14 So the Lord cuts off (A)head and tail from Israel,
Both palm branch and bulrush (B)in a single day.
15 The head is (C)the elder and esteemed man,
And the prophet who teaches (D)falsehood is the tail.
16 (E)For those who guide this people are leading them astray;
And those who are guided by them are [a]confused.
17 Therefore the Lord does (F)not rejoice over their young men,
(G)Nor does He have compassion on their [b]orphans or their widows;
For every one of them is (H)godless and an (I)evildoer,
And every (J)mouth is speaking foolishness.
(K)In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away,
And His hand is still stretched out.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 9:16 Or swallowed up
  2. Isaiah 9:17 Or fatherless

14 So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,
    both palm branch and reed(A) in a single day;(B)
15 the elders(C) and dignitaries(D) are the head,
    the prophets(E) who teach lies(F) are the tail.
16 Those who guide(G) this people mislead them,
    and those who are guided are led astray.(H)
17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,(I)
    nor will he pity(J) the fatherless and widows,
for everyone is ungodly(K) and wicked,(L)
    every mouth speaks folly.(M)

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
    his hand is still upraised.(N)

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21 For (A)death has come up through our windows;
It has entered our palaces
To eliminate the (B)children from the streets,
The young men from the public squares.
22 Speak, “This is what the Lord says:
‘The corpses of people will fall (C)like dung on the open field,
And like the sheaf after the reaper,
But no one will gather them.’”

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21 Death has climbed in through our windows(A)
    and has entered our fortresses;
it has removed the children from the streets
    and the young men(B) from the public squares.

22 Say, “This is what the Lord declares:

“‘Dead bodies will lie
    like dung(C) on the open field,
like cut grain behind the reaper,
    with no one to gather them.’”

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