Gilead belongs to me, as does Manasseh! Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my royal scepter.

He executes judgment against the nations; he fills the valleys with corpses; he shatters their heads over the vast battlefield.

O sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.

for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Let your clothes always be white, and do not spare precious ointment on your head.

Why do you insist on being battered? Why do you continue to rebel? Your head has a massive wound, your whole body is weak.

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

The leaders and the highly respected people are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.

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

Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told to you since the very beginning? Have you not understood from the time the earth’s foundations were made?

Let the desert and its cities shout out, the towns where the nomads of Kedar live! Let the residents of Sela shout joyfully; let them shout loudly from the mountaintops.

They are dismayed because the ground is cracked because there has been no rain in the land. The farmers, too, are dismayed and bury their faces in their hands.

So their land will become an object of horror. People will forever hiss out their scorn over it. All who pass that way will be filled with horror and will shake their heads in derision.

But just watch! The wrath of the Lord will come like a storm! Like a raging storm it will rage down on the heads of those who are wicked.

Just watch! The wrath of the Lord will come like a storm. Like a raging storm it will rage down on the heads of those who are wicked.

א (Alef)Alas! Gold has lost its luster; pure gold loses value. Jewels are scattered on every street corner.

Then there was a voice from above the platform over their heads when they stood still.

They will wear sackcloth, terror will cover them; shame will be on all their faces, and all of their heads will be shaved bald.

But as for me, my eye will not pity them nor will I spare them; I hereby repay them for what they have done.”

But those whose hearts are devoted to detestable things and abominations, I hereby repay them for what they have done, says the sovereign Lord.”