Isaiah 17

A Pronouncement against Damascus

1 A pronouncement  * 17:1 Is 13:1 concerning Damascus:  * 17:1 Gn 14:15; 15:2; 2Kg 16:9; Jr 49:23; Am 1:3–5; Zch 9:1; Ac 9:2

Look, Damascus is no longer a city.

It has become a ruined heap.

2 The cities of Aroer are abandoned;

they will be places for flocks.

They will lie down without fear.

3 The fortress disappears from Ephraim,  * 17:3 Is 7:8,16; 8:4

and a kingdom from Damascus.

The remnant of Aram will be

like the splendor of the Israelites.

This is the declaration of the  Lord of Armies.

Judgment against Israel

4 On that day

the splendor of Jacob will fade,

and his healthy body  * 17:4 Lit and the fat of his flesh will become emaciated.  * 17:4 Is 10:16

5 It will be as if a reaper had gathered standing grain —

his arm harvesting the heads of grain —

and as if one had gleaned heads of grain

in Rephaim Valley.  * 17:5 2Sm 5:18,22

6 Only gleanings will be left in Israel,  * 17:6 Dt 4:27; Is 24:13; 27:12; Ob 5; Rm 11:19

as if an olive tree had been beaten —

two or three olives at the very top of the tree,

four or five on its fruitful branches.

This is the declaration of the  Lord,

the God of Israel.

7 On that day people will look to their Maker and will turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.  * 17:7 Is 1:48 They will not look to the altars  * 17:8 2Ch 34:7; Is 27:9 they made with their hands or to the Asherahs and shrines  * 17:8 Or incense altars,* 17:8 Ex 34:13; Dt 7:5; Mc 5:14 they made with their fingers.

9 On that day their strong cities will be

like the abandoned woods and mountaintops

that were abandoned because of the Israelites;

there will be desolation.

10 For you have forgotten the God of your salvation,

and you have failed to remember

the rock of your strength;  * 17:10 Dt 6:12; 8:11,14,19; 32:18; Jdg 3:7; 1Sm 12:9; Ps 106:21; Is 8:14; 26:4; 51:13; Jr 3:21; 13:25; Ezk 22:12; 23:35; Hs 2:13

therefore you will plant beautiful plants

and set out cuttings from exotic vines.

11 On the day that you plant,

you will help them to grow,

and in the morning

you will help your seed to sprout,

but the harvest will vanish

on the day of disease and incurable pain.

Judgment against the Nations

12 Ah! The roar of many peoples —

they roar like the roaring of the seas.

The raging of the nations —

they rage like the rumble of rushing water.  * 17:12 Ps 2:1; 93:1–5; Is 8:9–10; Lk 21:25

13 The nations rage like the rumble of a huge torrent.  * 17:13 Is 33:3

He rebukes them, and they flee far away,  * 17:13 Ps 9:5; Is 41:11

driven before the wind like chaff on the hills  * 17:13 Jb 21:18; Ps 1:4; 83:13; Is 29:5; 41:15–16

and like tumbleweeds before a gale.

14 In the evening — sudden terror!

Before morning — it is gone!

This is the fate of those who plunder us

and the lot of those who ravage us.