22. For fire has ignited in My nostrils— it will burn to Sheol beneath, devour the earth and her produce, and scorch the foundations of mountains.
23. I will heap calamities upon them. With My arrows I will finish them.
24. Wasted by famine, ravaged by plague and pestilence so bitter, fangs of beasts I’ll let loose on them, with venom of creepers in the dust.
25. Outside the sword deals death, and inside terror— to both young men and young women, infants, with men of gray hair.
26. I would have said, ‘I will hack them to pieces, make the memory of them cease from mankind,’
27. except I dread the taunt of the enemy, lest their foes might misconstrue— lest they say, ‘Our hand is held high, and Adonai has not done all this.’
28. For they are a nation lacking counsel, among them there is no understanding.
29. “If they were wise, they would discern this, they would understand their hereafter.
30. How can one chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them and Adonai had handed them over?
31. Surely their rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies judge.
32. For their vine is from the vine of Sodom and from the terraces of Gomorrah. Its grapes are grapes of poison— bitter clusters on it.
33. Venom of serpents is their wine— poison of vipers so cruel.
34. Is it not stored up with Me, sealed up in My treasuries?
35. Vengeance is Mine, and payback, for the time when their foot staggers. Surely their day of disaster is near— what is prepared rushes on them.
36. For Adonai will judge His people— for His servants, He will relent when He sees that strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.
37. He will say, ‘Where are their gods, the “rock” they took refuge in?
38. Who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their libation? Let them rise up and help you and be a shelter over you!
39. See now that I, I am He! There are no other gods beside Me. I bring death and give life, I have wounded but I will heal, and none can rescue from My hand.’