Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower which is at the head of the fertile valley of those who are overcome with wine!
Tell them therefore, “Thus says the Lord God: I will make this proverb cease so that they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.” But say to them, The days are at hand and the effect of every vision.
Fire has gone out from its branch; it has devoured its shoots and fruit, so that there is no strong rod in it, a scepter to rule. This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.
It is sharpened to make a slaughter; it is polished so that it may glisten like lightning. Should we then make cheer, the rod of My son despising every tree?
My eye shall not spare, nor will I have pity; I will recompense you according to your ways, and your abominations that are in your midst. And you shall know that I am the Lord who strikes.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and those who walk in pride He is able to abase.
On the next day Moses went into the tent of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms, and yielded almonds.