Jeremiah 13:19–21

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 see

those 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 you

those you cultivated as your special allies?

Will not pain grip you

like that of a woman in labor?

19 The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive. 20 Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock? 21 What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?

19 The towns of the Negev will close their gates,

and no one will be able to open them.

The people of Judah will be taken away as captives.

All will be carried into exile.

20 Open up your eyes and see

the armies marching down from the north!

Where is your flock—

your beautiful flock—

that he gave you to care for?

21 What will you say when the Lord takes the allies you have cultivated

and appoints them as your rulers?

Pangs of anguish will grip you,

like those of a woman in labor!

19 The cities of the South shall be shut up,

And no one shall open them;

Judah shall be carried away captive, all of it;

It shall be wholly carried away captive.

20 Lift up your eyes and see

Those who come from the north.

Where is the flock that was given to you,

Your beautiful sheep?

21 What will you say when He punishes you?

For you have taught them

To be chieftains, to be head over you.

Will not pangs seize you,

Like a woman in labor?

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 see

the 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 heads

those you had thought were your friends?

Won’t you have much pain and trouble,

like a woman giving birth to a baby?

19 The cities of the South are shut up, and there is none to open them: Judah is carried away captive, all of it; it is wholly carried away captive.

20 Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock? 21 What wilt thou say, when he shall set over thee as head those whom thou hast thyself taught to be friends to thee? shall not sorrows take hold of thee, as of a woman in travail?

19 The cities of the south are shut up, and there is none to open them; all Judah is carried away captive: it is wholly carried away captive. 20 Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north. Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock? 21 What wilt thou say when he shall visit thee, since thou thyself hast trained them to be princes in chief over thee? Shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?

19 The cities in the Negev will be locked up, 

and there will be no one to reopen them. 

All the people of Judah will be taken away into captivity. 

20 Look up, and see those who are coming from the north. 

Where is the flock that was given to you—your beautiful sheep? 

21 What will you say 

when God makes the people you thought were your friends 

your new masters? 

Won’t pain grip you like a woman in labor? 

19 The cities of the Negev are under siege;

no one can help them.

All of Judah has been taken into exile,

taken completely into exile.

20 Look up and see

those coming from the north.

Where is the flock entrusted to you,

the sheep that were your pride?

21 What will you say when He appoints

close friends as leaders over you,

ones you yourself trained?

Won’t labor pains seize you,

as they do a woman in labor?

19 The towns of the Negeb are shut up,

with no one to open them;

all Judah is taken into exile,

wholly taken into exile.

20 Lift up your eyes and see

those who come from the north.

Where is the flock that was given you,

your beautiful flock?

21 What will you say when they set as head over you

those whom you have trained

to be your allies?

Will not pangs seize you

like those of a woman in labor?

19 The towns of the Negev are shut up,

and there is no one who opens them.

All of Judah is deported;

it is deported in completeness.

20 Lift up your eyes

and see those coming from the north.

Where is the flock that was given to you,

your magnificent flock?

21 What will you say when he sets over you—

and you have taught them—allies as head over you?

Will not labor pains take hold of you,

like a woman giving birth?

19 The gates of the cities in the Negev Desert will be shut tight.

There won’t be anyone to open them.

You will be carried away as prisoners.

You will be taken away completely.

20 Jerusalem, look up!

Your enemies are coming from the north.

Where is the flock you were supposed to take care of?

Where are the sheep you were so proud of?

21 You have worked hard to make special friends.

But the Lord will let them rule over you.

Then what will you say?

Suffering will take hold of you.

It will be like the pain of a woman having a baby.

19 The cities of the Negev have been locked up,

And there is no one to open them;

All Judah has been carried into exile,

Wholly carried into exile.

20 “Lift up your eyes and see

Those coming from the north.

Where is the flock that was given you,

Your beautiful sheep?

21 “What will you say when He appoints over you—

And you yourself had taught them—

Former companions to be head over you?

Will not pangs take hold of you

Like a woman in childbirth?