The eldersof the daughterof ZionSiton the ground,they are silent.They have thrownduston their heads;They have girdedthemselves with sackcloth.The virginsof JerusalemHave bowedtheir headsto the ground.
Tamarputasheson her headand toreher long-sleevedgarmentwhich[was] on her; and she puther handon her headand wentaway, cryingaloudas she went.
In their streetsthey have girdedthemselves with sackcloth;On their housetopsand in their squaresEveryoneis wailing,dissolvedin tears.
Now it will comeabout that insteadof sweetperfumethere will be putrefaction;Insteadof a belt,a rope;Insteadof well-sethair,a plucked-outscalp;Insteadof fineclothes,a donningof sackcloth;And brandinginsteadof beauty.
And her gateswill lamentand mourn,And desertedshe will siton the ground.
Then Eliakimthe sonof Hilkiah,whowas overthe household,and Shebnathe scribeand Joahthe sonof Asaph,the recorder,cameto Hezekiahwith their clothestornand toldhim the wordsof Rabshakeh.
"Comedownand sitin the dust,O virgindaughterof Babylon;Siton the groundwithouta throne,O daughterof the Chaldeans!For you shall nolongerbe calledtenderand delicate.
"Sitsilently,and gointo darkness,O daughterof the Chaldeans,For you will nolongerbe calledThe queenof kingdoms.
Whyare we sittingstill?Assembleyourselves, and let us gointo the fortifiedcitiesAnd let us perishthere,Becausethe LORDour Godhas doomedus And givenus poisonedwaterto drink,For we have sinnedagainst the LORD.
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.
Let him sitaloneand be silentSinceHe has laid[it] on him.
The presenceof the LORDhas scatteredthem, He will not continueto regardthem; They did not honorthe priests,They did not favorthe elders.
Those who atedelicaciesAre desolatein the streets;Those rearedin purpleEmbraceashpits.
Princeswere hungby their hands;Elderswere not respected.
Eldersare gonefrom the gate,Youngmenfrom their music.
And they will maketheir voiceheardoveryou And will crybitterly.They will castduston their heads,They will wallowin ashes.
"Also they will makethemselves baldfor you And girdthemselves with sackcloth;And they will weepfor you in bitternessof soulWith bittermourning.
They will girdthemselves with sackclothand shudderingwill overwhelmthem; and shame[will be] on allfacesand baldnesson alltheir heads.
Waillike a virgingirdedwith sackclothFor the bridegroomof her youth.
Thereforeat sucha timethe prudentperson keepssilent,for it is an eviltime.
"In that daythe beautifulvirginsAnd the youngmenwill faintfrom thirst.
"The songsof the palacewill turnto wailingin that day,"declaresthe LordGOD."Many[will be] the corpses;in everyplacethey will castthem forth in silence."
When the wordreachedthe kingof Nineveh,he arosefrom his throne,laidasidehis robefrom him, covered[himself] with sackclothand saton the ashes.
Then Joshuatorehis clothesand fellto the earthon his facebeforethe arkof the LORDuntilthe evening,[both] he and the eldersof Israel;and they putduston their heads.
"And they threwduston their headsand were cryingout, weepingand mourning,saying,Woe,woe,the greatcity,in whichallwho hadshipsat seabecame richby her wealth,for in onehourshe has been laid waste!'
