A lament and call to repentance

Hear this word, Israel, this lament I take up concerning you:

‘Fallen is Virgin Israel,
    never to rise again,
deserted in her own land,
    with no one to lift her up.’

This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Israel:

‘Your city that marches out a thousand strong
    will have only a hundred left;
your town that marches out a hundred strong
    will have only ten left.’

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