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29 Every city runs as they hear the sound of the horseman and the one who fights with arrows. They go among the trees and the rocks. Every city is left empty, and no one lives in them. 30 And you, O destroyed one, what will you do? Even when you dress in red, and wear objects of gold, and color your eyes to make them look bigger, you make yourself beautiful for nothing. Your lovers hate you, and want to kill you. 31 I heard a cry as of a woman in pain, as if she were giving birth to her first child. It was the cry of the people of Zion, working hard to breathe, holding out hands, and saying, “O, it is bad for me! I am losing strength in front of those who want to kill me.”

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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)

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