Threat of Captivity

15 Hear and pay attention,
    do not be arrogant,
    for the Lord has spoken.(A)
16 Give glory(B) to the Lord your God
    before he brings the darkness,
before your feet stumble(C)
    on the darkening hills.
You hope for light,
    but he will turn it to utter darkness
    and change it to deep gloom.(D)
17 If you do not listen,(E)
    I will weep in secret
    because of your pride;
my eyes will weep bitterly,
    overflowing with tears,(F)
    because the Lord’s flock(G) will be taken captive.(H)

18 Say to the king(I) and to the queen mother,(J)
    “Come down from your thrones,
for your glorious crowns(K)
    will fall from your heads.”
19 The cities in the Negev will be shut up,
    and there will be no one to open them.
All Judah(L) will be carried into exile,
    carried completely away.

20 Look up and see
    those who are coming from the north.(M)
Where is the flock(N) that was entrusted to you,
    the sheep of which you boasted?
21 What will you say when the Lord sets over you
    those you cultivated as your special allies?(O)
Will not pain grip you
    like that of a woman in labor?(P)

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