Yahweh’s Anger with Israel’s Arrogance
8 The Lord sends a message against Jacob,
And it falls on Israel.
9 And all the people know it,
That is, aEphraim and the inhabitants of Samaria,
Saying in lofty pride and in barrogance of heart:
10 “The bricks have fallen down,
But we will arebuild with cut stones;
The sycamores have been cut in pieces,
But we will replace them with cedars.”
11 Therefore Yahweh exalts against them adversaries from aRezin
And incites their enemies,
12 The Arameans on the east and the aPhilistines on the west;
And they bdevour Israel with gaping jaws.
cIn spite of all this, His anger does not turn back,
And His hand is still stretched out.
13 Yet the people ado not turn back to Him who struck them,
Nor do they bseek Yahweh of hosts.
14 So Yahweh cuts off ahead and tail from Israel,
Both palm branch and bulrush bin a single day.
15 The head is athe elder and the highly respected man,
And the prophet who teaches bfalsehood is the tail.
16 aFor those who guide this people are leading them astray;
And those who are guided by them are brought to confusion.
17 Therefore the Lord ais not glad in their choice men,
bNor does He have compassion on their orphans or their widows;
For every one of them is cgodless and an devildoer,
And every emouth is speaking wicked foolishness.
fIn spite of all this, His anger does not turn back,
And His hand is still stretched out.
18 aFor wickedness burns like a fire;
It consumes briars and thorns;
It even sets the thickets of the forest aflame,
And they roll upward in a column of smoke.
19 By the afury of Yahweh of hosts the bland is burned up,
And the cpeople are like fuel for the fire;
No dman spares his brother.
20 They slice off what is on the right hand but still are ahungry,
And they eat what is on the left hand but they are not satisfied;
Each of them eats the bflesh of his own arm.
21 Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh,
aAnd together they are against Judah.
bIn spite of all this, His anger does not turn back,
And His hand is still stretched out.
Woe to those who aenact evil statutes
And to those who constantly record mischief,
2 So as ato turn the poor away from their cause
And rob the afflicted of My people of their justice,
So bthat widows may be their spoil
And that they may plunder the orphans.
3 Now awhat will you do in the bday of visitation,
And in the devastation which will come cfrom afar?
dTo whom will you flee for help?
And where will you leave your glory?
4 Nothing remains but to crouch among the acaptives
Or fall among those bkilled.
cIn spite of all this, His anger does not turn back
And His hand is still stretched out.