Translations
Modern
O daughter of my people, dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with bitter wailing, as you would for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.
Traditional
O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.
Literal
O Daughter of my people, put on sackcloth and roll in ashes; make for yourself mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation, for suddenly will come the destroyer upon us!
Latin
Filia populi mei, accingere cilicio, et conspergere cinere: luctum unigeniti fac tibi, planctum amarum, quia repente veniet vastator super nos.
Original
Hebrew
English
O daughter of my people, dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with bitter wailing, as you would for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.
Notes
Jeremiah told the people to wear burlap and sit in ashes to show regret for their sins and ask for God's mercy (Isaiah 58:5; Amos 8:10; Jonah 3:6; Micah 1:10).
This conversation between Jeremiah and the Lord likely occurred at the start of the Babylonian invasion in 605 BC. In these three poems, Jeremiah shares the Lord’s message (Jeremiah 6:22–23), connects with his people's fear, and urges them to repent quickly (6:24–26). He then receives a heartfelt message from the Lord (Jeremiah 6:27–30).
Theme notes and profiles
Events
- Prophecies of Jeremiahc. 628 BC
Glossary
Topics
Children: Grief Occasioned by Loss of Sackcloth: A Symbol of Mourning War: Evils of