stolen riches to the Lord,
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their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.” |