The People Mourn in Judgment

17 Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“Consider and call for zthe mourning women,

That they may come;

And send for skillful wailing women,

That they may come.

18 Let them make haste

And take up a wailing for us,

That aour eyes may run with tears,

And our eyelids gush with water.

19 For a voice of wailing is heard from Zion:

‘How we are plundered!

We are greatly ashamed,

Because we have forsaken the land,

Because we have been cast out of bour dwellings.’ ”

20 Yet hear the word of the Lord, O women,

And let your ear receive the word of His mouth;

Teach your daughters wailing,

And everyone her neighbor a lamentation.

21 For death has come through our windows,

Has entered our palaces,

To kill off cthe children—8no longer to be outside!

And the young men—9no longer on the streets!

22 Speak, “Thus says the Lord:

‘Even the carcasses of men shall fall das refuse on the open field,

Like cuttings after the harvester,

And no one shall gather them.’ ”

23 Thus says the Lord:

e“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,

Let not the mighty man glory in his fmight,

Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

24 But glet him who glories glory in this,

That he understands and knows Me,

That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, 1judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

hFor in these I delight,” says the Lord.

25 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that iI will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised—26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, and all who are in the jfarthest corners, who dwell in the wilderness. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are kuncircumcised in the heart.”