43 Heb “short of hand.”
44 Heb “they are plants in the field and green vegetation.” The metaphor emphasizes how short-lived these seemingly powerful cities really were. See Ps 90:5–6; Isa 40:6–8, 24.
45 Heb “[they are] grass on the rooftops.” See the preceding note.
46 The Hebrew text has “scorched before the standing grain” (perhaps meaning “before it reaches maturity”), but it is preferable to emend קָמָה (qamah), “standing grain,” to קָדִים (qadim), “east wind” (with the support of 1Q Isaa in Isa 37:27).

In other versions

while their inhabitants, shorn of strength,

are dismayed and confounded,

and have become like plants of the field

and like tender grass,

like grass on the housetops,

blighted before it is grown.

Their people, drained of power,

are dismayed and put to shame.

They are like plants in the field,

like tender green shoots,

like grass sprouting on the roof,

scorched before it grows up.

Their inhabitants have become powerless,

dismayed, and ashamed.

They are plants of the field,

tender grass,

grass on the rooftops,

blasted by the east wind.

That is why their people have so little power

and are so frightened and confused.

They are as weak as grass,

as easily trampled as tender green shoots.

They are like grass sprouting on a housetop,

scorched before it can grow lush and tall.

Their inhabitants, short of hand, shall be dismayed;

and they shall be ashamed.

They have become green plants of the open field,

and tender grass,

green grass of the roof

and blight before the standing grain.

Therefore their inhabitants were of small power,

They were dismayed and confounded;

They were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb,

As the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.

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