Isaiah 10:5–7

Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger;

the staff in their hands is my fury!

Against a godless nation I send him,

and against the people of my wrath I command him,

to take spoil and seize plunder,

and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

But he does not so intend,

and his heart does not so think;

but it is in his heart to destroy,

and to cut off nations not a few;

“Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger,

in whose hand is the club of my wrath!

I send him against a godless nation,

I dispatch him against a people who anger me,

to seize loot and snatch plunder,

and to trample them down like mud in the streets.

But this is not what he intends,

this is not what he has in mind;

his purpose is to destroy,

to put an end to many nations.

Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger—

the staff in their hands is my wrath.

I will send him against a godless nation;

I will command him to go

against a people destined for my rage,

to take spoils, to plunder,

and to trample them down like clay in the streets.

But this is not what he intends;

this is not what he plans.

It is his intent to destroy

and to cut off many nations.

“What sorrow awaits Assyria, the rod of my anger.

I use it as a club to express my anger.

I am sending Assyria against a godless nation,

against a people with whom I am angry.

Assyria will plunder them,

trampling them like dirt beneath its feet.

But the king of Assyria will not understand that he is my tool;

his mind does not work that way.

His plan is simply to destroy,

to cut down nation after nation.

Ah! Assyria, the rod of my anger,

and a staff is in their hand: my wrath!

I send him against a godless nation,

and I command him against the people of my wrath,

to capture spoil

and to carry off plunder,

and to make them a trampling place,

like the clay of the streets.

But he does not think this,

and his heart does not plan this.

For it is in his heart to destroy

and to cut off not a few nations.

O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger,

And the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

I will send him against an hypocritical nation,

And against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge,

To take the spoil, and to take the prey,

And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

Howbeit he meaneth not so,

Neither doth his heart think so;

But it is in his heart to destroy

And cut off nations not a few.