7 But the Assyrian emperor has his own violent plans in mind. He is determined to destroy many nations.
8 He boasts, “Every one of my commanders is a king!
9 I conquered the cities of Calno and Carchemish, the cities of Hamath and Arpad. I conquered Samaria and Damascus.
10 I reached out to punish those kingdoms that worship idols, idols more numerous than those of Jerusalem and Samaria.
11 I have destroyed Samaria and all its idols, and I will do the same to Jerusalem and the images that are worshiped there.”
12 But the Lord says, “When I finish what I am doing on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, I will punish the emperor of Assyria for all his boasting and all his pride.”
13 The emperor of Assyria boasts, “I have done it all myself. I am strong and wise and clever. I wiped out the boundaries between nations and took the supplies they had stored. Like a bull I have trampled the people who live there.