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Thus sayeth the Lorde of hostes, Take heede, and call for the mourning women, that they may come, and send for skilfull women that they may come,

And let them make haste, & let them take vp a lamentation for vs, that our eyes may cast out teares & our eye liddes gush out of water.

For a lamentable noyse is heard out of Zion, Howe are we destroyed, and vtterly confounded, for we haue forsaken the land, and our dwellings haue cast vs out.

For death is come vp into our windowes, and is entred into our palaces, to destroy the children without, and the yong men in the streetes.

But let him that glorieth, glorie in this, that he vnderstandeth, and knoweth me: for I am the Lorde, which shewe mercie, iudgement, and righteousnes in the earth: for in these things I delite, sayth the Lord.

Egypt and Iudah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all the vtmost corners of them that dwell in the wildernesse: for all these nations are vncircumcised, & al the house of Israel are vncircumcised in the heart.

Thus saith the Lorde, Learne not the way of the heathen, & be not afraid for the signes of heauen, though the heathen be afraid of such.

For the customes of the people are vaine: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest (which is the worke of the handes of the carpenter) with the axe,

The idoles stande vp as the palme tree, but speake not: they are borne because they cannot go feare them not, for they cannot do euill, neither can they do good.

Who would not feare thee, O King of nations? for to thee appertaineth the dominion: for among all the wise men of the Gentiles, and in al their kingdomes there is none like thee.

But, altogether they dote, and are foolish: for the stocke is a doctrine of vanitie.

Siluer plates are brought from Tarshish, & golde from Vphaz, for the worke of the workeman, and the handes of the founder: the blewe silke, and the purple is their clothing: all these things are made by cunning men.

Euery man is a beast by his owne knowledge: euery founder is confounded by the grauen image: for his melting is but falsehood, and there is no breath therein.

The portion of Iaakob is not like them: for he is the maker of all things, and Israel is the rodde of his inheritance: the Lorde of hostes is his Name.

For thus sayth the Lorde, Beholde, at this time I will throwe as with a sling the inhabitants of the lande, and will trouble them, and they shal finde it so.

Wo is me for my destruction, and my grieuous plague: but I thought, Yet it is my sorow, and I will beare it.

For the Pastours are become beasts, and haue not sought the Lorde: therefore haue they none vnderstanding: and all the flockes of their pastures are scattered.

Powre out thy wrath vpon the heathen, that knowe thee not, and vpon the families that call not on thy Name: for they haue eaten vp Iaakob and deuoured him & consumed him, & haue made his habitation desolate.

For I haue protested vnto your fathers, whe I brought them vp out of the land of Egypt vnto this day, rising earely and protesting, saying, Obey my voyce.

For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Iudah, and according to the number of the streetes of Ierusalem haue yee set vp altars of confusion, euen altars to burne incense vnto Baal.