Isaiah 9:16-18

New Living Translation

¹⁶ For the leaders of the people have misled them.
    They have led them down the path of destruction.
¹⁷ That is why the Lord takes no pleasure in the young men
    and shows no mercy even to the widows and orphans.
For they are all wicked hypocrites,
    and they all speak foolishness.
But even then the Lord’s anger will not be satisfied.
    His fist is still poised to strike.

¹⁸ This wickedness is like a brushfire.
    It burns not only briers and thorns
but also sets the forests ablaze.
    Its burning sends up clouds of smoke.