The Mountain of the House of the LORD (Isaiah 2:1–4)
1 UST But Yahweh says that in the latter days, the mountain where his temple stands will become the most important of all the mountains. Yes, Yahweh will cause it to be the most important place, and a lot of people from many different people groups will come there{ to worship}. BSB BSB: In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it.
2 UST { People from} many nations will gather and say{ to each other},“Let us go to the mountain where Yahweh is, to the temple where we can worship the God whom Jacob worshiped. There God will teach us how he wants us to live, and we will do what he tells us to do.” Indeed, Zion is the place from which God will send out his instructions, and from Jerusalem Yahweh will announce his messages. BSB BSB: And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 UST Everyone will sit{ peacefully} under his own grapevines and under his own fig trees, and no one will cause any of them to be afraid. That will certainly happen because Yahweh, the commander of the heavenly armies, has commanded it. BSB BSB: And each man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.
5 UST Even though each one of all of the other people groups obeys its own god, as for us, we will obey Yahweh our God forever. BSB BSB: Though all the nations may walk in the name of their gods, yet we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.
The Restoration of Zion (Zechariah 8:1–23)
6 UST Yahweh says,“At that time I will gather the people who are injured and those who are scattered, that is, everyone whom I have caused to suffer. BSB BSB: “On that day,” declares the LORD, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the outcast, even those whom I have afflicted.
7 UST I will cause the injured ones to be the faithful survivors of my people and I will cause all of those whom I drove away to become a mighty nation. Then{ I,} Yahweh will rule over them on Mount Zion, now and forever. BSB BSB: And I will make the lame into a remnant, the outcast into a strong nation. Then the LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.
8 UST You people of Zion, who are like a watchtower on the hill guarding my people, I will again authorize you to rule. Jerusalem will once again be the capitol of my kingdom. BSB BSB: And you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion—the former dominion will be restored to you; sovereignty will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.”
9 UST { But} now you are crying out, and it is not because you have no king, or because your advisors have all died. You act as though you are suffering greatly, as much as a woman who is birthing a child! BSB BSB: Why do you now cry aloud? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?
10 UST People of Zion, you should agonize and wail like a woman birthing a child, because now you must leave this city and live out in the open fields. You will go all the way to Babylon. However, while you are there,{ I,} Yahweh will rescue you. That is where he will take you away from your enemies. BSB BSB: Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!
11 UST But now{ the armies of} many nations have gathered to attack you. They are saying,‘We are here to destroy{ this city}! We want to see the ruins of Zion!’ BSB BSB: But now many nations have assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”
12 UST But as for them, they do not know what{ I,} Yahweh am thinking. They do not understand that this is what I have planned{ for them}. In fact, I have gathered them together{ to destroy them}, just as a farmer gathers grain onto a threshing floor{ to crush it}. BSB BSB: But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD or understand His plan, for He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 UST So you people of Zion, become active and defeat your enemies! You can do this because I will cause you to be very strong. So destroy{ these} many peoples and give to{ me,} Yahweh, the Ruler of the whole earth, everything valuable that your enemies possess.” BSB BSB: Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze to break to pieces many peoples. Then you will devote their gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.