O ye children of Benjamin
, gather yourselves 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
appeareth
out of the north
, and great
destruction
.
I have likened the daughter
of Zion
to a comely
and delicate
woman .
The shepherds with their flocks
shall come
unto her; they shall pitch
their tents
against her round about
; they shall feed
every one
in his place
.
Prepare ye war
against her; arise
, and let us go up
at noon
. Woe
unto us! for the day
goeth away
, for the shadows
of the evening
are stretched out
.
Arise, and let us go
by night
, and let us destroy
her palaces
.
For thus hath the LORD of hosts
said
, Hew ye down
trees
, and cast
a mount
against Jerusalem
: this is the city
to be visited
; she is wholly oppression
in the midst
of her.
As a fountain casteth out
her waters
, so she casteth out
her wickedness
: violence
and spoil
is heard
in her; before me
continually
is grief
and wounds
.
Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem
, lest my soul
depart
from thee; lest I make
thee desolate
, a land
not inhabited
.
Thus saith the LORD
of hosts
, They shall throughly
glean
the remnant
of Israel
as a vine
: turn back
thine hand
as a grapegatherer
into the baskets
.
To 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 unto them a reproach
; they have no delight
in it.
Therefore 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
.
And their houses shall be turned
unto others
, with their fields
and wives
together
: for I will stretch out
my hand
upon the inhabitants
of the land
, saith
the LORD
.
For from the least of them even unto the greatest
of them every one is given
to covetousness
; and from the prophet
even unto the priest
every one dealeth
falsely
.
They have healed also the hurt
of the daughter
of my people
slightly
, saying
, Peace
, peace
; when there is no peace
.
Were 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
, saith
the LORD
.
Thus saith the LORD
, Stand
ye in the ways
, and see
, and ask
for the old
paths
, where is the good
way
, and walk
therein, and ye shall find
rest
for your souls
. But they said
, We will not walk
therein .
Also I set watchmen
over you, saying , Hearken
to the sound
of the trumpet
. But they said
, We will not hearken
.
Therefore hear, ye nations
, and know
, O congregation
, what is among them.
Hear, O earth
: behold, I will bring
evil
upon this people
, even the fruit
of their thoughts
, because they have not hearkened
unto my words
, nor to my law
, but rejected
it.
To what purpose cometh there to me incense
from Sheba
, and the sweet
cane
from a far
country
? your burnt offerings
are not acceptable
, nor your sacrifices
sweet
unto me.
Therefore thus saith the LORD
, Behold, I will lay
stumblingblocks
before this people
, and the fathers
and the sons
together
shall fall
upon them; the neighbour
and his friend
shall perish
.
Thus saith the LORD
, Behold, a people
cometh
from the north
country
, and a great
nation
shall be raised
from the sides
of the earth
.
They shall lay hold on bow
and spear
; they are cruel
, and have no mercy
; their voice
roareth
like the sea
; and they ride
upon horses
, set in array
as men
for war
against thee, O daughter
of Zion
.
We have heard the fame
thereof: our hands
wax feeble
: anguish
hath taken hold
of us, and pain
, as of a woman in travail
.
Go not forth into the field
, nor walk
by the way
; for the sword
of the enemy
and fear
is on every side
.
O daughter of my people
, gird
thee with sackcloth
, and wallow
thyself in ashes
: make
thee mourning
, as for an only son
, most bitter
lamentation
: for the spoiler
shall suddenly
come
upon us.
I have set thee for a tower
and a fortress
among my people
, that thou mayest know
and try
their way
.
They are all grievous revolters
, walking
with slanders
: they are brass
and iron
; they are all corrupters
.
The bellows are burned
, the lead
is consumed
of the fire
; the founder
melteth
in vain
: for the wicked
are not plucked away
.
Reprobate silver
shall men call
them, because the LORD
hath rejected
them.