14. but they went after the stubbornness of their heart, and after the Baals, which their ancestors taught them.”
15. Therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, “Look, I am feeding this people wormwood, and providing drink for them, water of poison,
16. and I will scatter them among the nations that they have not known, they and their ancestors, and I will send the sword after them until I bring them to an end.”
17. Thus says Yahweh of hosts: “Consider closely, and call for the wailing women, so that they come, and for the skillful women, so that they come.
18. And let them hasten, and let them lift up wailing over us, so that our eyes may melt with tears, and our eyelids may flow with water.
19. For a sound of wailing is heard from Zion, ‘How we are devastated! We are very ashamed because we have left the land, because they have overthrown our dwelling places.’
20. For hear, O women, the word of Yahweh, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters a lamentation, and each woman her neighbor a lament.
21. For death has come into our windows, it has entered into our fortresses, to cut off the children from the streets, the young men from the public squares.
22. Speak, ‘thus declares Yahweh: “The dead body of the human will fall like dung upon the surface of the field, and like cut grain behind the reaper, and there is no one who gathers.” ’ ”
23. Thus says Yahweh, “The wise man must not boast in his wisdom, and the warrior must not boast in his might, the wealthy man must not boast in his wealth.
24. But only in this must the one who boasts boast, that he has insight, and that he knows me, that I am Yahweh, showing loyal love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight,” declares Yahweh.