1But in the last days this will happen: the mountain of the house of the LORD will be set up as the highest of the mountains. It will be lifted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.
2Many 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, and we will walk in his paths." For the law will go out from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3He will judge between many peoples, and settle the quarrels of strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plough blades, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up a sword against nation, and they will not learn war any more.
4Every man will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one will make them afraid. The mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken it.
5All the peoples walk, each one, in the name of his god. But we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
6"In that day," says the LORD, "I will gather her who limps. I will bring together her who was driven out, and her whom I have afflicted."
7"I will make her who limped a remnant, and her who was cast far off a strong nation." And the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, and for ever.
8And you, tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, to you it will come. The first rule will come back; the kingdom will come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
9Now why do you cry out so loudly? Is there no king among you? Has your counsellor perished? For pains have gripped you like a woman in labour.
10Be in pain, daughter of Zion, and struggle to give birth, like a woman in labour. For now you must go out of the city and live in the open field, and you will go as far as Babylon. There you will be rescued. There the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.
11Now many nations are gathered against you. They say, "Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gloat over Zion."
12But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, and they do not understand his plan. For he will gather them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13Get up and thresh, daughter of Zion. I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze, and you will break many peoples in pieces. I will devote their gain to the LORD, and their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.