2 If they ask you, ‘Where will we go?’ tell them: This is what the Lord says:

Those destined for death,q to death;

those destined for the sword, to the sword.

Those destined for famine, to famine;

those destined for captivity, to captivity.

3 “I will ordain four kindsA of judgment for them”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away,r and the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the lands to devour and destroy. 4 I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseht son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.

5 Who will have pity on you, Jerusalem?u

Who will show sympathy toward you?v

Who will turn aside

to ask about your well-being?

6 You have left me.”w

This is the Lord’s declaration.

“You have turned your back,

so I have stretched out my hand against you

and destroyed you.

I am tiredx of showing compassion.

7 I scattered them with a winnowing fork

at the city gates of the land.

I made them childless; I destroyed my people.

They would not turn from their ways.y

8 I made their widows more numerous

than the sand of the seas.z

I brought a destroyer at noon

against the mother of young men.

I suddenly released on her

agitation and terrors.

9 The mother of seven grew faint;aa

she breathed her last breath.

Her sun set while it was still day;

she was ashamed and humiliated.

The rest of them I will give over to the sword

in the presence of their enemies.”

This is the Lord’s declaration.