²⁶ Put on sackcloth,^(A) my people,
    and roll in ashes;^(B)
mourn with bitter wailing^(C)
    as for an only son,^(D)
for suddenly the destroyer^(E)
    will come upon us.

“Consider now! Call for the wailing women^(A) to come;
    send for the most skillful of them.
¹⁸ Let them come quickly
    and wail over us
till our eyes overflow with tears
    and water streams from our eyelids.^(B)
19 The sound of wailing is heard from Zion:
    ‘How ruined^(C) we are!
    How great is our shame!
We must leave our land
    because our houses are in ruins.’”

²⁰ Now, you women, hear the word of the Lord;
    open your ears to the words of his mouth.^(D)
Teach your daughters how to wail;
    teach one another a lament.^(E)

¹⁴ All your allies^(A) have forgotten you;
    they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy^(B) would
    and punished you as would the cruel,^(C)
because your guilt is so great
    and your sins^(D) so many.