The Nation is Judged by Yahweh

13 And Yahweh said, “Because of their forsaking my law that I set before[fn] them, and they have not obeyed my voice, and have not walked in it, 14 but they went after the stubbornness of their heart, and after the Baals, which their ancestors[fn] taught them.” 15 Therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, “Look, I am feeding this people wormwood, and providing drink for them, water of poison, 16 and I will scatter them among the nations that they have not known, they and their ancestors,[fn] and I will send the sword after them until I bring them to an end.”

• 17 Thus says Yahweh of hosts:“Consider closely, and call for the wailing women, so that they come,
  • and for the skillful women, so that they come.
  • 18  and let them lift up wailing over us,
• so that our eyes may melt with tears,
  • and our eyelids may flow with water.
  • 19  ‘How we are devastated!
• We are very ashamed because we have left the land,
  • because they have overthrown our dwelling places.’
  • 20 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  it has entered into our fortresses,
• to cut off the children[fn] from the streets,[fn]
  • the young men from the public squares.
• 22 Speak, ‘thus declares[fn] 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.” ’ ”