Isaiah 9:8-17 8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob, and it fell on Israel;  9 and all the people knew it Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria  but in pride and arrogance of heart they said:  10 The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones;  the sycomores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.  11 So the Lord raised adversaries against them, and stirred up their enemies,  12 the Arameans in the east and the Philistines in the west, and they devoured Israel with open mouth.  For all this, his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still.  13 The people did not turn to him who struck them, or seek the Lord of hosts.  14 So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day  15 elders and dignitaries are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail;  16 for those who led this people led them astray, and those who were led by them were left in confusion.  17 That is why the Lord did not have pity on their young people, or compassion on their orphans and widows;  for everyone was godless and an evildoer, and every mouth spoke folly.  For all this, his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.