⁷ He broke down^[a] their strongholds
    and devastated^(A) their towns.
The land and all who were in it
    were terrified by his roaring.

¹² I will dry up^(A) the waters of the Nile^(B)
    and sell the land to an evil nation;
by the hand of foreigners
    I will lay waste^(C) the land and everything in it.

² Hear,^(A) you peoples, all of you,^(B)
    listen, earth^(C) and all who live in it,
that the Sovereign Lord may bear witness^(D) against you,
    the Lord from his holy temple.^(E)

“I abhor^(B) the pride of Jacob^(C)
    and detest his fortresses;^(D)
I will deliver up^(E) the city
    and everything in it.^(F)”

¹⁵ Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

¹⁶ A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
    but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

³ A ruler^[a] who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

¹² A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,^(A)
    but his favor is like dew^(B) on the grass.^(C)