"O Jerusalem,Jerusalem,[the city] that killsthe prophetsand stonesthosesentto her! How oftenI wantedto gatheryour childrentogether,justas a hen[gathers] her broodunderher wings,and you wouldnot [have it]!
"But they becamedisobedientand rebelledagainst You, And castYour lawbehindtheir backsAnd killedYour prophetswhohad admonishedthem So that they might returnto You, And they committedgreatblasphemies.
"However, You borewith them for manyyears,And admonishedthem by Your SpiritthroughYour prophets,Yet they would not giveear.Therefore You gavethem into the handof the peoplesof the lands.
Let Israelbe gladin his Maker;Let the sonsof Zionrejoicein their King.
Keepme as the appleof the eye;Hideme in the shadowof Your wings
Howpreciousis Your lovingkindness,O God!And the childrenof mentakerefugein the shadowof Your wings.
Be graciousto me, O God,be graciousto me, For my soultakesrefugein You; And in the shadowof Your wingsI will takerefugeUntildestructionpassesby.
"Ohthat My peoplewould listento Me, That Israelwould walkin My ways!
He will coveryou with His pinions,And underHis wingsyou may seekrefuge;His faithfulnessis a shieldand bulwark.
For thusthe LordGOD,the HolyOneof Israel,has said,"In repentanceand restyou will be saved,In quietnessand trustis your strength."But you were not willing,
"Whywas therenomanwhen I came?When I called,[why] was therenoneto answer?Is My handsoshortthat it cannotransom?OrhaveI nopowerto deliver?Behold,I dryup the seawith My rebuke,I makethe riversa wilderness;Their fishstinkfor lackof waterAnd dieof thirst.
"In vainI have struckyour sons;They acceptednochastening.Your swordhas devouredyour prophetsLike a destroyinglion.
And they broughtUriahfrom Egyptand ledhim to KingJehoiakim,who slewhim with a swordand casthis deadbodyinto the burialplaceof the commonpeople.
"The wordsof Jonadabthe sonof Rechab,whichhe commandedhis sonsnot to drinkwine,are observed.So they do not drink[wine] to thisday,for they have obeyedtheir father'scommand.But I have spokento you againand again;yet you have not listenedto Me.
"Thereforethussaysthe LORD,the Godof hosts,the Godof Israel,'Behold,I am bringingon Judahand on allthe inhabitantsof Jerusalemallthe disasterthat I have pronouncedagainstthem; becauseI spoketo them but they did not listen,and I have calledthem but they did not answer.'"
Thussaysthe LORD,"Standby the waysand seeand askfor the ancientpaths,Wherethe goodwayis, and walkin it; And you will findrestfor your souls.But they said,'We will not walk[in it].'
"For thesethingsI weep;My eyesrundownwith water;Becausefarfrom me is a comforter,One who restoresmy soul.My childrenare desolateBecausethe enemyhas prevailed."
Becauseof the sinsof her prophets[And] the iniquitiesof her priests,Who have shedin her midstThe bloodof the righteous;
The more they calledthem, The morethey wentfrom them; They kept sacrificingto the BaalsAnd burningincenseto idols.
So My peopleare benton turningfrom Me. Though they callthem to [the One] on high,Noneat allexalts[Him].
So rejoice,O sonsof Zion,And be gladin the LORDyour God;For He has givenyou the earlyrainfor [your] vindication.And He has poureddownfor you the rain,The earlyand latterrainas before.
"Do not be like your fathers,to whomthe formerprophetsproclaimed,saying,'Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Returnnowfrom your evilwaysand from your evildeeds."'But they did not listenor giveheedto Me," declaresthe LORD.
"And he sentout his slavesto callthosewho had been invitedto the wedding feast,and they were unwillingto come.
and the restseizedhis slavesand mistreatedthem and killedthem.
"But he became angryand was not willingto goin; and his fathercameout and [began] pleadingwith him.
and they will level you to the groundand your childrenwithinyou, and they will not leavein you one stoneupon another,becauseyou did not recognizethe timeof your visitation."
But Jesusturningto them said,"Daughtersof Jerusalem,stopweepingfor Me, but weepfor yourselvesand for your children.
"Which oneof the prophetsdid your fathersnot persecute?They killedthosewho had previously announcedthe comingof the Righteous One,whosebetrayersand murderersyou have nowbecome;
They went on stoningStephenas he calledon [the Lord] and said,"LordJesus,receivemy spirit!"
Saulwas in hearty agreementwith putting him to death.And on that daya greatpersecutionbeganagainstthe churchin Jerusalem,and they were allscatteredthroughoutthe regionsof Judeaand Samaria,exceptthe apostles.
"Wouldthat they were wise,that they understoodthis,That they would discerntheir future!
Ohthat they hadsucha heartin them, that they would fearMe and keepallMy commandmentsalways,that it may be wellwith them and with their sonsforever!
And their dead bodies[will lie] in the streetof the greatcitywhichmysticallyis calledSodomand Egypt,wherealsotheir Lordwas crucified.
"May the LORDrewardyour work,and your wagesbe fullfrom the LORD,the Godof Israel,underwhosewingsyou have cometo seekrefuge."
