16. Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness,before your feet stumbleon the twilight mountains,and while you look for lighthe turns it into gloomand makes it deep darkness.
17. But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride;my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears,because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive.
18. Say to the king and the queen mother:“Take a lowly seat,for your beautiful crownhas come down from your head.”
19. The cities of the Negeb are shut up,with none to open them;all Judah is taken into exile,wholly taken into exile.
20. “Lift up your eyes and seethose who come from the north.Where is the flock that was given you,your beautiful flock?
21. What will you say when they set as head over youthose whom you yourself have taught to be friends to you? Will not pangs take hold of youlike those of a woman in labor?
22. And if you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things come upon me?’it is for the greatness of your iniquitythat your skirts are lifted upand you suffer violence.
23. Can the Ethiopian change his skinor the leopard his spots?Then also you can do goodwho are accustomed to do evil.
24. I will scatter you like chaffdriven by the wind from the desert.
25. This is your lot,the portion I have measured out to you, declares the Lord,because you have forgotten meand trusted in lies.