20. He said, I will hide my face from them,and see what becomes of them.For they are a fickle generation,children with no loyalty in them!
21. Since they have incited me with a “no-god,”and provoked me with their empty idols,I will incite them with a “no-people”;with a foolish nation I will provoke them.
22. For by my wrath a fire is kindledthat has raged to the depths of Sheol,It has consumed the earth with its yield,and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
23. I will heap evils upon themand exhaust all my arrows against them:
24. Emaciating hunger and consuming feverand bitter pestilence,And the teeth of wild beasts I will send among them,with the venom of reptiles gliding in the dust.
25. Out in the street the sword shall bereave,and at home the terrorFor the young man and the young woman alike,the nursing babe as well as the gray beard.
26. I said: I will make an end of themand blot out their name from human memory,
27. Had I not feared the provocation by the enemy,that their foes might misunderstand,And say, “Our own hand won the victory;the Lord had nothing to do with any of it.”
28. For they are a nation devoid of reason,having no understanding.
29. If they had insight they would realize this,they would understand their end:
30. “How could one rout a thousand,or two put ten thousand to flight,Unless it was because their Rock sold them,the Lord delivered them up?”