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22 This is what the Lord says:
“Look, an ·army [people] is coming
    from the land of the north [C Babylon];
a great nation is ·coming [L stirred up]
    from the far sides of the earth.
23 ·The soldiers carry [L They grasp/seize] bows and ·spears [javelins].
    They are ·cruel [fierce] and show no ·mercy [compassion].
They sound like the roaring ·ocean [sea; C symbol of chaos]
    when they ride their horses.
That army is ·coming lined up [or equipped] for battle,
    ready to attack you, ·Jerusalem [L daughter of Zion; C the location of the Temple].”

24 We have heard the news about ·that army [L them]
    and ·are helpless from fear [L our hands grow limp].
We are gripped by our ·pain [distress],
    like a woman ·having a baby [writhing in childbirth].
25 Don’t go out into the fields
    or walk down the ·roads [paths],
because the enemy has swords.
    There is terror on every side.
26 ·My people [L Daughter of my people], put on ·rough cloth [sackcloth; burlap]
    and roll in the ashes [C mourning rituals].
·Cry loudly for those who are dead,
    as if your only son were dead [L Make mourning/Wail for your only son, a bitter lamentation],
because the destroyer
    will ·soon [or suddenly] come against us.

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