17 Thus says Yahweh of hosts:

“Consider closely, and call for the wailing women, so that they come,

and send for the skillful women, so that they come.

18 And let them hasten,

and let them lift up wailing over us,

so that our eyes may melt with tears,

and our eyelids may flow with water.

19 For a sound of wailing is heard from Zion,

‘How we are devastated!

We are very ashamed because we have left the land,

because they have overthrown our dwelling places.’

20 For hear, O women, the word of Yahweh,

and let your ear receive the word of his mouth,

and teach your daughters a lamentation,

and each woman her neighbor a lament.

21 For death has come into our windows,

it has entered into our fortresses,

to cut off the childrent from the streets,u

the young men from the public squares.

22 Speak, ‘thus ⌊declares⌋v Yahweh:

“The dead body of the human will fall

like dung upon the surface of the field,

and like cut grain behind the reaper,

and there is no one who gathers.” ’ ”

The Things in Which Yahweh Delights

23 Thus says Yahweh,

“The wise man must not boast in his wisdom,

and the warrior must not boast in his might,

the wealthy man must not boast in his wealth.

24 ⌊But only⌋w in this must the one who boasts boast,

that he has insight,

and that he knows me,

that I am Yahweh,

showing loyal love, justice, and righteousness on the earth,

for in these things I delight,” ⌊declares⌋x Yahweh.

The Way of the Nations

25 “Look, days are coming,” ⌊declares⌋y Yahweh, “and I will call into account all those who are circumcised in the foreskin: 26 Egypt, Judah, and Edom, and the ⌊Ammonites⌋,z and Moab, and all those who are trimmed to the side, those who live in the desert,a for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.”