9:12 Syria from the east,
and the Philistines from the west,
they gobbled up Israelite territory. 1
Despite all this, his anger does not subside,
and his hand is ready to strike again. 2
9:13 The people did not return to the one who struck them,
they did not seek reconciliation 3 with the Lord who commands armies.
9:14 So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail,
both the shoots and stalk 4 in one day.
9:15 The leaders and the highly respected people 5 are the head,
the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
9:16 The leaders of this nation were misleading people,
and the people being led were destroyed. 6