5:24 Therefore, as flaming fire 1 devours straw,
and dry grass disintegrates in the flames,
so their root will rot,
and their flower will blow away like dust. 2
For they have rejected the law of the Lord who commands armies,
they have spurned the commands 3 of the Holy One of Israel. 4
5:25 So the Lord is furious 5 with his people;
he lifts 6 his hand and strikes them.
The mountains shake,
and corpses lie like manure 7 in the middle of the streets.
Despite all this, his anger does not subside,
and his hand is ready to strike again. 8
1 tn Heb “a tongue of fire” (so NASB), referring to a tongue-shaped flame.
2 sn They are compared to a flowering plant that withers quickly in a hot, arid climate.
3 tn Heb “the word.”
4 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
5 tn Heb “the anger of the Lord rages.”
6 tn Or “extends”; KJV, ASV “he hath stretched forth.”
7 tn Or “garbage” (NCV, CEV, NLT); NAB, NASB, NIV “refuse.”
8 tn Heb “in all this his anger is not turned, and still his hand is outstretched.”