Look, the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, is ready to cut off the branches with terrifying power. The tallest trees will be cut down, the loftiest ones will be brought low.

Here is a message about Damascus: “Look, Damascus is no longer a city, it is a heap of ruins!

Look, the Lord is ready to devastate the earth and leave it in ruins; he will mar its surface and scatter its inhabitants.

He says, “Indeed, my sword has slaughtered heavenly powers. Look, it now descends on Edom, on the people I will annihilate in judgment.”

Certainly you have heard how the kings of Assyria have annihilated all lands. Do you really think you will be rescued?

Look, my earlier predictive oracles have come to pass; now I announce new events. Before they begin to occur, I reveal them to you.”

Now they come into being, not in the past; before today you did not hear about them, so you could not say, ‘Yes, I know about them.’

Look, they come from far away! Look, some come from the north and west, and others from the land of Sinim!

These double disasters confronted you. But who feels sorry for you? Destruction and devastation, famine and sword. But who consoles you?

“O afflicted one, driven away, and unconsoled! Look, I am about to set your stones in antimony and I lay your foundation with lapis-lazuli.

Look, I have decreed: I will not keep silent, but will pay them back; I will pay them back exactly what they deserve,

Look, my servants will shout for joy as happiness fills their hearts! But you will cry out as sorrow fills your hearts; you will wail because your spirits will be crushed.

I answered, “Oh, Lord God, I really do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.”

You will not always be angry with me, will you? You will not be mad at me forever, will you?’ That is what you say, but you continually do all the evil that you can.”

Look! The enemy is approaching like gathering clouds. The roar of his chariots is like that of a whirlwind. His horses move more swiftly than eagles.” I cry out, “We are doomed, for we will be destroyed!”

“‘But just look at you! You are putting your confidence in a false belief that will not deliver you.

Your wise men will be put to shame. They will be dumbfounded and be brought to judgment. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what wisdom do they really have?

The Lord says, “Watch out! The time is soon coming when I will punish all those who are circumcised only in the flesh.

Listen to what they are saying to me. They are saying, “Where are the things the Lord threatens us with? Come on! Let’s see them happen!”

But just watch! The wrath of the Lord will come like a storm! Like a raging storm it will rage down on the heads of those who are wicked.