16. So the Lord God All-Powerfulwill send a terrible disease upon Assyria’s soldiers.The strength of Assyria will be burned uplike a fire burning until everything is gone.
17. God, the Light of Israel, will be like a fire;the Holy One will be like a flame.He will be like a firethat suddenly burns the weeds and thorns.
18. The fire burns away the great trees and rich farmlands,destroying everything.It will be like a sick person who wastes away.
19. The trees left standing will be so fewthat even a child could count them.
20. At that time some people will be left alive in Israelfrom the family of Jacob.They will not continue to dependon the person who defeated them.They will learn truly to depend on the Lord,the Holy One of Israel.
21. Those who are left alive in Jacob’s familywill again follow the powerful God.
22. Israel, your people are many,like the grains of sand by the sea.But only a few of them will be left alive to return to the Lord.God has announced that he will destroy the landcompletely and fairly.
23. The Lord God All-Powerful will certainly destroy this land,as he has announced.
24. This is what the Lord God All-Powerful says:“My people living in Jerusalem,don’t be afraid of the Assyrians,who beat you with a rodand raise a stick against you, as Egypt did.
25. After a short time my anger against you will stop,and then I will turn my anger to destroying them.”
26. Then the Lord All-Powerful will beat the Assyrians with a whipas he defeated Midian at the rock of Oreb.He will raise his stick over the watersas he did in Egypt.
27. Then the troubles that Assyria puts on youwill be removed,and the load they make you carrywill be taken away.
28. The army of Assyria will enter near Aiath.Its soldiers will walk through Migron.They will store their food in Micmash.