4 I will make the people of Judah hated by everyone on earth. I will do this because of what Manasseh did in Jerusalem. (Manasseh son of Hezekiah was king of the nation of Judah.)
5 “Who will feel sorry for you, Jerusalem?Who will be sad and cry for you?Who will go out of his way to ask how you are?
6 Jerusalem, you have left me,” says the Lord.“You keep going farther and farther away.So I will take hold of you and destroy you.I am tired of holding back my anger.
7 I will separate the people of Judah with my pitchfork.I will scatter them at the city gates of the land.My people haven’t changed their ways.So I will destroy them.I will take away their children.
8 Many women will lose their husbands.There will be more widows than the sand of the sea.I will bring a destroyer at noontimeagainst the mothers of the young men of Judah.I will suddenly bring pain and fearon the people of Judah.
9 The enemy will attack.I will still hand over to the killers those who are left alive from Judah.A woman might have seven sons, but they will all die.She will cry until she becomes weak and unable to breathe.She will be upset and confused.Her bright day will become dark from sadness!” says the Lord.
10 Mother, I am sorry that you gave birth to me.I am the one who must accuse and criticize the whole land.I have not loaned or borrowed anything.But everyone curses me.