And Eliakim, Hilkiah’s son who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their garments torn. And they reported to him the words of the chief cupbearer.
Who has heard a thing like this? Who has seen things like these? Shall the earth be born in one day? Shall a nation be born in one step? For Zion travailed and also gave birth to her sons.
And you shall speak this Word to them: Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and do not let them cease. For the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great break, with a very grievous blow.
And I have seen a horrible thing among the prophets of Jerusalem; they commit adultery and walk in falsehood. And they make the hands of evildoers strong, so that not a man turns back from his evil. They are all of them like Sodom to Me, and those living in her like Gomorrah.
Again I will build you, and you shall be built again, O virgin of Israel. You will again put on your tambourines and go forth in the dance of those making merry.
The Lord has trampled all my mighty ones in my midst. He called a gathering against me to crush my young men. As a winepress, the Lord trod the virgin daughter of Judah.
Everywhere it is heard that fornication is among you, and such fornication which is not named among the heathen, so as for someone to have his father’s wife.
And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God has come to the camp. And they said, Woe to us! For never has it been like this yesterday and the day before.