1. “On the wedding night when my son entered the bedroom, he dropped dead.
2. So we put out all the wedding lamps, and all my neighbours came to comfort me. I remained in control of myself until the evening of the second day,
3. when they all left. That night I got up and came out to this field, as you see.
4. I have decided never to return to that town. I am going to stay here in constant mourning, neither eating nor drinking anything until I die.”
5. When she told me this, I put aside my own thoughts and spoke sharply to her:
6. “You are the most foolish woman I ever met. Don't you see what our people are suffering? Don't you know all that has happened to us?
7. Jerusalem, the mother of us all, is overcome with grief and shame. You ought to be mourning for her
12-13. I know what you are thinking; you think that your sorrow is worse than the earth's. You think that it is only natural for earth's multitudes to live and then die, but you have lost your own flesh and blood which you brought to birth with such trouble and pain. But let me tell you
19-20. “Don't do that,” I continued. “Consider the misfortunes and sorrows of Jerusalem, and you won't feel so sorry for yourself.
42-43. The woman told you about the death of her son. Then she vanished from your sight, and a whole city appeared. This is the meaning: