Ephraimis stricken,their rootis driedup, They will bearnofruit.Eventhoughthey bearchildren, I will slaythe preciousonesof their womb.
and lo,sevenears,withered,thin,[and] scorchedby the eastwind,sproutedup afterthem;
"His rootsare driedbelow,And his branchis cutoffabove.
Scarcelyhave they been planted,Scarcelyhave they been sown,Scarcelyhas their stocktakenrootin the earth,But He merelyblowson them, and they wither,And the stormcarriesthem away like stubble.
Therefore,as a tongueof fireconsumesstubbleAnd drygrasscollapsesinto the flame,So their rootwill becomelike rotand their blossomblowawayas dust;For they have rejectedthe lawof the LORDof hostsAnd despisedthe wordof the HolyOneof Israel.
Speakto the houseof Israel,"Thussaysthe LordGOD,'Behold,I am about to profaneMy sanctuary,the prideof your power,the desireof your eyesand the delightof your soul;and your sonsand your daughterswhomyou have leftbehindwill fallby the sword.
Ephraimis oppressed,crushedin judgment,Becausehe was determinedto follow[man's] command.
For they sowthe windAnd they reapthe whirlwind.The standinggrainhasnoheads;It yieldsnograin.Shouldit yield,strangerswould swallowit up.
"For behold,the dayis coming,burninglike a furnace;and allthe arrogantand everyevildoerwill be chaff;and the daythat is comingwill setthem ablaze,"saysthe LORDof hosts,"sothat it will leavethem neitherrootnorbranch."
Outsidethe swordwill bereave,And insideterror--Bothyoungmanand virgin,The nurslingwith the manof grayhair.
