² Because the power of Midian was so oppressive,^(A) the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves^(B) and strongholds.^(C)

³⁸ the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves^(A) and in holes in the ground.

⁶ When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid^(A) in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.^(B)

¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free,^(A) hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.^(B)

¹¹ So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews^(A) are crawling out of the holes they were hiding^(B) in.”

⁴⁷ Because you did not serve^(A) the Lord your God joyfully and gladly^(B) in the time of prosperity, ⁴⁸ therefore in hunger and thirst,^(C) in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the Lord sends against you. He will put an iron yoke^(D) on your neck^(E) until he has destroyed you.

¹⁷ I will set my face^(A) against you so that you will be defeated^(B) by your enemies;^(C) those who hate you will rule over you,^(D) and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.^(E)