¹⁵ People of Israel,” declares the Lord,
    “I am bringing a distant nation^(A) against you—
an ancient and enduring nation,
    a people whose language^(B) you do not know,
    whose speech you do not understand.

“Look, an army is coming
    from the land of the north;^(A)
a great nation is being stirred up
    from the ends of the earth.^(B)
23 They are armed with bow and spear;
    they are cruel and show no mercy.^(C)
They sound like the roaring sea^(D)
    as they ride on their horses;^(E)
they come like men in battle formation
    to attack you, Daughter Zion.^(F)”

⁸ So put on sackcloth,^(A)
    lament^(B) and wail,
for the fierce anger^(C) of the Lord
    has not turned away from us.

“Their kings will come and set up their thrones
    in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
    and against all the towns of Judah.^(A)
16 I will pronounce my judgments^(B) on my people
    because of their wickedness^(C) in forsaking me,^(D)
in burning incense to other gods^(E)
    and in worshiping^(F) what their hands have made.^(G)