15 An ax is not better than the person who swings it.A saw is not better than the person who uses it.A stick cannot control the person who picks it up.A club cannot pick up the person!
16 So the Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies,will send a terrible disease against Assyria’s soldiers.The strength of Assyria will be burned up.It will be like a fire burning until everything is gone.
17 God, the Light of Israel, will be like a fire.The Holy One will be like a flame.He will be like a firethat suddenly burns the weeds and thorns.
18 The fire burns away the great trees and rich farmlands.It will destroy everything.Things will be like a sick man who wastes away.
19 Only a few trees will be left standing.There will be so few even a child will be able to count them.
20 At that time some people will be left alive in Israelfrom the family of Jacob.They will not continue to dependon the person who defeated them.They will learn truly to depend on the Lord,the Holy One of Israel.
21 The people who are left alive in Jacob’s familywill again follow the powerful God.