Jeremiah 9:20-26

New International Version

²⁰ Now, you women, hear the word of the Lord;
    open your ears to the words of his mouth.^(A)
Teach your daughters how to wail;
    teach one another a lament.^(B)
21 Death has climbed in through our windows^(C)
    and has entered our fortresses;
it has removed the children from the streets
    and the young men^(D) from the public squares.

“‘Dead bodies will lie
    like dung^(E) on the open field,
like cut grain behind the reaper,
    with no one to gather them.’”

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom^(F)
    or the strong boast of their strength^(G)
    or the rich boast of their riches,^(H)
24 but let the one who boasts boast^(I) about this:
    that they have the understanding to know^(J) me,
that I am the Lord,^(K) who exercises kindness,^(L)
    justice and righteousness^(M) on earth,
    for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.