18 Let them come quicklyand wail over ustill our eyes overflow with tearsand water streams from our eyelids.
19 The sound of wailing is heard from Zion:“How ruined we are!How great is our shame!We must leave our landbecause our houses are in ruins.” ’
20 Now, you women, hear the word of the Lord;open your ears to the words of his mouth.Teach your daughters how to wail;teach one another a lament.
21 Death has climbed in through our windowsand has entered our fortresses;it has removed the children from the streetsand the young men from the public squares.
22 Say, ‘This is what the Lord declares:‘ “Dead bodies will lielike dung on the open field,like cut corn behind the reaper,with no one to gather them.” ’
23 This is what the Lord says:‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdomor the strong boast of their strengthor the rich boast of their riches,
24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:that they have the understanding to know me,that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,justice and righteousness on earth,for in these I delight,’declares the Lord.