For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.

For the inhabitants of Maroth writhed for good, because disaster has come down from Yahweh to the gate of Jerusalem.

Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?

Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

My people, what did I to thee? and in what did I weary thee? answer to me.

With what am I to come before the Lord and go with bent head before the high God? am I to come before him with burned offerings, with young oxen a year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of sheep or with ten thousand rivers of oil? am I to give my first child for my wrongdoing, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good and what the LORD is requiring from you to act with justice, to treasure the LORD's gracious love, and to walk humbly in the company of your God.

The voice of Yahweh, to the city, crieth out, With safety for him who regardeth his name, - Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

Am I to let the stores of the evil-doer go out of my memory, and the short measure, which is cursed?

"Therefore I will make you ill when I attack you; I will bring you to ruin because of your offenses.

Wo to me! for I was as the gatherings of the fruit harvest, as the gleanings of the vintage, no cluster to eat: my soul desired the first ripe fig.