1 Listen to this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel.
2 “The virgin of Israel has fallen;She shall rise no more.She is cast down on her land;there is no one to raise her up.”
3 For thus says the Lord GOD:“The city that went out a thousand shall have a hundred left,and that which went out one hundred shall have ten left to the house of Israel.”
4 For the Lord says to the house of Israel:“Seek me, and you will live;
5 but don’t seek Bethel,nor enter into Gilgal,and don’t pass to Beersheba:for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity,and Bethel shall come to nothing.
6 Seek the Lord, and you will live;lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph,and it devour, and there be no one to quench it in Bethel.