7. Your favorite valley was filled with chariots. Horse soldiers were stationed in front of the city gates.
8. Then the cover protecting Judah was removed, and the people turned to the weapons they kept at the Forest Palace.
9-11. Then you noticed how many cracks there were in the walls around the City of David, so you began collecting water from the Lower Pool. You counted the houses and used stones from them to repair the walls. Then you built a pool between the double walls for storing water from the Old Pool. You did all this to protect yourselves, but you did not trust the God who made all these things. You did not even notice the one who made all these things so long ago.
12. So the Lord GOD All-Powerful told the people to cry and mourn for their dead friends. He told them to shave their heads and wear mourning clothes.
13. But look, everyone was happy. The people rejoiced, saying, “Kill the cattle and sheep, and let’s celebrate. Let’s eat meat and drink wine. Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”