Yesaya 9:14-15

9:14 So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail,

both the shoots and stalk ¹  in one day.

9:15 The leaders and the highly respected people ²  are the head,

the prophets who teach lies are the tail.

[9:14]  ¹ sn The metaphor in this line is that of a reed being cut down.

[9:15]  ² tn Heb “the elder and the one lifted up with respect to the face.” For another example of the Hebrew idiom, see 2 Kgs 5:1.