“At that time, the great angel-prince, Michael, protector of your people, will take his stand. It will be a time of great distress, the worst trouble your nation has ever known. When that time comes, your own people will be spared—all those whose names are found written in the Book of Life.
You have fulfilled the words that you spoke against us and against the rulers over us by bringing upon us such a great calamity. Your severe punishment of Jerusalem has never been equaled under all heaven!
And then God will bring all of Israel to salvation! The prophecy will be fulfilled that says: “Coming from Zion will be the Savior, and he will turn Jacob away from evil.
“None who passes by even cares. Turn around and look at me! Is there anyone who suffers as much as I? Yahweh, in the terrible day of your fierce anger, you punished me worst of all.
Yahweh says, “My servant Jacob, do not fear; Israel, do not be alarmed. I will rescue you and your descendants from that foreign land in which you are held captive. You will return and live in peace, safe and secure, with no one to trouble you.
With what can I compare you? What can I say to you, beloved Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, in order to comfort you, fair Zion? For your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can heal you?
When that day comes, those who live in the coastal region of Philistia will say, “Oh no! If this is what happened to those we hoped would come and rescue us from the Assyrian king, what chance do we have of escape?”
You have called an idol of wood your ‘father’ and an idol of stone your ‘mother.’ You have turned your back toward me instead of your face. But how different it is when you get into trouble! You cry out to me and ask me to come and save you.
Now where are all your homemade gods? They are nowhere to be found. Let them arise and save you in your time of trouble! Judah, you have as many gods as you have villages!
O Hope of Israel, Our only deliverer in time of trouble, why do you act like some stranger in the land, like an uninterested traveler who stops only for the night?