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For I heard a voice like an ill woman, anxiety like a woman who bears her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion. She is gasping for breath, she is spreading out her hands: "Woe is me, for I am becoming tired before killers."

Therefore thus says Yahweh, the God of hosts, "Because you have spoken this word, look, I am making my words in your mouth like a fire, and this people wood, and it will devour them.

Look, I am about to bring on you a nation from afar, O house of Israel," declares Yahweh. "It is an enduring nation, it is an ancient nation. A nation whose language you do not know, and you cannot understand what they speak.

But I am full with the wrath of Yahweh, I struggle to hold it in. Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the assemblies of young men at the same time. For even husband with wife will get trapped, the old with him who is full of days.

Hear, O earth, look, I am about to bring disaster to this people, the fruit of their plans, because they have not listened attentively to my words, and my teaching, they have rejected it also.

Therefore thus says Yahweh: "Look, I am about to put before this people stumbling blocks, and they will stumble against them, fathers and children together, neighbor and his friend will perish."

For look, I am letting loose among you snakes, adders for which there is no incantation, and they will bite you," declares Yahweh.

"Because of the wound of the daughter of my people I am broken down, I mourn, horror has seized me.

Therefore, thus says Yahweh of hosts: "Look, I am about to refine them, and I will test them, for what else can I do, because of the presence of the daughter of my people?

Therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, "Look, I am feeding this people wormwood, and providing drink for them, water of poison,

But only in this must the one who boasts boast, that he has insight, and that he knows me, that I am Yahweh, showing loyal love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight," declares Yahweh.

For thus says Yahweh, "Look, I am about to sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and I will bring distress to them, so that they may feel it."

Therefore thus says Yahweh, "I am about to bring on them disaster from which they will not be able to escape. Though they cry out to me, yet I will not listen to them.

Therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts: "Look, I am about to punish them. The young men will die by the sword. Their sons and their daughters will die by the famine.

Thus says Yahweh concerning all of the evil neighbors who touch the inheritance that I gave as an inheritance to my people Israel: "Look, I am about to drive them out from their land, and the house of Judah I will drive out from among them.

Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh: "Look, I am about to fill all the inhabitants of this land, and the kings who sit on David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with drunkenness.

Although they fast, I am not listening to their cry of entreaty. And although they present burnt offering and grain offering, I am not favorable to them. But by the sword, and by the famine, and by the plague, I am about to destroy them."

You have forsaken me," declares Yahweh. "You go backward, so I have stretched my hand against you, and I have destroyed you. I am tired of becoming remorseful.

And I have winnowed them with a winnowing fork in the gates of the land. I am bereaved. I have destroyed my people. They did not turn back from their ways.

You who know, O Yahweh, remember me, and attend to me, and take revenge for me against my persecutors in your forbearance. You must take me away. Know that I am carrying disgrace because of you.