You whowere fullof noise,You boisteroustown,you exultantcity;Your slainwere not slainwith the sword,Nordid they diein battle.
Nothing[remains] but to crouchamongthe captivesOr fallamongthe slain.In [spite of] allthis,His angerdoes not turnawayAnd His handis stillstretchedout.
Is thisyour jubilant[city], Whose originis from antiquity,Whose feetused to carryher to colonizedistantplaces?
For the landof my people[in which] thorns[and] briarsshall comeup; Yea,for allthe joyfulhouses[and for] the jubilantcity.
Becausethe palacehas been abandoned,the populatedcityforsaken.Hilland watch-towerhave becomecavesforever,A delightfor wilddonkeys,a pasturefor flocks;
"Therefore,thussaysthe LORDconcerningthe kingof Assyria,'He will not cometo thiscityor shootan arrowthere;and he will not comebeforeit with a shield,orthrowup a siegerampagainstit.
Then the angelof the LORDwentout and struck185000in the campof the Assyrians;and when men aroseearlyin the morning,behold,allof these were dead.
IfI goout to the country,Behold,those slainwith the sword!Or ifI enterthe city,Behold,diseasesof famine!For bothprophetand priestHave gone rovingaboutin the landthat they do not know.'"
"Thussaysthe LORD,He who staysin thiscitywill dieby the swordand by famineand by pestilence,but he who goesout to the Chaldeanswill liveand havehis [own] lifeas bootyand stayalive.'
On the ninth[day] of the fourthmonththe faminewas so severein the citythat there was nofoodfor the peopleof the land.
Howlonelysitsthe cityThat was fullof people!She has becomelike a widowWhowas [once] greatamong the nations!She who was a princessamong the provincesHas becomea forcedlaborer!
See,O LORD,and look!With whomhave You dealtthus?Should womeneattheir offspring,The littleoneswhowere bornhealthy?Should priestand prophetbe slainIn the sanctuaryof the Lord?
"Those whoare nearand those whoare farfrom you will mockyou, you of illrepute,fullof turmoil.
Thisis the exultantcityWhich dwellssecurely,Who saysin her heart,"I am, and thereis noonebesidesme." Howshe has becomea desolation,A restingplacefor beasts!Everyonewho passesby her will hiss[And] wavehis hand[in contempt].
