⁸ God chose new leaders^(A)
    when war came to the city gates,^(B)
but not a shield or spear^(C) was seen
    among forty thousand in Israel.

⁷ Your choicest valleys^(A) are full of chariots,
    and horsemen are posted at the city gates.^(B)

¹⁵ So that hearts may melt with fear^(A)
    and the fallen be many,
I have stationed the sword for slaughter^[a]
    at all their gates.
Look! It is forged to strike like lightning,
    it is grasped for slaughter.^(B)