²⁹ At the sound of horsemen and archers^(A)
    every town takes to flight.^(B)
Some go into the thickets;
    some climb up among the rocks.^(C)
All the towns are deserted;^(D)
    no one lives in them.

³⁰ What are you doing,^(E) you devastated one?
    Why dress yourself in scarlet
    and put on jewels^(F) of gold?
Why highlight your eyes with makeup?^(G)
    You adorn yourself in vain.
Your lovers^(H) despise you;
    they want to kill you.^(I)

³¹ I hear a cry as of a woman in labor,^(J)
    a groan as of one bearing her first child—
the cry of Daughter Zion^(K) gasping for breath,^(L)
    stretching out her hands^(M) and saying,
“Alas! I am fainting;
    my life is given over to murderers.”^(N)