14. So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail,taking away both the branch and stalk in one day.
15. The elders and important men were the head,and the prophets who speak lies were the tail.
16. Those who led the people led them in the wrong direction,and those who followed them were destroyed.
17. So the Lord is not happy with the young people,nor will he show mercy to the orphans and widows.All the people are separated from God and are very evil;they all speak lies.But the Lord is still angry;his hand is still raised to strike down the people.
18. Evil is like a small fire.First, it burns weeds and thorns.Next, it burns the larger bushes in the forest,and they all go up in a column of smoke.