14. I will smash them against each other, parents and children together—oracle of the Lord—showing no compassion, I will neither spare nor pity, but I will destroy them.
15. Listen and give ear, do not be arrogant,for the Lord speaks.
16. Give glory to the Lord, your God,before he brings darkness;Before your feet stumbleon mountains at twilight;Before the light you look for turns to darkness,changes into black clouds.
17. If you do not listen to this in your pride,I will weep many tears in secret;My eyes will run with tearsfor the Lord’s flock, led away to exile.
18. Say to the king and to the queen mother:come down from your throne;From your headsyour splendid crowns will fall.
19. The cities of the Negeb are besieged,with no one to relieve them;Judah is taken into exile—all of it—in total exile.
20. Lift up your eyes and seethose coming in from the north.Where is the flock entrusted to you,your splendid sheep?
21. What will you say when rulers are appointed over you,those you taught to be allies?Will not pains seize youlike those of a woman giving birth?
22. If you say to yourself:“Why have these things happened to me?”For your great guilt your skirts are stripped awayand you are violated.
23. Can Ethiopians change their skin,leopards their spots?As easily would you be able to do good,accustomed to evil as you are.
24. I will scatter them like chaff that flieson the desert wind.