1This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:2In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.3Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.4He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.5Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
The day of the Lord
6You, Lord, have abandoned your people, the descendants of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practise divination like the Philistines and embrace pagan customs.7Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to the chariots.8Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.9So people will be brought low and everyone humbled – do not forgive them.[1]10Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendour of his majesty!11The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.12The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled),13for all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty, and all the oaks of Bashan,14for all the towering mountains and all the high hills,15for every lofty tower and every fortified wall,16for every trading ship[2] and every stately vessel.17The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day,18and the idols will totally disappear.19People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendour of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.20In that day people will throw away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship.21They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendour of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.22Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?
People from many nations will worship at Mount Zion
1Here is a vision that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw about Judah and Jerusalem.2In the last days the mountain where the LORD’s temple is located will be famous. It will be the highest mountain of all. It will be raised above the hills. All the nations will go to it.3People from many nations will go there. They will say, ‘Come. Let us go up to the LORD’s mountain. Let’s go to the temple of Jacob’s God. He will teach us how we should live. Then we will live the way he wants us to.’ The law of the LORD will be taught at Zion. His message will go out from Jerusalem.4He will judge between the nations. He’ll settle problems among many of them. They will hammer their swords into ploughs. They’ll hammer their spears into pruning tools. Nations will not go to war against one another. They won’t even train to fight anymore.5People of Jacob, come. Let us live the way the LORD has taught us to.
The day of the Lord is coming
6LORD, you have deserted the people of Jacob. They are your people. The land is full of false beliefs from the east. The people practise evil magic, just as the Philistines do. They do what ungodly people do.7Their land is full of silver and gold. There is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses. There is no end to their chariots.8Their land is full of statues of gods. Their people bow down to what their own hands have made. They bow down to what their fingers have shaped.9So people will be brought low. Everyone will be made humble. Do not forgive them.10Go and hide in caves in the rocks, you people! Hide in holes in the ground. Hide from the terrifying presence of the LORD! Hide when he comes in glory and majesty!11Anyone who boasts will be brought low. Anyone who is proud will be made humble. The LORD alone will be honoured at that time.12The LORD who rules over all has set apart a day when he will judge. He has set it apart for all those who are proud and think they are important. He has set it apart for all those who boast about themselves. All of them will be brought low.13The LORD has set that day apart for all the cedar trees in Lebanon. They are very tall. He has set that day apart for all the oak trees in Bashan.14He has set it apart for all the towering mountains. He has set it apart for all the high hills.15He has set it apart for every high tower and every strong wall.16He has set it apart for every trading ship and every beautiful boat.17Anyone who boasts will be brought low. Anyone who is proud will be made humble. The LORD alone will be honoured at that time.18And the statues of gods will totally disappear.19People will run and hide in caves in the rocks. They will go into holes in the ground. They will run away from the terrifying presence of the LORD. They will run when he comes in glory and majesty. When he comes, he will shake the earth.20People had made some statues of gods out of silver. They had made others out of gold. Then they worshipped them. But when the LORD comes, they will throw the statues away to the moles and bats.21Those people will run and hide in caves in the rocks. They will go into holes in the cliffs. They will run away from the terrifying presence of the LORD. They will run when he comes in glory and majesty. When he comes, he will shake the earth.22Stop trusting in mere human beings, who can’t help you. They only live for a little while. What good are they?