In all the days of him, Pul, the king of Assyria, came into Tirzah. And Menahem gave to Pul a thousand talents of silver, that he should be to him into help, and should make steadfast his realm;
Forsooth Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser, king of Assyrians, and said, I am thy servant and thy son; go thou up, and make me safe from the hand of the king of Syria, and from the hand of the king of Israel, that have risen together against me.
What profiteth it to a fool to have riches, since he may not buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh falling; and he that escheweth to learn, shall fall into evils.
And now what wilt thou to thee in the way of Egypt, that thou drink troubled water? And what is to thee with the way of Assyrians, that thou drink water of the flood?
Ephraim feedeth on the wind, and followeth heat. All day he multiplieth leasing, and destroying; and he made bond of peace with Assyrians, and bare oil into Egypt.
Assur shall not save us, we shall not go upon horse; and we shall no more say, Our gods be the works of our hands; for thou shalt have mercy on that motherless child, which is in thee.
My people was still, for it had not knowing; for thou hast put away knowing, I shall put thee away, that thou use not priesthood to me; and for thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, also I shall forget thy sons.
And Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his bond. And Ephraim went to Assur, and sent to the king avenger. And he may not save you, neither he may unbind the bond from you.
They shall not give their thoughts that they turn again to their God; for the spirit of fornication is in the midst of them, and they knew not the Lord.
They shall bring sacrifices, they shall offer, and eat fleshes; and the Lord shall not receive those [or them]. Now he shall have mind on the wickednesses of them, and he shall visit the sins of them; they shall turn into Egypt.
For lo! they be gone out from destroying. Egypt shall gather them together, Memphis shall bury them. A nettle shall inherit the desirable silver of them, a clote shall be in the tabernacles of them.
Till to the terms they sent out thee; and all men of thy covenant of peace scorned, either deceived, thee, men of thy peace waxed strong against thee; they that shall eat with thee, shall set ambush, either treasons, under thee; there is no prudence in him.
Lo! I send you as sheep in the middle [or into the midst] of wolves; therefore be ye sly, [or prudent, or wary, or wise], as serpents, and simple as doves.