Desolationis leftin the cityAnd the gateis batteredto ruins.
"Wail,O gate;cry,O city;Meltaway, O Philistia,allof you; For smokecomesfrom the north,And thereis nostragglerin his ranks.
Becausethe palacehas been abandoned,the populatedcityforsaken.Hilland watch-towerhave becomecavesforever,A delightfor wilddonkeys,a pasturefor flocks;
And it will hailwhen the forestcomesdown,And the citywill be utterlylaidlow.
"I will gobeforeyou and makethe roughplacessmooth;I will shatterthe doorsof bronzeand cutthroughtheir ironbars.
"I will makeJerusalema heapof ruins, A hauntof jackals;And I will makethe citiesof Judaha desolation,withoutinhabitant."
Howlonelysitsthe cityThat was fullof people!She has becomelike a widowWhowas [once] greatamong the nations!She who was a princessamong the provincesHas becomea forcedlaborer!
The roadsof Zionare in mourningBecausenoone comesto the appointedfeasts.Allher gatesare desolate;Her priestsare groaning,Her virginsare afflicted,And she herselfis bitter.
Her gateshave sunkinto the ground,He has destroyedand brokenher bars.Her kingand her princesare among the nations;The lawis nomore.Also,her prophetsfindNovisionfrom the LORD.
Becauseof MountZionwhichliesdesolate,Foxesprowlin it.
For the inhabitantof MarothBecomesweakwaitingfor good,Becausea calamityhas comedownfrom the LORDTo the gateof Jerusalem.
For her woundis incurable,For it has cometo Judah;It has reachedthe gateof my people,[Even] to Jerusalem.
"But the kingwas enraged,and he senthis armiesand destroyedthosemurderersand settheir cityon fire.
