1. 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 fire signal in Beth-haccerem: for evil appears out of the north, and great destruction.
2. I have compared the daughter of Zion to an attractive and delicate woman.
3. The 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.
4. Prepare war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us! for the day departs, for the shadows of the evening stretch out.
5. Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
6. For thus has the LORD of hosts said, Cut down trees, and build a siege mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is given over to oppression in the midst of her.
7. As a fountain pours out her waters, so she pours out her wickedness: violence and destruction is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds.
8. Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, so that my soul does not depart from you; so that I do not make you desolate, a land not inhabited.
9. Thus says the LORD of hosts, They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel like a vine: put your hand again into the baskets like a grape gatherer.
10. To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot listen: behold, the word of the LORD is to them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
11. Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding it in: I will pour it out upon the children outdoors, 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.
12. And their houses shall be given to others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, says the LORD.
13. For 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.
14. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
15. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? no, 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 thrown down, says the LORD.
16. Thus says the LORD, Stand in the ways, and look, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk in it.
17. Also 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, O congregation, what is among them.
19. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
20. For what purpose does incense come to me from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet to me.
21. Therefore 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.
22. Thus says the LORD, Behold, a people comes from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the ends of the earth.
23. They 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 formation as men for war against you, O daughter of Zion.
24. We have heard the fame thereof: our hands grow feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in birth labor.
25. Do not go out into the field, nor walk in the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear are on every side.
26. O daughter of my people, clothe yourself with sackcloth, and roll in ashes: make mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the plunderer shall suddenly come upon us.
27. I have set you as a tower and a fortress among my people, that you may know and examine their way.
28. They are all flagrant rebels, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
29. The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed by the fire; the refiner melts in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
30. Refuse silver shall men call them, because the LORD has rejected them.
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