6 You have forsaken me,” declares Yahweh. “You go backward, so I have stretched my hand against you, and I have destroyed you. I am tired of becoming remorseful.
7 And I have winnowed them with a winnowing fork in the gates of the land. I am bereaved. I have destroyed my people. They did not turn back from their ways.
8 Their widows will be more numerous before me than the sand of the seas. I have brought to them, against the mothers of young men, a destroyer at noon. I will suddenly drop on her anguish and horror.
9 She who gave birth to seven has withered away. She gasps her breath. Her sun set while still day. She has been put to shame and disgraced. And the remainder of them I will give to the sword before their enemies,” declares Yahweh.
10 Woe to me, O my mother, that you gave birth to me, a man of contention and quarreling to the whole land. I have not lent out and I have not borrowed. All of them are cursing me.
11 Yahweh said, “Surely I will set you free to be good for you, surely I will cause the enemy to intercede with you in a time of trouble, and in a time of distress.
12 Can anyone break iron, iron from the north, or bronze?