⁸ I will make their widows^(A) more numerous
    than the sand of the sea.
At midday I will bring a destroyer^(B)
    against the mothers of their young men;
suddenly I will bring down on them
    anguish and terror.^(C)

²⁵ Your men will fall by the sword,^(A)
    your warriors in battle.^(B)
26 The gates^(C) of Zion will lament and mourn;^(D)
    destitute,^(E) she will sit on the ground.^(F)

⁴ “Prepare for battle against her!
    Arise, let us attack at noon!^(A)
But, alas, the daylight is fading,
    and the shadows of evening grow long.
⁵ So arise, let us attack at night
    and destroy her fortresses!”

⁶ Therefore a lion from the forest^(A) will attack them,
    a wolf from the desert will ravage^(B) them,
a leopard^(C) will lie in wait near their towns
    to tear to pieces any who venture out,
for their rebellion is great
    and their backslidings many.^(D)

¹⁶ “Tell this to the nations,
    proclaim concerning Jerusalem:
‘A besieging army is coming from a distant land,^(A)
    raising a war cry^(B) against the cities of Judah.^(C)