¹⁵ There is nothing Egypt can do—
    head or tail, palm branch or reed.^(A)

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.

¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,^(A)
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,^(B)

²³ All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.