17 This is what the Lord of armies says:

“Consider and call for the (A)mourning women, that they may come;
And send for the [a](B)skillful women, that they may come!
18 Have them hurry and take up a wailing for us,
So that our (C)eyes may shed tears,
And our eyelids flow with water.
19 For a voice of (D)wailing is heard from Zion:
(E)How devastated we are!
We are put to great shame,
For we have (F)abandoned the land
Because they have torn down our homes.’”
20 Now hear the word of the Lord, you (G)women,
And let your ears receive the word of His mouth;
Teach your daughters wailing,
And have every woman teach her neighbor a song of mourning.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 9:17 I.e., professional mourners

17 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Consider now! Call for the wailing women(A) to come;
    send for the most skillful of them.
18 Let them come quickly
    and wail over us
till our eyes overflow with tears
    and water streams from our eyelids.(B)
19 The sound of wailing is heard from Zion:
    ‘How ruined(C) we are!
    How great is our shame!
We must leave our land
    because our houses are in ruins.’”

20 Now, you women, hear the word of the Lord;
    open your ears to the words of his mouth.(D)
Teach your daughters how to wail;
    teach one another a lament.(E)

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