³ What will you do on the day of punishment
when devastation comes from far away?
Who will you run to for help?
Where will you leave your wealth?

²¹ Even her mercenaries among her
are like stall-fed calves.
They too will turn back;
together they will flee;
they will not take their stand,
for the day of their calamity is coming on them,
the time of their punishment.^(A)

²⁹ While they offer false visions^(A)
and lying divinations about you,
the time has come to put you
to the necks of the profane wicked ones;
the day has come
for final punishment.

⁹ Ephraim will become a desolation^(A)
on the day of punishment;^(B)
I announce what is certain
among the tribes of Israel.^(C)

⁴ The best of them is like a brier;^(A)
the most upright is worse than a hedge of thorns.^(B)
The day of your watchmen,
the day of your punishment, is coming;^(C)
at this time their panic is here.^(D)