Isaiah 9:13-17

Expanded Bible

¹³ But the people did not return to the one who had struck them;
    they did not follow the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts].
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 [respected; honored] 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 [astray],
    and those who followed them were ·destroyed [swallowed up; or confused].
¹⁷ So the Lord ·is not happy with [or took no pity on] the young people,
    nor will he show ·mercy [compassion; pity] to the ·orphans [fatherless] and widows.
All the people are ·separated from God [ungodly; defiled] and are very evil;
    they all speak ·lies [or foolishness; folly].

But the Lord is still angry;
his hand is still ·raised to strike down the people [outstretched].