¹⁶ then I will do this to you: I will bring on you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever^(A) that will destroy your sight and sap your strength.^(B) You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.^(C)

³ Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites^(A) and other eastern peoples^(B) invaded the country. ⁴ They camped on the land and ruined the crops^(C) all the way to Gaza^(D) and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. ⁵ They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts.^(E) It was impossible to count them or their camels;^(F) they invaded the land to ravage it. ⁶ Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out^(G) to the Lord for help.