1O ye children1121 of Benjamin1144, gather yourselves to flee5756 out of the midst7130 of Jerusalem3389, and blow8628 the trumpet7782 in Tekoa8620, and set up5375 a sign4864 of fire in Bethhaccerem1021: for evil7451 appeareth8259 out of the north6828, and great1419 destruction7667.
2I have likened1820 the daughter1323 of Zion6726 to a comely5116 and delicate6026 woman.
3The shepherds7462 with their flocks5739 shall come935 unto her; they shall pitch8628 their tents168 against her round about5439; they shall feed7462 every one376 in his place3027.
4Prepare6942 ye war4421 against her; arise6965, and let us go up5927 at noon6672. Woe188 unto us! for the day3117 goeth away6437, for the shadows6752 of the evening6153 are stretched out5186.
5Arise6965, and let us go5927 by night3915, and let us destroy7843 her palaces759.
6For thus hath the LORD3068 of hosts6635 said559, Hew ye down3772 trees6097, and cast8210 a mount5550 against Jerusalem3389: this is the city5892 to be visited6485; she is wholly oppression6233 in the midst7130 of her.
7As a fountain953 casteth out6979 her waters4325, so she casteth out6979 her wickedness7451: violence2555 and spoil7701 is heard8085 in her; before me6440 continually8548 is grief2483 and wounds4347.
8Be thou instructed3256, O Jerusalem3389, lest my soul5315 depart3363 from thee; lest I make7760 thee desolate8077, a land776 not inhabited3427.
9Thus saith559 the LORD3068 of hosts6635, They shall throughly5953 glean5953 the remnant7611 of Israel3478 as a vine1612: turn back7725 thine hand3027 as a grapegatherer1219 into the baskets5552.
10To whom shall I speak1696, and give warning5749, that they may hear8085? behold, their ear241 is uncircumcised6189, and they cannot3201 hearken7181: behold, the word1697 of the LORD3068 is unto them a reproach2781; they have no delight2654 in it.
11Therefore I am full4392 of the fury2534 of the LORD3068; I am weary3811 with holding in3557: I will pour it out8210 upon the children5768 abroad2351, and upon the assembly5475 of young men970 together3162: for even the husband376 with the wife802 shall be taken3920, the aged2205 with him that is full4390 of days3117.
12And their houses1004 shall be turned5437 unto others312, with their fields7704 and wives802 together3162: for I will stretch out5186 my hand3027 upon the inhabitants3427 of the land776, saith5002 the LORD3068.
13For from the least6996 of them even unto the greatest1419 of them every one is given1214 to covetousness1215; and from the prophet5030 even unto the priest3548 every one dealeth6213 falsely8267.
14They have healed7495 also the hurt7667 of the daughter1323 of my people5971 slightly7043, saying559, Peace7965, peace7965; when there is no peace7965.
15Were they ashamed3001 when they had committed6213 abomination8441? nay1571, they were not at all954 ashamed954, neither1571 could3045 they blush3637: therefore they shall fall5307 among them that fall5307: at the time6256 that I visit6485 them they shall be cast down3782, saith559 the LORD3068.
16Thus saith559 the LORD3068, Stand5975 ye in the ways1870, and see7200, and ask7592 for the old5769 paths5410, where is the good2896 way1870, and walk3212 therein, and ye shall find4672 rest4771 for your souls5315. But they said559, We will not walk3212 therein.
17Also I set6965 watchmen6822 over you, saying, Hearken7181 to the sound6963 of the trumpet7782. But they said559, We will not hearken7181.
18Therefore hear8085, ye nations1471, and know3045, O congregation5712, what is among them.
19Hear8085, O earth776: behold, I will bring935 evil7451 upon this people5971, even the fruit6529 of their thoughts4284, because they have not hearkened7181 unto my words1697, nor to my law8451, but rejected3988 it.
20To what purpose cometh935 there to me incense3828 from Sheba7614, and the sweet2896 cane7070 from a far4801 country776? your burnt offerings5930 are not acceptable7522, nor your sacrifices2077 sweet6149 unto me.
21Therefore thus saith559 the LORD3068, Behold, I will lay5414 stumblingblocks4383 before this people5971, and the fathers1 and the sons1121 together3162 shall fall3782 upon them; the neighbour7934 and his friend7453 shall perish6.
22Thus saith559 the LORD3068, Behold, a people5971 cometh935 from the north6828 country776, and a great1419 nation1471 shall be raised5782 from the sides3411 of the earth776.
23They shall lay hold2388 on bow7198 and spear3591; they are cruel394, and have no mercy7355; their voice6963 roareth1993 like the sea3220; and they ride7392 upon horses5483, set in array6186 as men376 for war4421 against thee, O daughter1323 of Zion6726.
24We have heard8085 the fame8089 thereof: our hands3027 wax feeble7503: anguish6869 hath taken hold2388 of us, and pain2427, as of a woman in travail3205.
25Go not forth3318 into the field7704, nor walk3212 by the way1870; for the sword2719 of the enemy341 and fear4032 is on every side5439.
26O daughter1323 of my people5971, gird2296 thee with sackcloth8242, and wallow6428 thyself in ashes665: make6213 thee mourning60, as for an only son3173, most bitter8563 lamentation4553: for the spoiler7703 shall suddenly6597 come935 upon us.
27I have set5414 thee for a tower969 and a fortress4013 among my people5971, that thou mayest know3045 and try974 their way1870.
28They are all grievous5493 revolters5637, walking1980 with slanders7400: they are brass5178 and iron1270; they are all corrupters7843.
29The bellows4647 are burned2787, the lead5777 is consumed8552 of the fire800 784; the founder6884 melteth6884 in vain7723: for the wicked7451 are not plucked away5423.
30Reprobate3988 silver3701 shall men call7121 them, because the LORD3068 hath rejected3988 them.