19. The cities of southern Judah are locked up,and no one can open them.All Judah will be taken as captives to a foreign land;they will be carried away completely.
20. Jerusalem, look up and seethe people coming from the north.Where is the flock God gave you to care for,the flock you bragged about?
21. What will you say when they appoint as your headsthose you had thought were your friends?Won’t you have much pain and trouble,like a woman giving birth to a baby?
22. You might ask yourself,“Why has this happened to me?”It happened because of your many sins.Because of your sins, your skirt was torn offand your body has been treated badly.
23. Can a person from Cush change the color of his skin?Can a leopard change his spots?In the same way, Jerusalem, you cannot change and do good,because you are accustomed to doing evil.
24. “I will scatter you like chaff that is blown away by the desert wind.
25. This is what will happen to you;this is your part in my plans,” says the Lord.“Because you forgot meand trusted in false gods,
26. I will pull your skirts up over your faceso everyone will see your shame.
27. I have seen the terrible things you have done:your acts of adultery and your snorting,your prostitution,your hateful actson the hills and in the fields.How terrible it will be for you, Jerusalem.How long will you continue being unclean?”