17. But if you will not listen to it,my soul will weep in secret placesfor your pride;and my eyes will weep sorelyand run down with tears,because the flock of the Lord is carried away captive.
18. Say to the king and to the queen mother:“Humble yourselves, sit down,for your beautiful crownshall come down from your head.”
19. The cities of the Negev will be shut up,and no one will open them;all Judah will be carried away into captivity;it will be wholly carried away captive.
20. Lift up your eyes and seethose who come from the north.Where is the flock that was given to you,your beautiful flock?
21. What will you say when He appoints over youthose you yourself had taught to be companions to you?Shall not sorrows take hold of you,as a woman in labor?
22. And if you say in your heart,“Why have these things come upon me?”for the greatness of your iniquityyour skirts have been removedand your heels made bare.
23. Can the Ethiopian change his skinor the leopard his spots?Then you also can do good,who are accustomed to doing evil.
24. Therefore I will scatter them as the stubblethat passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
25. This is your lot,the portion of your measures from Me,says the Lord,because you have forgotten Meand trusted in falsehood.
26. Therefore I Myself have uncovered your skirts over your faceso that your shame may appear.
27. I have seen your adulteries and your lustful neighings,the lewdness of your harlotry,and your abominationson the hills in the fields.Woe to you, O Jerusalem!How long will you remain unclean?