1
"But it happened that when my son entered his wedding chamber, he fell down and died.
2
Then we all put out the lamps, and all my neighbors attempted to console me; and I remained quiet until evening of the second day.
3
But when they all had stopped consoling me, that I might be quiet, I got up in the night and fled, and came to this field, as you see.
4
And now I intend not to return to the city, but to stay here, and I will neither eat nor drink, but without ceasing mourn and fast until I die."
5
Then I broke off the reflections with which I was still engaged, and answered her in anger and said,
6
"You most foolish of women, do you not see our mourning, and what has happened to us?
7
For Zion, the mother of us all, is in deep grief and great affliction.
8
It is most appropriate to mourn now, because we are all mourning, and to be sorrowful, because we are all sorrowing; you are sorrowing for one son, but we, the whole world, for our mother.
9
Now ask the earth, and she will tell you that it is she who ought to mourn over so many who have come into being upon her.
10
And from the beginning all have been born of her, and others will come; and behold, almost all go to perdition, and a multitude of them are destined for destruction.