12. Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD has spoken, that he may declare it, for why is the land perished and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passes through?
13. And the LORD says,
14. But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:
15. Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel;
16. I will scatter them also among the nations, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.
17. Thus says the LORD of hosts,
18. And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with water.
19. For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we plundered! we are greatly ashamed, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.
20. Yet hear the word of the LORD, O you women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and everyone her neighbor lamentation.
21. For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from outside, and the young men from the squares.
22. Speak, Thus says the LORD,
23. Thus says the LORD,
24. But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight,