Even Assyria has allied with them, lending its strength to the descendants of Lot. (Selah)

I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying.

Bel kneels down, Nebo bends low. Their images weigh down animals and beasts. Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals.

They will disappoint you, those you have so faithfully dealt with since your youth. Each strays off in his own direction, leaving no one to rescue you.”

Your chosen cities have become a desert; Zion has become a desert, Jerusalem is a desolate ruin.

They will surround Jerusalem like men guarding a field because they have rebelled against me,” says the Lord.

They are like lusty, well-fed stallions. Each of them lusts after his neighbor’s wife.

ט (Tet) Those who died by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, those who waste away, struck down from lack of food.

י (Yod) The hands of tenderhearted women cooked their own children, who became their food, when my people were destroyed.

ק (Qof) Those who pursued us were swifter than eagles in the sky. They chased us over the mountains; they ambushed us in the wilderness.

“‘See how each of the princes of Israel living within you has used his authority to shed blood.

“‘See, I strike my hands together at the dishonest profit you have made, and at the bloodshed they have done among you.

On its ruins all the birds of the sky will live, and all the wild animals will walk on its branches.

The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers. I will pour out my rage on them like a torrential flood!

They do not realize that I remember all of their wicked deeds. Their evil deeds have now surrounded them; their sinful deeds are always before me.

Israel will be swallowed up among the nations; they will be like a worthless piece of pottery.

Although Ephraim has built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning!

Cush and Egypt had limitless strength; Put and the Libyans were among her allies.

The waters kept on receding until the tenth month. On the first day of the tenth month, the tops of the mountains became visible.

When Jacob heard that Shechem had violated his daughter Dinah, his sons were with the livestock in the field. So Jacob remained silent until they came in.