²⁴ Therefore, ^(A)as a tongue of fire consumes stubble,
And dry grass collapses in the flame,
So their ^(B)root will become ^(C)like rot, and their blossom ^[a]blow away like dust;
For they have ^(D)rejected the Law of the Lord of armies,
And discarded the word of the Holy One of Israel.

^16 (A)Ephraim is stricken, their root is dried up,
They will produce ^(B)no fruit.
Even though they give birth to children,
I will put to death the ^(C)precious ones of their womb.

⁹ “Yet it was I who destroyed the ^(A)Amorite before them,
^[a]Though his ^(B)height was like the height of cedars
And he was as strong as the oaks;
I also destroyed his ^(C)fruit above and his roots below.