For deathhas comeup through our windows;It has enteredour palacesTo cutoffthe childrenfrom the streets,The youngmenfrom the townsquares.
Therefore He broughtup againstthem the kingof the Chaldeanswho slewtheir youngmenwith the swordin the houseof their sanctuary,and hadnocompassionon youngmanor virgin,oldmanor infirm;He gave[them] allinto his hand.
Though youthsgrowwearyand tired,And vigorousyoungmenstumblebadly,
"I will winnowthem with a winnowingforkAt the gatesof the land;I will bereave[them] of children,I will destroyMy people;They did not repentof their ways.
Therefore,givetheir childrenover to famineAnd deliverthem up to the powerof the sword;And let their wivesbecomechildlessand widowed.Let their menalso be smittento death,Their youngmenstruckdownby the swordin battle.
Nowthen thussaysthe LORDGodof hosts,the Godof Israel,"Whyare you doinggreatharmto yourselves,so as to cutofffrom you manand woman,childand infant,from amongJudah,leavingyourselves withoutremnant,
"Thereforeher youngmenwill fallin her streets,And allher menof warwill be silencedin that day,"declaresthe LORD.
But I am fullof the wrathof the LORD;I am wearywith holding[it] in. "Pour[it] out on the childrenin the streetAnd on the gatheringof youngmentogether;For bothhusbandand wifeshall be taken,The agedand the veryold.
Therefore,thussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I am layingstumblingblocksbeforethispeople.And they will stumbleagainst them, Fathersand sonstogether;Neighborand friendwill perish."
"The deadbodiesof thispeoplewill be foodfor the birdsof the skyand for the beastsof the earth;and noonewill frighten[them away].
"They will spreadthem out to the sun,the moonand to allthe hostof heaven,whichthey have lovedand whichthey have served,and whichthey have goneafterand whichthey have sought,and whichthey have worshiped.They will not be gatheredor buried;they will be as dungon the faceof the ground.
They rushon the city,They runon the wall;They climbinto the houses,They enterthroughthe windowslike a thief.
She has fallen,she will not riseagain--The virginIsrael.She [lies] neglectedon her land;Thereis noneto raiseher up.
And it will be, iftenmenare leftin onehouse,they will die.
I will bringdistresson menSo that they will walklike the blind,Becausethey have sinnedagainst the LORD;And their bloodwill be pouredout like dustAnd their fleshlike dung.
