1. A pronouncement. The Lord’s word against Israel,an utterance of the Lordwho stretches out the heavens,who establishes the earth,and who fashions the spirit of humanity within it:
2. I am about to make Jerusalem a cup that will stagger all the surrounding nations.There will be a siege against Judah and against Jerusalem.
3. On that day I will make Jerusalem into a heavy stone for all the peoples.All who carry it will hurt themselves;nevertheless, the nations of the earth will conspire against it.
4. On that day, says the Lord, I will strike every horse with confusionand its rider with madness.I will keep my eyes open for the house of Judah;I will strike blind every horse of the peoples.
5. The chieftains of Judah will say to themselves, We are strong;the inhabitants of Jerusalem will say,The Lord their God of heavenly forces is strong.
6. On that day I will place the chieftains of Judah like a pot on a wood fire and like a burning torch among the bundles of grain.They will devour all the surrounding nations to the right and the left.Jerusalem will dwell again in its place, in Jerusalem.