17. If you do not listen,I will weep in secretbecause of your pride;my eyes will weep bitterly,overflowing with tears,because the Lord’s flock will be taken captive.
18. Say to the king and to the queen mother,‘Come down from your thrones,for your glorious crownswill fall from your heads.’
19. The cities in the Negev will be shut up,and there will be no one to open them.All Judah will be carried into exile,carried completely away.
20. Look up and seethose who are coming from the north.Where is the flock that was entrusted to you,the sheep of which you boasted?
21. What will you say when the Lord sets over youthose you cultivated as your special allies?Will not pain grip youlike that of a woman in labour?
22. And if you ask yourself,‘Why has this happened to me?’ –it is because of your many sinsthat your skirts have been torn offand your body ill-treated.
23. Can an Ethiopian change his skinor a leopard its spots?Neither can you do goodwho are accustomed to doing evil.