The Lord became our enemy; he destroyed Israel. He devastated all her palaces and ruined her strongholds. He has multiplied weeping and wailing for Daughter Judah.
The Lord has swallowed up without mercy all the homes of Jacob’s descendants. In his fury, he tore down the fortresses of Daughter Judah. He threw to the ground and brought disgrace to the kingdom of Judah and her leaders.
All those ‘lovers’ you had have abandoned you; they could not care less. Yes, I struck you with cruel punishment because of your great guilt and countless sins. I struck you mercilessly like you were my enemy.
He bent his bow like an enemy and clenched his fist like a foe. Like an enemy, he slaughtered all his pride and joy. He poured out his fury like fire on the temple of beloved Jerusalem.
Then Yahweh said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me to intercede for these people, I would not turn my heart back to them. Send them away from me and make them go.
‘Here is what Yahweh, the God of Israel says to King Zedekiah: Behold! I am going to take the weapons your troops are using to fight the Babylonians who are outside the city, and I will gather them together there.