13 Yet the people (A)do not turn back to Him who struck them,
Nor do they (B)seek the Lord of armies.
14 So the Lord cuts off (C)head and tail from Israel,
Both palm branch and bulrush (D)in a single day.
15 The head is (E)the elder and esteemed man,
And the prophet who teaches (F)falsehood is the tail.
16 (G)For those who guide this people are leading them astray;
And those who are guided by them are [a]confused.
17 Therefore the Lord does (H)not rejoice over their young men,
(I)Nor does He have compassion on their [b]orphans or their widows;
For every one of them is (J)godless and an (K)evildoer,
And every (L)mouth is speaking foolishness.
(M)In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away,
And His hand is still stretched out.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 9:16 Or swallowed up
  2. Isaiah 9:17 Or fatherless

13 But the people didn’t turn to the one who struck them.
    They didn’t seek the Lord of heavenly forces.
14 So the Lord cut off head and tail,
    palm branch and reed from Israel in one day.
15     (Elders and celebrities are the head;
    prophets who teach lies are the tail.)
16 But this people’s leaders were misleading,
    and those being led were confused.
17 So the Lord showed their youth no pity,
    and showed their orphans and widows no mercy;
    for everyone was godless and evil;
        every mouth spoke nonsense.
Even then God’s anger didn’t turn away;
    God’s hand was still extended.

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