20 Lift up your eyesand see who is approaching from the north.Where is the flock entrusted to you,your beautiful flock?
21 What will you say when he appoints someone as head over you:your defenders, your trusted allies?Won’t pain grip youlike that of a woman in labor?
22 And when you ask yourself,Why have all these things happened to me?it is because of your many sinsthat you have been stripped and violated.
23 Can a Cushite change his skinor a leopard its spots?Neither can you do goodwhen doing evil comes so naturally.
24 So I will scatter you like strawthat is blown away by the desert winds.
25 This is the futurethat I have prepared for you,declares the Lord, because you have forgotten meand trusted in lies.
26 I myself will pull up your skirt over your faceand expose your shame.