Isaiah 9:17-19

New Century Version

But the Lord is still angry;
    his hand is still raised to strike down the people.

¹⁸ Evil is like a small fire.
    First, it burns weeds and thorns.
Next, it burns the larger bushes in the forest,
    and they all go up in a column of smoke.
¹⁹ The Lord All-Powerful is angry,
    so the land will be burned.
The people are like fuel for the fire;
    no one will try to save his brother or sister.