12Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and [who is] he to whom the mouth of Yahweh has spoken, that he may declare it? why is the land perished and burned up like a wilderness, so that none passes through?
13Yahweh says, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein,
14but have walked after the stubbornness of their own heart, and after the Baals, which their fathers taught them;
15therefore thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
16I will scatter them also among the nations, whom neither they nor their fathers have known; and I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them.
17Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, Consider you, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for the skillful women, that they may come:
18and let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.
