^16 (17) Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot:

“Mark this, then summon the mourning women,
so that they will come;
send for those who are best [at mourning],
so that they will come:
^17 (18) ‘Have them hurry and wail for us,
so our eyes will be wet from crying,
and our eyelids gush with tears.’
^18 (19) For the sound of wailing is heard from Tziyon:
‘We are utterly ruined,
we are completely ashamed,
because we have left the land,
and our homes have been torn down!’”