It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt. For they violated that covenant, even though I was like a faithful husband to them,” says the Lord.

“Judgment will come on the cities on the high plain: on Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath,

How deserted will that once-famous city be, that city that was once filled with joy!

“Announce the news among the nations! Proclaim it! Signal for people to pay attention! Declare the news! Do not hide it! Say: ‘Babylon will be captured. Bel will be put to shame. Marduk will be dismayed. Babylon’s idols will be put to shame. Her disgusting images will be dismayed.

The Babylonians are all like lions roaring for prey. They are like lion cubs growling for something to eat.

The city remained under siege until Zedekiah’s eleventh year.

He has besieged and surrounded me with bitter hardship.

He has given me my fill of bitter herbs and made me drunk with bitterness.

ז (Zayin) Remember my impoverished and homeless condition, which is a bitter poison.

But this I call to mind; therefore I have hope:

For he is not predisposed to afflict or to grieve people.

נ (Nun) Let us carefully examine our ways, and let us return to the Lord.

You shrouded yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.

You have seen the wrong done to me, O Lord; pronounce judgment on my behalf!

O Lord, reflect on what has happened to us; consider and look at our disgrace.

Our skin is hot as an oven due to a fever from hunger.

For wild animals are prowling over Mount Zion, which lies desolate.

The living beings moved backward and forward as quickly as flashes of lightning.

The king will mourn and the prince will be clothed with shuddering; the hands of the people of the land will tremble. Based on their behavior I will deal with them, and by their standard of justice I will judge them. Then they will know that I am the Lord!”

(The cherubim appeared to have the form of human hands under their wings.)