1. Hear this word, Israel, this lament I take up concerning you:
2. “Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again, deserted in her own land, with no one to lift her up.”
3. This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Israel: “Your city that marches out a thousand strong will have only a hundred left; your town that marches out a hundred strong will have only ten left.”
4. This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live;
5. do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing. ”
6. Seek the Lord and live, or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire; it will devour them, and Bethel will have no one to quench it.