"Will not your creditorsriseup suddenly,And those who collectfrom you awaken?Indeed, you will becomeplunderfor them.
A manwho hardens[his] neckafter much reproofWill suddenlybe brokenbeyondremedy.
He who digsa pitmay fallinto it, and a serpentmay bitehim who breaksthrougha wall.
Then the jealousyof Ephraimwill depart,And those who harassJudahwill be cutoff;Ephraimwill not be jealousof Judah,And Judahwill not harassEphraim.
"I have arousedone from the north,and he has come;From the risingof the sunhe will callon My name;And he will comeupon rulersas [upon] mortar,Even as the pottertreadsclay."
Callinga birdof preyfrom the east,The manof My purposefrom a farcountry.TrulyI have spoken;trulyI will bringit to pass.I have planned[it, surely] I will doit.
"But evilwill comeon you Which you will not knowhow to charmaway;And disasterwill fallon you For which you cannotatone;And destructionabout which you do not knowWill comeon you suddenly.
Sharpenthe arrows,fillthe quivers!The LORDhas arousedthe spiritof the kingsof the Medes,BecauseHis purposeis againstBabylonto destroyit; For it is the vengeanceof the LORD,vengeancefor His temple.
"I will makeher princesand her wisemendrunk,Her governors,her prefectsand her mightymen,That they may sleepa perpetualsleepand not wakeup," Declaresthe King,whose nameis the LORDof hosts.
"For behold,I am sendingserpentsagainst you, Adders,for whichthereis nocharm,And they will biteyou," declaresthe LORD.
Whilethey are saying,"Peaceand safety!"thendestructionwill comeupon them suddenlylikelabor painsupon a woman with child,and they will not escape.
