[Instrumental] [Verse] Thus says the LORD of hosts: Inquire, and call the wailing women to come; summon the most skilled of them. Let them come quickly and raise for us a dirge, That our eyes may run with tears, our pupils flow with water. The sound of the dirge is heard from Zion: We are ruined and greatly ashamed; We have left the land, given up our dwellings! [Verse] Hear, you women, the word of the LORD, let your ears receive the word of his mouth. Teach your daughters a dirge, and each other a lament: Death has come up through our windows, has entered our citadels, To cut down children in the street, young people in the squares. Corpses shall fall like dung in the open field, Like sheaves behind the harvester, with no one to gather them. [Chorus] Let not the wise boast of his wisdom, nor the strong boast of his strength, nor the rich man boast of his riches; But rather, let those who boast, boast of this, that in their prudence they know me, Know that I, the LORD, act with fidelity, justice, and integrity on earth. How I take delight in these oracle of the LORD. [Instrumental] [Verse] Wail, Heshbon, “The ruin is destroyed!” shriek, villages of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth and lament! Run back and forth in the sheepfolds. For Milcom is going into exile, taking priest and prince with him. Why boast in your strength, your ebbing strength, rebellious daughter? [Verse] Why trust in your treasures, saying, “Who would dare attack me?” See, I am bringing terror upon you— oracle of the Lord GOD of hosts— from all around you; You shall be scattered, each in headlong flight, with no one to gather the fugitives. But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites—oracle of the LORD. [Chorus] Let not the wise boast of his wisdom, nor the strong boast of his strength, nor the rich man boast of his riches; But rather, let those who boast, boast of this, that in their prudence they know me, Know that I, the LORD, act with fidelity, justice, and integrity on earth. How I take delight in these oracle of the LORD. [Instrumental] [Verse] They will be called oaks of justice, the planting of the LORD to show his glory. They shall rebuild the ancient ruins, the former wastes they shall raise up And restore the desolate cities, devastations of generation upon generation. Strangers shall stand ready to pasture your flocks, foreigners shall be your farmers and vinedressers. [Verse] You yourselves shall be called “Priests of the LORD,” “Ministers of our God” you shall be called. You shall eat the wealth of the nations and in their riches you will boast. Because their shame was twofold and disgrace was proclaimed their portion, They will possess twofold in their own land; everlasting joy shall be theirs. [Chorus] Let not the wise boast of his wisdom, nor the strong boast of his strength, nor the rich man boast of his riches; But rather, let those who boast, boast of this, that in their prudence they know me, Know that I, the LORD, act with fidelity, justice, and integrity on earth. How I take delight in these oracle of the LORD. [Instrumental] [End]
