The Nations Stream to Our Father's Mountain
4 1 In the last days the mountain where our Father's house stands will be firmly established as the highest of the mountains, lifted high above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. 2 Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of our Father, to the house of the Father of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths." For instruction will go out from Zion, and the word of our Father from Jerusalem. 3 He will judge between many peoples and settle disputes for strong nations far away. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 4 Each will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Father of heaven's armies himself has spoken. 5 For all the peoples walk in the name of their own god, but we will walk in the name of our Father forever and ever.
Our Father Gathers His Scattered Children
6 In that day, declares our Father, I will gather the lame and bring together the outcast, those whom I have afflicted. 7 I will make the lame into a remnant, and those driven far away into a strong nation, and our Father will reign over them on Mount Zion from now on and forever.
8 And you, tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you it will come—the former dominion will return, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.
9 Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished, that pain has seized you like a woman in labor? 10 Writhe and groan, daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you will go out from the city and live in the open field; you will go to Babylon. There you will be rescued; there our Father will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.
11 Now many nations are gathered against you, saying, "Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gloat over Zion." 12 But they do not know the thoughts of our Father; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor. 13 Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron and your hooves bronze; you will crush many peoples, and you will devote their gain to our Father, their wealth to the Sovereign of all the earth. a a v13 Zion is pictured as a threshing ox: iron horns and bronze hooves picture crushing, unstoppable strength.