1
O ye children[H1121] of Benjamin[H1144], gather yourselves to flee[H5756] out of the midst[H7130] of Jerusalem[H3389], and blow[H8628] the trumpet[H7782] in Tekoa[H8620], and set up[H5375] a sign[H4864] of fire in Bethhaccerem[H1021]: for evil[H7451]appeareth[H8259] out of the north[H6828], and great[H1419]destruction[H7667].
2
I have likened[H1820] the daughter[H1323] of Zion[H6726] to a comely[H5116] and delicate[H6026] woman.
3
The shepherds[H7462] with their flocks[H5739] shall come[H935] unto her; they shall pitch[H8628] their tents[H168] against her round about[H5439]; they shall feed[H7462] every one[H376] in his place[H3027].
4Prepare[H6942] ye war[H4421] against her; arise[H6965], and let us go up[H5927] at noon[H6672]. Woe[H188] unto us! for the day[H3117] goeth away[H6437], for the shadows[H6752] of the evening[H6153] are stretched out[H5186].
5Arise[H6965], and let us go[H5927] by night[H3915], and let us destroy[H7843] her palaces[H759].
6
For thus hath the LORD[H3068] of hosts[H6635]said[H559], Hew ye down[H3772]trees[H6097], and cast[H8210] a mount[H5550] against Jerusalem[H3389]: this is the city[H5892] to be visited[H6485]; she is wholly oppression[H6233] in the midst[H7130] of her.
7
As a fountain[H953] casteth out[H6979] her waters[H4325], so she casteth out[H6979] her wickedness[H7451]: violence[H2555] and spoil[H7701] is heard[H8085] in her; before me[H6440]continually[H8548] is grief[H2483] and wounds[H4347].
8
Be thou instructed[H3256], O Jerusalem[H3389], lest my soul[H5315]depart[H3363] from thee; lest I make[H7760] thee desolate[H8077], a land[H776] not inhabited[H3427].
9
Thus saith[H559] the LORD[H3068] of hosts[H6635], They shall throughly[H5953]glean[H5953] the remnant[H7611] of Israel[H3478] as a vine[H1612]: turn back[H7725] thine hand[H3027] as a grapegatherer[H1219] into the baskets[H5552].
10
To whom shall I speak[H1696], and give warning[H5749], that they may hear?[H8085] behold, their ear[H241] is uncircumcised[H6189], and they cannot[H3201]hearken[H7181]: behold, the word[H1697] of the LORD[H3068] is unto them a reproach[H2781]; they have no delight[H2654] in it.
11
Therefore I am full[H4392] of the fury[H2534] of the LORD[H3068]; I am weary[H3811] with holding in[H3557]: I will pour it out[H8210] upon the children[H5768]abroad[H2351], and upon the assembly[H5475] of young men[H970]together[H3162]: for even the husband[H376] with the wife[H802] shall be taken[H3920], the aged[H2205] with him that is full[H4390] of days[H3117].
12
And their houses[H1004] shall be turned[H5437] unto others[H312], with their fields[H7704] and wives[H802]together[H3162]: for I will stretch out[H5186] my hand[H3027] upon the inhabitants[H3427] of the land[H776], saith[H5002] the LORD[H3068].
13
For from the least[H6996] of them even unto the greatest[H1419] of them every one is given[H1214] to covetousness[H1215]; and from the prophet[H5030] even unto the priest[H3548] every one dealeth[H6213]falsely[H8267].
14
They have healed[H7495] also the hurt[H7667] of the daughter[H1323] of my people[H5971]slightly[H7043], saying[H559], Peace[H7965], peace[H7965]; when there is no peace[H7965].
15
Were they ashamed[H3001] when they had committed[H6213]abomination?[H8441]nay[H1571], they were not at all[H954]ashamed[H954], neither[H1571]could[H3045] they blush[H3637]: therefore they shall fall[H5307] among them that fall[H5307]: at the time[H6256] that I visit[H6485] them they shall be cast down[H3782], saith[H559] the LORD[H3068].
16
Thus saith[H559] the LORD[H3068], Stand[H5975] ye in the ways[H1870], and see[H7200], and ask[H7592] for the old[H5769]paths[H5410], where is the good[H2896]way[H1870], and walk[H3212] therein, and ye shall find[H4672]rest[H4771] for your souls[H5315]. But they said[H559], We will not walk[H3212] therein.
17
Also I set[H6965]watchmen[H6822] over you, saying, Hearken[H7181] to the sound[H6963] of the trumpet[H7782]. But they said[H559], We will not hearken[H7181].
18
Therefore hear[H8085], ye nations[H1471], and know[H3045], O congregation[H5712], what is among them.
19Hear[H8085], O earth[H776]: behold, I will bring[H935]evil[H7451] upon this people[H5971], even the fruit[H6529] of their thoughts[H4284], because they have not hearkened[H7181] unto my words[H1697], nor to my law[H8451], but rejected[H3988] it.
20
To what purpose cometh[H935] there to me incense[H3828] from Sheba[H7614], and the sweet[H2896]cane[H7070] from a far[H4801]country?[H776] your burnt offerings[H5930] are not acceptable[H7522], nor your sacrifices[H2077]sweet[H6149] unto me.
21
Therefore thus saith[H559] the LORD[H3068], Behold, I will lay[H5414]stumblingblocks[H4383] before this people[H5971], and the fathers[H1] and the sons[H1121]together[H3162] shall fall[H3782] upon them; the neighbour[H7934] and his friend[H7453] shall perish[H6].
22
Thus saith[H559] the LORD[H3068], Behold, a people[H5971]cometh[H935] from the north[H6828]country[H776], and a great[H1419]nation[H1471] shall be raised[H5782] from the sides[H3411] of the earth[H776].
23
They shall lay hold[H2388] on bow[H7198] and spear[H3591]; they are cruel[H394], and have no mercy[H7355]; their voice[H6963]roareth[H1993] like the sea[H3220]; and they ride[H7392] upon horses[H5483], set in array[H6186] as men[H376] for war[H4421] against thee, O daughter[H1323] of Zion[H6726].
24
We have heard[H8085] the fame[H8089] thereof: our hands[H3027] wax feeble[H7503]: anguish[H6869] hath taken hold[H2388] of us, and pain[H2427], as of a woman in travail[H3205].
25
Go not forth[H3318] into the field[H7704], nor walk[H3212] by the way[H1870]; for the sword[H2719] of the enemy[H341] and fear[H4032] is on every side[H5439].
26
O daughter[H1323] of my people[H5971], gird[H2296] thee with sackcloth[H8242], and wallow[H6428] thyself in ashes[H665]: make[H6213] thee mourning[H60], as for an only son[H3173], most bitter[H8563]lamentation[H4553]: for the spoiler[H7703] shall suddenly[H6597]come[H935] upon us.
27
I have set[H5414] thee for a tower[H969] and a fortress[H4013] among my people[H5971], that thou mayest know[H3045] and try[H974] their way[H1870].
28
They are all grievous[H5493]revolters[H5637], walking[H1980] with slanders[H7400]: they are brass[H5178] and iron[H1270]; they are all corrupters[H7843].
29
The bellows[H4647] are burned[H2787], the lead[H5777] is consumed[H8552] of the fire[H800]; the founder[H6884]melteth[H6884] in vain[H7723]: for the wicked[H7451] are not plucked away[H5423].
30Reprobate[H3988]silver[H3701] shall men call[H7121] them, because the LORD[H3068] hath rejected[H3988] them.