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 strongwill have only a hundred left;your town that marches out a hundred strongwill 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.
7. There are those who turn justice into bitternessand cast righteousness to the ground.