15. So this is what the Lord of heaven’s armies, God of Israel, says: “I will soon make the people of Judah eat bitter food. I will make them drink poisoned water.
16. I will scatter them through other nations. They will live in strange nations that they and their ancestors never knew about. I will chase the people of Judah with the sword until they are all killed.”
17. This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says:“Now, think about these things!Call for the women who cry at funerals.Send for those women who are good at that job.
18. Let them come quicklyand cry loudly for us.Then our eyes will fill with tears.And streams of water will come out of our eyes.
19. The sound of loud crying is heard from Jerusalem:‘We are truly ruined!We are truly ashamed!We must leave our land,because our houses are in ruins.’”
20. Now, women of Judah, listen to the word of the Lord.Open your ears to hear the words of his mouth.Teach your daughters how to cry loudly.Teach one another a funeral song!