16. Give glory to the Lord your GodBefore He causes darkness,And before your feet stumbleOn the dark mountains,And while you are looking for light,He turns it into the shadow of deathAnd makes it dense darkness.
17. But if you will not hear it,My soul will weep in secret for your pride;My eyes will weep bitterlyAnd run down with tears,Because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive.
18. Say to the king and to the queen mother,“Humble yourselves;Sit down,For your rule shall collapse, the crown of your glory.”
19. The cities of the South shall be shut up,And no one shall open them;Judah shall be carried away captive, all of it;It shall be wholly carried away captive.
20. Lift up your eyes and seeThose who come from the north.Where is the flock that was given to you,Your beautiful sheep?
21. What will you say when He punishes you?For you have taught themTo be chieftains, to be head over you.Will not pangs seize you,Like a woman in labor?
22. And if you say in your heart,“Why have these things come upon me?”For the greatness of your iniquityYour skirts have been uncovered,Your heels made bare.
23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.
24. “Therefore I will scatter them like stubbleThat passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
25. This is your lot,The portion of your measures from Me,” says the Lord,“Because you have forgotten MeAnd trusted in falsehood.
26. Therefore I will uncover your skirts over your face,That your shame may appear.
27. I have seen your adulteriesAnd your lustful neighings,The lewdness of your harlotry,Your abominations on the hills in the fields.Woe to you, O Jerusalem!Will you still not be made clean?”