Isaiah 9:8-12

The Voice

⁸ The Lord has dispatched a word against Jacob;
    it will come down hard on Israel.
⁹ All the people of Ephraim and the citizens of its capital Samaria will know.
    In their pride and arrogance they say:
¹⁰ “Hey! The walls have collapsed, but this gives us a chance to rebuild
    better than it was before with the best stones instead of brick.
The invaders may have chopped down the sycamores,
    but we will plant cedars in their place.”
¹¹ But the Eternal stirs up Rezin’s enemies to move against Israel
    and arouses all their foes to join them.
¹² They come, these enemies, from both sides (Syrians on the east and Philistines on the west)
    and consume Israel, swallowing it whole.
Still, God’s anger smolders.
    His hand is raised; there’s more to come.