[36:1] The Lord said, “Mortal man, speak to the mountains of Israel and tell them to listen to the message which I,
[36:2] the Sovereign Lord, have for them: Israel's enemies gloated and said, ‘Now those ancient hills are ours!’
[36:3] “Prophesy, then, and announce what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying. When the neighboring nations captured and plundered the mountains of Israel, everyone made fun of Israel.
[36:4] So now listen to what I, the Sovereign Lord, say to you mountains and hills, to you brooks and valleys, to you places that were left in ruins, and to you deserted cities which were plundered and mocked by all the surrounding nations.
[36:5] “I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken out in the heat of my anger against the surrounding nations, and especially against Edom. With glee and contempt they captured my land and took possession of its pastures.
[36:6] “So prophesy to the land of Israel; tell the mountains, hills, brooks, and valleys what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying in jealous anger because of the way the nations have insulted and humiliated them.
[36:7] I, the Sovereign Lord, solemnly promise that the surrounding nations will be humiliated.
[36:8] But on the mountains of Israel the trees will again grow leaves and bear fruit for you, my people Israel. You are going to come home soon.
[36:9] I am on your side, and I will make sure that your land is plowed again and crops are planted on it.
[36:10] I will make your population grow. You will live in the cities and rebuild everything that was left in ruins.
[36:11] I will make people and cattle increase in number. There will be more of you than ever before, and you will have many children. I will let you live there as you used to live, and I will make you more prosperous than ever. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
[36:12] I will bring you, my people Israel, back to live again in the land. It will be your own land, and it will never again let your children starve.
[36:13] “I, the Sovereign Lord, say: It is true that people say that the land eats people and that it robs the nation of its children.
[36:14] But from now on it will no longer eat people and rob you of your children. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken.
[36:15] The land will no longer have to listen to the nations making fun of it or see the peoples sneer at it. The land will no longer rob the nation of its children. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken.”