6
1 “Flee
for safety, you
children of
Benjamin, out of
the middle of
Jerusalem! Blow
the trumpet in
Tekoa and raise
up a signal
on Beth Haccherem, for
evil looks out
from the north
with a great
destruction.
2 I will
cut off
the beautiful and
delicate one, the
daughter of Zion.
3 Shepherds
with their flocks
will come to her.
They will pitch
their tents against
her all around.
They will
feed everyone in
his place.”
4 “Prepare
war against her!
Arise! Let’s go
up at noon. Woe
to us! For
the day declines,
for the shadows
of the evening
are stretched out.
5 Arise! Let’s
go up by
night, and let’s
destroy her palaces.”
6 For
the LORD of
Armies said, “Cut
down trees, and
cast up a mound
against Jerusalem.
This is the
city to be
visited. She
is filled with
oppression within
herself.
7 As
a well produces
its waters, so
she produces her
wickedness. Violence
and destruction is
heard in her.
Sickness and
wounds are
continually before
me.
8 Be
instructed, Jerusalem,
lest my soul
be alienated from
you, lest I
make you a
desolation, an
uninhabited land.”
9 The
LORD of Armies
says, “They will
thoroughly glean
the remnant of
Israel like a
vine. Turn again
your hand as
a grape gatherer
into the baskets.”
10 To
whom should I
speak and testify,
that they may
hear? Behold,
their ear is
uncircumcised, and
they can’t listen.
Behold, the LORD’s
word has become
a reproach to
them. They have
no delight in
it.
11 Therefore
I am full
of the LORD’s
wrath. I am
weary with holding
it in.
“Pour it out
on the children
in the street,
and on the
assembly of young
men together;
for even
the husband with
the wife will be
taken,
the aged with
him who is
full of days.
12 Their
houses will be
turned to others,
their fields and
their wives together;
for I will
stretch out my
hand on the
inhabitants of the
land, says the
LORD.”
13 “For
from their least
even to their
greatest, everyone
is given to
covetousness.
From the prophet
even to the
priest, everyone
deals falsely.
14 They
have healed also
the hurt of
my people
superficially,
saying, ‘Peace, peace!’
when there is no
peace.
15 Were
they ashamed when
they had committed
abomination?
No, they were
not at all
ashamed, neither
could they blush.
Therefore they
will fall among
those who fall.
When I visit
them, they will
be cast down,” says
the LORD.
16 The
LORD says, “Stand
in the ways
and see, and
ask for the
old paths, ‘Where
is the good
way?’ and walk
in it, and
you will find
rest for your
souls. But
they said, ‘We
will not walk
in it.’
17 I
set watchmen over
you, saying, ‘Listen
to the sound
of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We
will not listen!’
18 Therefore
hear, you nations,
and know,
congregation, what
is among them.
19 Hear, earth!
Behold, I will
bring evil on
this people, even
the fruit of
their thoughts,
because they have
not listened to
my words; and
as for my
law, they have
rejected it.
20 To
what purpose does
frankincense from
Sheba come to me,
and the sweet
cane from a
far country? Your
burnt offerings
are not acceptable,
and your
sacrifices are not
pleasing to me.”
21 Therefore
the LORD says, “Behold, I will lay
stumbling blocks
before this people.
The fathers and
the sons together
will stumble
against them. The
neighbor and his
friend will perish.”
22 The
LORD says, “Behold,
a people comes
from the
north country. A
great nation will
be stirred up
from the uttermost
parts of the earth.
23 They
take hold of
bow and spear.
They are cruel,
and have no
mercy. Their voice
roars like the
sea, and they
ride on horses,
everyone set in
array, as a man
to the battle,
against you,
daughter of Zion.”
24 We
have heard its
report. Our hands
become feeble.
Anguish has taken
hold of us,
and pains as of
a woman in
labor.
25 Don’t go
out into the
field or walk
by the way;
for the sword
of the enemy and
terror are on
every side.
26 Daughter
of my people,
clothe yourself with
sackcloth, and
wallow in ashes!
Mourn, as for
an only son,
most bitter
lamentation, for
the destroyer will
suddenly come on
us.
27 “I
have made you
a tester of metals
and a fortress
among my people,
that you may
know and try their
way.
28 They
are all grievous
rebels, going
around to slander.
They are bronze
and iron. All
of them deal
corruptly.
29 The
bellows blow
fiercely. The lead
is consumed in
the fire. In vain
they go on
refining, for the
wicked are
not plucked away.
30 Men
will call them
rejected silver,
because the LORD
has rejected them.”