5. The Lord who rules over all sent the noise of battle against you. The Lord brought disorder and terror to the Valley of Vision. The walls of the city were knocked down. Cries for help were heard in the mountains.
6. Soldiers from Elam came armed with bows and arrows. They came with their chariots and horses. Soldiers from Kir got their shields ready.
7. Your rich valleys filled up with chariots. Horsemen took up their battle positions at your city gates.
8. Judah wasn't a safe place to live in anymore. When all of that happened, you depended on the weapons in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.
9. You saw that the City of David had many holes in its walls. They needed to be repaired. You stored up water in the Lower Pool.
10. You picked out the weaker buildings in Jerusalem. You tore them down and used their stones to strengthen the city walls against attack.
11. You built a pool between the two walls. You used it to save the water that was running down from the Old Pool. But you didn't look to the One who made it all possible. You didn't pay any attention to the One who planned everything long ago.
12. The Lord who rules over all called out to you at that time. The Lord told you to sob and cry. He told you to tear your hair out. And he told you to put black clothes on.