For thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel:"The daughterof Babylonis like a threshingfloorAt the timeit is stampedfirm;Yetin a littlewhilethe timeof harvestwill comefor her."
For beforethe harvest,as soon as the budblossomsAnd the flowerbecomesa ripeninggrape,Then He will cutoffthe sprigswith pruningknivesAnd remove[and] cutawaythe spreadingbranches.
O my threshed[people], and my afflictedof the threshingfloor!WhatI have heardfrom the LORDof hosts,The Godof Israel,I makeknownto you.
"Comedownand sitin the dust,O virgindaughterof Babylon;Siton the groundwithouta throne,O daughterof the Chaldeans!For you shall nolongerbe calledtenderand delicate.
The fordsalso have been seized,And they have burnedthe marsheswith fire,And the menof warare terrified.
Also,O Judah,there is a harvestappointed for you, When I restorethe fortunesof My people.
Putin the sickle,for the harvestis ripe.Come,tread,for the winepressis full;The vatsoverflow,for their wickednessis great.
Thussaysthe LORD,"For threetransgressionsof Damascusand for fourI will not revokeits [punishment], Becausethey threshedGileadwith [implements] of sharpiron.
"But they do not knowthe thoughtsof the LORD,And they do not understandHis purpose;For He has gatheredthem like sheavesto the threshingfloor.
"Ariseand thresh,daughterof Zion,For your hornI will makeironAnd your hoofsI will makebronze,That you may pulverizemanypeoples,That you may devoteto the LORDtheir unjustgainAnd their wealthto the Lordof allthe earth.
In indignationYou marchedthrough the earth;In angerYou trampledthe nations.
Allowbothto grow togetheruntilthe harvest;and in the timeof the harvestI will sayto the reapers,"Firstgatherup the taresand bindthem in bundlesto burnthem up; but gatherthe wheatinto my barn."'"
and the enemywho sowedthem is the devil,and the harvestis the endof the age;and the reapersare angels.
