Weeping and Mourning

8 Because of this I will lament and wail;

I will walk barefoot and naked.

I will howl like a jackal [fn]

and mourn like an ostrich.[fn]

9 For her wound is incurable;

it has reached even Judah;

it has approached the gate of my people,

as far as Jerusalem itself.

10 Do not tell it in Gath;[fn] do not weep at all.

Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah.[fn]

11 Depart in shameful nakedness,

O dwellers of Shaphir.[fn]

The dwellers of Zaanan [fn]

will not come out.

Beth-ezel [fn] is in mourning;

its support is taken from you.

12 For the dwellers of Maroth [fn] pined for good,

but calamity came down from the LORD,

even to the gate of Jerusalem.

13 Harness your chariot horses,

O dweller of Lachish.[fn]

You were the beginning of sin to the Daughter of Zion,

for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.

14 Therefore, send farewell gifts [fn] to Moresheth-gath;[fn]

the houses of Achzib [fn] will prove deceptive

to the kings of Israel.

15 I will again bring a conqueror against you,

O dweller of Mareshah.[fn]

The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.

16 Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hair

in mourning for your precious children;

make yourselves as bald as an eagle,

for they will go from you into exile.