¹⁶ for before the boy knows^(A) enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,^(B) the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.^{(C) 17} The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away^(D) from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.^(E)”

Assyria, the Lord’s Instrument

¹⁸ In that day^(F) the Lord will whistle^(G) for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.^{(H) 19} They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices^(I) in the rocks, on all the thornbushes^(J) and at all the water holes. ²⁰ In that day^(K) the Lord will use^(L) a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River^(M)—the king of Assyria^(N)—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard^(O) also.^{(P) 21} In that day,^(Q) a person will keep alive a young cow and two goats.^{(R) 22} And because of the abundance of the milk they give, there will be curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds^(S) and honey.^{(T) 23} In that day,^(U) in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels,^[a](V) there will be only briers and thorns.^{(W) 24} Hunters will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers^(X) and thorns. ²⁵ As for all the hills^(Y) once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns;^(Z) they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.^(AA)