16 I will scatter them among nations that neither they nor their ancestors have known anything about. I will send people chasing after them with swords until I have destroyed them.’”
17 The Lord who rules over all told me to say to this people,“Take note of what I say.Call for the women who mourn for the dead!Summon those who are the most skilled at it!”
18 I said, “Indeed, let them come quickly and sing a song of mourning for us.Let them wail loudly until tears stream from our own eyesand our eyelids overflow with water.
19 For the sound of wailing is soon to be heard in Zion.They will wail, ‘We are utterly ruined! We are completely disgraced!For our houses have been torn downand we must leave our land.’”
20 I said, “So now, you wailing women, hear what the Lord says.Open your ears to the words from his mouth.Teach your daughters this mournful song,and each of you teach your neighbor this lament.
21 ‘Death has climbed in through our windows.It has entered into our fortified houses.It has taken away our children who play in the streets.It has taken away our young men who gather in the city squares.’
22 Tell your daughters and neighbors, ‘The Lord says,“The dead bodies of people will lie scattered everywherelike manure scattered on a field.They will lie scattered on the ground like grain that has been cut down but has not been gathered.”’”