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  • Isaiah 2

    The Lord’s mountain

    This is what Isaiah, Amoz’s son, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

    In the days to come
        the mountain of the Lord’s house
        will be the highest of the mountains.
        It will be lifted above the hills;
            peoples will stream to it.
    Many nations will go and say,
    “Come, let’s go up to the Lord’s mountain,
        to the house of Jacob’s God
            so that he may teach us his ways
            and we may walk in God’s paths.”
    Instruction will come from Zion;
        the Lord’s word from Jerusalem.
    God will judge between the nations,
        and settle disputes of mighty nations.
    Then they will beat their swords into iron plows
        and their spears into pruning tools.
    Nation will not take up sword against nation;
        they will no longer learn how to make war.

    Come, house of Jacob,
        let’s walk by the Lord’s light.

    Everyone is brought low

    You have abandoned your people,
            house of Jacob.
        They are full of sorcerers from the east and fortune-tellers like the Philistines;
            they hold hands with foreigners’ children.
    Their land is full of silver and gold;
        they have countless treasures.
    Their land is filled with horses;
        they have countless chariots.
    Their land is filled with idols;
        they worship their handiwork,
        what their own fingers have made.

    Humanity will be brought down;
        each person laid low—don’t lift them up!
    10 Go into the rocks,
        and hide yourself in the dust from the terror of the Lord,
        from the splendor of God’s majesty!
    11 People’s proud gazing will be stopped
        and humanity’s arrogance brought down;
        the Lord alone will be exalted on that day.

    12 The Lord of heavenly forces has planned a day:
        against all that is prideful and haughty;
        against all that is lofty, and it will be laid low;
    13     against all the cedars of Lebanon, high and lofty;
        against all the oaks of Bashan;
    14     against all the high mountains;
        against all the lofty hills;
    15     against every tall tower;
        against every fortified wall;
    16     against all the ships of Tarshish;
        against all the wonderful boats.
    17 People’s pride will be brought down
        and human arrogance humiliated.
    The Lord alone will be exalted on that day;
    18     the idols will completely pass away.

    19 Go into caves in the rocks
        and holes in the dust
            before the terror of the Lord
            and the splendor of God’s majesty,
            when he arises to terrify the earth.
    20 On that day, people will toss
            to the rodents and to the bats
        their idols of silver and idols of gold,
            which they made for themselves to worship.
    21 They will hide in fissures of rocks and in crevices of cliffs
        before the terror of the Lord
        and the splendor of God’s majesty
        when he arises to terrify the earth.

    22 Quit admiring the human race,
        who breathe through their nostrils.
        Why should they be admired?