Even when their survivorsescape,they will be on the mountainslike dovesof the valleys,allof them mourning,eachover his own iniquity.
"O LORDGodof Israel,You are righteous,for we have been leftan escapedremnant,as [it is] thisday;behold,we are beforeYou in our guilt,for noonecan standbeforeYou becauseof this."
Giveheedto me and answerme; I am restlessin my complaintand am surelydistracted,
Unlessthe LORDof hostsHad leftus a fewsurvivors,We would be like Sodom,We would be likeGomorrah.
"The survivingremnantof the houseof Judahwill againtake rootdownwardand bearfruitupward.
"Like a swallow,[like] a crane,soI twitter;I moanlike a dove;My eyeslookwistfullyto the heights;O Lord,I am oppressed,be my security.
Allof us growllike bears,And moansadlylike doves;We hopefor justice,but thereis none,For salvation,[but] it is farfrom us.
For our transgressionsare multipliedbeforeYou, And our sinstestifyagainst us; For our transgressionsare with us, And we knowour iniquities:
A voiceis heardon the bareheights,The weeping[and] the supplicationsof the sonsof Israel;Becausethey have pervertedtheir way,They have forgottenthe LORDtheir God.
"With weepingthey will come,And by supplicationI will leadthem; I will make them walkby streamsof waters,On a straightpathin which they will not stumble;For I ama fatherto Israel,And Ephraimis My firstborn."
So there will be norefugeesor survivorsfor the remnantof Judahwho have enteredthe landof Egyptto residethereand then to returnto the landof Judah,to whichthey are longingto returnand live;for nonewill returnexcept[a few] refugees.'"
Those whoescapethe swordwill returnout of the landof Egyptto the landof Judahfewin number.Then allthe remnantof Judahwho have goneto the landof Egyptto residetherewill knowwhosewordwill stand,Mineor theirs.
"For a voiceof wailingis heardfrom Zion,Howare we ruined!We are putto greatshame,For we have leftthe land,Becausethey have castdownour dwellings.'"
"Yet, behold,survivorswill be leftin it who will be broughtout, [both] sonsand daughters.Behold,they are going to comeforthto you and you will seetheir conductand actions;then you will be comfortedfor the calamitywhichI have broughtagainstJerusalemfor everythingwhichI have broughtupon it.
"My flockwanderedthrough allthe mountainsand on everyhighhill;My flockwas scatteredoverallthe surfaceof the earth,and therewas nooneto searchor seek[for them]."'"
"Then you will rememberyour evilwaysand your deedsthat were not good,and you will loatheyourselves in your own sightfor your iniquitiesand your abominations.
It is fixed:She is stripped,she is carriedaway,And her handmaidsare moaninglike the soundof doves,Beatingon their breasts.
Nearis the greatdayof the LORD,Nearand comingveryquickly;Listen,the dayof the LORD!In it the warriorcriesout bitterly.
