12. Yet the people will not turn back to the One who strikes them, nor will they seek Adonai-Tzva’ot.
13. So Adonai will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and bulrush in a single day.
14. The elder and the man of rank— he is the head. The prophet who teaches falsehood— he is the tail.
15. The leaders of this people lead them astray. Those they mislead are swallowed up.
16. Therefore Adonai will have no joy in their young men, nor will He have compassion on their orphans and widows, for everyone is ungodly and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks foolishness. For all this His anger is not turned away, yet His hand is still outstretched.
17. For wickedness burns like a fire and consumes the briers and thorns It kindles the thickets of the forest, so they roll up in a column of smoke.
18. By the wrath of Adonai-Tzva’ot is the land burnt up; The people are as fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother.
19. One grabs with the right hand but is hungry, and eats with the left hand but is not satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm—
20. Manasseh will devour Ephraim, and Ephraim, Manasseh, both are against Judah. For all this His anger is not turned away, yet His hand is outstretched.