1. Hear ye this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel.
2. The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is cast down upon her land; there is none to raise her up.
3. For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: The city that went forth a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went forth a hundred shall have ten left, to the house of Israel.
4. For thus saith Jehovah unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live;
5. but seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nought.
6. Seek Jehovah, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el.
7. Ye who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth,