God’s Judgment on Assyria

¹² When the Lord has finished all his work^(U) against Mount Zion^(V) and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria^(W) for the willful pride^(X) of his heart and the haughty look^(Y) in his eyes. ¹³ For he says:

¹⁷ These people are springs without water^(A) and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.^{(B) 18} For they mouth empty, boastful words^(C) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping^(D) from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”^{(E) 20} If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing^(F) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ^(G) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.^{(H) 21} It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.^{(I) 22} Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”^[a](J) and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

² When John,^(A) who was in prison,^(B) heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples ³ to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,^(C) or should we expect someone else?”

⁴ Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.^{(D) 6} Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”^(E)

⁷ As John’s^(F) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness^(G) to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet?^(H) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written:

¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,^[c] and violent people have been raiding it. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.^{(K) 14} And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.^{(L) 15} Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(M)