1 Flee for safety, you children of Benjamin, out of the midst
of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on Beth
Haccherem; for evil looks forth from the north, and a great destruction.
2 The comely and delicate one, the daughter of Zion, will I cut off.
3 Shepherds with their flocks shall come to her; they shall pitch their
tents against her round about; they shall feed everyone in his place.
4 Prepare you war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe
to us! for the day declines, for the shadows of the evening are stretched
out. 5 Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
6 For thus has Yahweh of Hosts said, Hew you down trees, and cast up
a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly
oppression in the midst of her. 7 As a well casts forth its waters, so she
casts forth her wickedness: violence and destruction is heard in her; before
me continually is sickness and wounds. 8 Be instructed, Jerusalem, lest my
soul be alienated from you; lest I make you a desolation, a land not
inhabited. 9 Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, They shall thoroughly glean the
remnant of Israel as a vine: turn again your hand as a grape-gatherer into
the baskets. 10 To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear?
behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they can't listen: behold, the word
of Yahweh is become to them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
11 Therefore I am full of the wrath of Yahweh; I am weary with holding 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 shall be taken, the aged with
him who is full of days. 12 Their houses shall be turned to others, their
fields and their wives together; for I will stretch out my hand on the
inhabitants of the land, says Yahweh. 13 For from the least of them even
to the greatest of them everyone is given to covetousness; and from the
prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely. 14 They have healed
also the hurt of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no
peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they
were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall
among those who fall; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down,
says Yahweh. 16 Thus says Yahweh, Stand you in the ways and see, and
ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and you
shall find rest for your souls: but they said, We will not walk
therein. 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 comes there to me
frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt
offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me.
21 Therefore thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before
this people; and the fathers and the sons together shall stumble against
them; the neighbor and his friend shall perish. 22 Thus says Yahweh,
Behold, a people comes from the north country; and a great nation shall be
stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth. 23 They lay hold on 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 the report of it; our
hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pangs as of a
woman in travail. 25 Don't go forth into the field, nor walk by the way;
for the sword of the enemy, and terror, are on every side.
26 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 destroyer shall 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 about with slanders;
they are brass and iron: they all of them deal corruptly. 29 The bellows
blow fiercely; the lead is consumed of the fire: in vain do they go on
refining; for the wicked are not plucked away. 30 Refuse silver shall men
them, because Yahweh has rejected them.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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