Study Desk

"In that day," declares the LORD , "I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief.

I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.

As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem."

Why do you now cry aloud- have you no king? Has your counselor perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?

Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you must leave the city to camp in the open field. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the LORD will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies.

But now many nations are gathered against you. They say, "Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!"

But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD ; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor.

"Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hoofs of bronze and you will break to pieces many nations." You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the LORD , their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.