⁷ He demolished fortresses^[a]
    and destroyed their towns and cities.
Their farms were desolated,
    and their crops were destroyed.
The land and its people trembled in fear
    when they heard him roar.

¹² I will dry up the Nile River
    and sell the land to wicked men.
I will destroy the land of Egypt and everything in it
    by the hands of foreigners.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!

“I despise the arrogance of Israel,^[a]
    and I hate their fortresses.
I will give this city
    and everything in it to their enemies.”

¹⁵ A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor
    as a roaring lion or an attacking bear.

¹⁶ A ruler with no understanding will oppress his people,
    but one who hates corruption will have a long life.

³ A poor person who oppresses the poor
    is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.

¹² The king’s anger is like a lion’s roar,
    but his favor is like dew on the grass.