Isaiah 9:8–10:4
God’s Anger with Israel’s Arrogance
8 The Lord sends a 1message against Jacob,
And it falls on Israel.
That is, aEphraim and the inhabitants of Samaria,
Asserting in pride and in barrogance of heart:
10 “The bricks have fallen down,
But we will arebuild with smooth stones;
The sycamores have been cut down,
But we will replace them with cedars.”
11 Therefore the Lord raises against them adversaries from aRezin
And spurs their enemies on,
12 The Arameans on the east and the aPhilistines on the west;
And they bdevour Israel with 1gaping jaws.
cIn spite of all this, His anger does not turn away
And His hand is still stretched out.
13 Yet the people ado not turn back to Him who struck them,
Nor do they bseek the Lord of hosts.
14 So the Lord cuts off ahead and tail from Israel,
Both palm branch and bulrush bin a single day.
15 The head is athe elder and honorable 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 1brought to confusion.
17 Therefore the Lord does anot take pleasure in their young men,
bNor does He have pity on their 1orphans or their widows;
For every one of them is cgodless and an devildoer,
And every emouth is speaking foolishness.
fIn spite of all this, His anger does not turn away
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 the Lord of hosts the bland is burned up,
And the cpeople are like fuel for the fire;
No dman spares his brother.
20 1They slice off what is on the right hand but still are ahungry,
And 2they 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 away
And His hand is still stretched out.
1 Woe to those who aenact evil statutes
And to those who constantly record 1unjust decisions,
2 So as ato 1deprive the needy of justice
And rob the poor of My people of their rights,
So bthat widows may be their spoil
And that they may plunder the 2orphans.
3 Now awhat will you do in the bday of punishment,
And in the devastation which will come cfrom afar?
dTo whom will you flee for help?
And where will you leave your 1wealth?
4 Nothing remains but to crouch 1among the acaptives
cIn spite of all this, His anger does not turn away
And His hand is still stretched out.