"You must not enter a house where there is mourning. Do not grieve for anyone. I will no longer bless my people with peace or show them love and mercy.

But as for you, your officials, and the people who survive the war, the famine, and the disease---I will let all of you be captured by King Nebuchadnezzar and by your enemies, who want to kill you. Nebuchadnezzar will put you to death. He will not spare any of you or show mercy or pity to any of you. I, the LORD, have spoken."

You are my friends! Take pity on me! The hand of God has struck me down.

Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I had hoped for sympathy, but there was none; for comfort, but I found none.

A double disaster has fallen on you: your land has been devastated by war, and your people have starved. There is no one to show you sympathy.

"Look at me!" she cries to everyone who passes by. "No one has ever had pain like mine, Pain that the LORD brought on me in the time of his anger.

"He took note of all my sins and tied them all together; He hung them around my neck, and I grew weak beneath the weight. The Lord gave me to my foes, and I was helpless against them.

"That is why my eyes are overflowing with tears. No one can comfort me; no one can give me courage. The enemy has conquered me; my people have nothing left.

People passing by the city look at you in scorn. They shake their heads and laugh at Jerusalem's ruins: "Is this that lovely city? Is this the pride of the world?"

All your enemies mock you and glare at you with hate. They curl their lips and sneer, "We have destroyed it! This is the day we have waited for!"

All who see you will shrink back. They will say, 'Nineveh lies in ruins! Who has any sympathy for her? Who will want to comfort her?' "

so Moses went out to meet him, bowed before him, and kissed him. They asked about each other's health and then went into Moses' tent.

So they went into Micah's house, where the young Levite lived, and asked the Levite how he was getting along.

They will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to accept.

David left the food with the officer in charge of the supplies, ran to the battle line, went to his brothers, and asked how they were getting along.

so he sent ten young men with orders to go to Carmel, find Nabal, and give him his greetings.