5. “Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem, or who will grieve for you?Who will turn asideto ask about your welfare?
6. You have rejected me, declares the Lord; you keep going backward,so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you— I am weary of relenting.
7. I have winnowed them with a winnowing forkin the gates of the land;I have bereaved them; I have destroyed my people; they did not turn from their ways.
8. I have made their widows more in numberthan the sand of the seas;I have brought against the mothers of young mena destroyer at noonday;I have made anguish and terrorfall upon them suddenly.
9. She who bore seven has grown feeble; she has fainted away; her sun went down while it was yet day;she has been shamed and disgraced.And the rest of them I will give to the swordbefore their enemies,declares the Lord.”
10. Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me.
11. The Lord said, “Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress?
12. Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze?
13. “Your wealth and your treasures I will give as spoil, without price, for all your sins, throughout all your territory.
14. I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.”
15. O Lord, you know; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors.In your forbearance take me not away; know that for your sake I bear reproach.
16. Your words were found, and I ate them,and your words became to me a joyand the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name,O Lord, God of hosts.
17. I did not sit in the company of revelers,nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,for you had filled me with indignation.