⁶ A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,^(A)
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
⁷ The grass withers^(B) and the flowers fall,
    because the breath^(C) of the Lord blows^(D) on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
⁸ The grass withers and the flowers^(E) fall,
    but the word^(F) of our God endures^(G) forever.^(H)”

²³ He brings princes^(A) to naught
    and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.^(B)
24 No sooner are they planted,
    no sooner are they sown,
    no sooner do they take root^(C) in the ground,
than he blows^(D) on them and they wither,^(E)
    and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.^(F)

² “Who has stirred^(A) up one from the east,^(B)
    calling him in righteousness^(C) to his service^[a]?^(D)
He hands nations over to him
    and subdues kings before him.
He turns them to dust^(E) with his sword,
    to windblown chaff^(F) with his bow.^(G)

¹⁵ “See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,^(A)
    new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains^(B) and crush them,
    and reduce the hills to chaff.^(C)
16 You will winnow^(D) them, the wind will pick them up,
    and a gale^(E) will blow them away.^(F)
But you will rejoice^(G) in the Lord
    and glory^(H) in the Holy One^(I) of Israel.