For though he flourishes among the reeds (his fellow tribes),
An east wind (Assyria) will come,
The breath of the Lord rising from the desert;
And Ephraim’s spring will become dry
And his fountain will be dried up.
Assyria will plunder his treasury of every precious object.

Ephraim is stricken, their root is dried up,
They will bear no fruit.
Even though they give birth,
I will slay the precious children of their womb.

Therefore I am like a moth to Ephraim
And like dry rot to the house of Judah [in My judgment against them].

Give them [the punishment they deserve], O Lord! What will You give?
Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.