Isaiah 27

Leviathan and the LORD's Vineyard

1On that day the LORD, with his hard, great, strong sword,
will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent,
Leviathan the twisting serpent,
and kill the monster in the sea. 2On that day,
“A delightful vineyard—sing of it! 3I, the LORD, guard it.
I water it moment by moment;
night and day I guard it
so no one harms it. 4I have no wrath.
If only briers and thorns confronted me in battle!
I would march against them
and burn them all together.

5Or let them take hold of my refuge,
let them make peace with me—
make peace with me.” 6In days to come Jacob will take root;
Israel will bud and blossom
and fill the world with fruit. 7Has he struck Jacob as he struck those who struck him?
Has Jacob been killed as his killers were killed? 8By measured expulsion you contend with her;
he drove her away with his harsh wind
on a day of east wind.

9By this, then, Jacob’s guilt will be atoned for;
this is the full fruit of removing his sin:
when he makes every altar stone like crushed chalk,
and no Asherah poles or incense altars remain standing. 10The fortified city stands alone,
a settlement deserted and abandoned like the wilderness.
There a calf grazes and lies down,
consuming its branches. 11When its branches dry, they are broken;
women come and light fires with them.
For this people has no understanding;
so its Maker will not show it compassion,
and its Former will not favor it. 12On that day the LORD will thresh
from the River’s flowing waters to the Wadi of Egypt;
and you, Israelites, will be gathered one by one.

13On that day a great ram’s horn will sound.
Those lost in Assyria and those driven away to Egypt
will come and worship the LORD
on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.