And now ¹  they are tearing down ²  all its engravings ³  with axes ⁴  and crowbars. ⁵ 

Their ¹  priests fell by the sword, but their ²  widows did not weep. ³ 

if they break ¹  my rules and do not keep my commandments,

A city is exalted by the blessing provided from ¹  the upright, but it is destroyed by the counsel ²  of the wicked. ³ 

Travel to Tarshish! Wail, you residents of the coast!

Mourn over the field, ¹  over the delightful fields and the fruitful vine!

until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees what has happened. ¹ 

I will give you into their hands and they will destroy your chambers and tear down your pavilions. They will strip you of your clothing and take your beautiful jewelry and leave you naked and bare.

Edom ¹  says, “Though we are devastated, we will once again build the ruined places.” So the Lord who rules over all ²  responds, “They indeed may build, but I will overthrow. They will be known as ³  the land of evil, the people with whom the Lord is permanently displeased.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

You will live by your sword but you will serve your brother. When you grow restless, you will tear off his yoke from your neck.” ¹ 

Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother ¹  and was at the point of tears. ²  So he went to his room and wept there.

Peninnah ¹  would behave this way year after year. Whenever Hannah ²  went up to the Lord’s house, Peninnah ³  would upset her so that she would weep and refuse to eat.

He tears me down ¹  on every side until I perish; ²  he uproots ³  my hope ⁴  like one uproots ⁵  a tree.

My eyes grow weak because of oppression. I call out to you, O Lord, all day long; I spread out my hands in prayer to you. ¹ 

So I say: “Don’t look at me! ¹  I am weeping bitterly. Don’t try ²  to console me concerning the destruction of my defenseless people.” ³ 

At that time the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, called for weeping and mourning, for shaved heads and sackcloth. ¹ 

Mourn ¹  over the land of my people, which is overgrown with thorns and briers, and over all the once-happy houses ²  in the city filled with revelry. ³ 

No one will take any food to those who mourn for the dead to comfort them. No one will give them any wine to drink to console them for the loss of their father or mother.

When the time for them to be rescued comes,” ¹  says the Lord who rules over all, ²  “I will rescue you from foreign subjugation. ³  I will deliver you from captivity. ⁴  Foreigners will then no longer subjugate them.