All your leaders ran away together – they fled to a distant place; all your refugees were captured together – they were captured without a single arrow being shot.

Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen this? Can a country be brought forth in one day? Can a nation be born in a single moment? Yet as soon as Zion goes into labor she gives birth to sons!

So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail, both the shoots and stalk in one day.

The light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One will become a flame; it will burn and consume the Assyrian king’s briers and his thorns in one day.

Certainly you will not refuse one of my master’s minor officials and trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen.

Indeed, all the tables are covered with vomit; no place is untouched.

Egypt will not be able to do a thing, head or tail, shoots and stalk.

Carefully read the scroll of the Lord! Not one of these creatures will be missing, none will lack a mate. For the Lord has issued the decree, and his own spirit gathers them.

Both of these will come upon you suddenly, in one day! You will lose your children and be widowed. You will be overwhelmed by these tragedies, despite your many incantations and your numerous amulets.

All nations gather together, the peoples assemble. Who among them announced this? Who predicted earlier events for us? Let them produce their witnesses to testify they were right; let them listen and affirm, ‘It is true.’