Isaiah 17

1The oracle against Damascus: See, Damascus is removed from a city, and it will be a ruined heap.

2The cities of Aroer stand forsaken; they will become folds for flocks that lie down, none frightening them.

3The stronghold will cease from Ephraim, the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the children of Israel, says Yahweh of hosts.

4In that day the glory of Jacob will be diminished, and the fatness of his flesh will grow lean.

5It will be like gathering the standing harvest, when his arm reaps the ears; it will be like gleaning ears in the valley of Rephaim.

6Gleanings will remain in it, like an olive tree after shaking—two or three berries at the top of the highest branch, four or five in its branches when bearing fruit, declares Yahweh, God of Israel.

7In that day a person will gaze toward his Maker, and his eyes will look to Israel's Holy One.

8They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, nor regard what their fingers have made—the Asherim and the sun-images.

9In that day their fortified cities will be like the forsaken thicket and the topmost branch, which they abandoned because of the sons of Israel; and it will be a desolation.

10For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and not remembered the rock of your stronghold; therefore you will plant delightful plants and set it with foreign slips.

11In the day of your planting you make it grow, and in the morning you make your seed blossom; the harvest is a heap on the day of grief and desperate sorrow.

12Ah, the tumult of many peoples roaring like the surging of seas, and the rush of nations charging like the rush of mighty waters!

13The nations will rush like the roar of many waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff of the mountains before the wind and like a wheel before the storm.

14At evening behold terror; before morning it is no more. This is the portion of those who despoil us, the lot of those who plunder us.