Weeping and Mourning

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.

vvv 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 vvv 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. 2