² In the last days^(A)

²² “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot^(A) from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.^{(B) 23} On the mountain heights^(C) of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit^(D) and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.^{(E) 24} All the trees of the forest^(F) will know that I the Lord bring down^(G) the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.^(H)

“‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.^(I)’”

³⁴ While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands.^(A) It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed^(B) them.^(C)

³⁵ Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away^(A) without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain^(B) and filled the whole earth.^(C)