²⁷ Had I not feared the provocation by the enemy,
Lest their adversaries misjudge,
Lest they say, “^(A)Our hand is ^[a]triumphant,
And Yahweh has not done all this.”’

²⁸ “^(B)For they are a nation where counsel perishes,
And there is no discernment in them.
^29 (C)Would that they were wise, that they had insight into this,
^(D)That they would understand their ^[b]future!