Impending Destruction from the North
1O youp children of Benjamin, gather yourselvesp to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appears out of the north, and great destruction.
2I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.
3The shepherds with their flocks shall come to her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.
4Prepare youp war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us! for the day goes away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.
5Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
6For thus has the Lord of hosts said, Hew youp down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her. Jehovahs.f. Tsebaothp.f.; cut; built a siege ramp; judged
7As a fountain casts out her waters, so she casts out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before Me continually is grief and wounds. goods, territory taken by force in war
8Be you instructed, O Jerusalem, lest My soul depart from you; lest I make you desolate, a land not inhabited. barren, empty
9Thus said the Lord of hosts, They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back your hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets. Jehovahs.f. Tsebaothp.f.; pick clean
10To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is to them a reproach; they have no delight in it. listen
11Therefore I am full of the fury of the Lord; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.
12And their houses shall be turned to others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out My hand upon the inhabitants of the land, says the Lord.
13For from the least of them even to the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest every one deals falsely.
14They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. with little care
15Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, says the Lord. detestable acts; punish
16Thus says the Lord, Stand youp in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and youp shall find rest for yourp souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
17Also I set watchmen over youp, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
18Therefore hear, youp nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
19Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened to My words, nor to My law, but rejected it. listened
20To what purpose comes there to Me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? yourp burned offerings are not acceptable, nor yourp sacrifices sweet to Me.
21Therefore thus says the Lord, Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbor and his friend shall perish.
22Thus says the Lord, Behold, a people comes from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. ends
23They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roars like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against you, O daughter of Zion.
24We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail. grow; childbirth
25Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.
26O daughter of My people, gird you with sackcloth, and wallow yourself in ashes: make you mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us. destroyer
27I have set you for a tower and a fortress among My people, that you may know and try their way. test
28They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
29The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melts in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away. metal worker; refines
30Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord has rejected them. rejected
