Jer 6
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 beautiful 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 every one 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 YHWH 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 you instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from you; lest I make you
a desolation, a land not inhabited.
9
Thus says YHWH 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 cannot hearken: behold, the word of YHWH is become to them a reproach; they
have no delight in it.
11
Therefore I am full of the anger of YHWH; I am weary with holding in: pour it out
upon the children in the street, and upon the assembly of young men together; for
even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him whom is full of days.
12
And their houses shall be turned to others, their fields and their wives together;
for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, says YHWH.
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 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 them that fall; at the time
that I visit them they shall be cast down, says YHWH.
16
Thus says YHWH, 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
And I set watchmen over you, [saying], Hearken to the sound of the trumpet; but they
said, We will not hearken.
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 hearkened 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 YHWH, 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 YHWH, 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 upon horses, every one set in array, as a man to the battle,
against you, O daughter of Zion.
24
We have heard its report; our hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of
us, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail.
25
Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy, [and]
terror, are on every side.
26
O 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 upon us.
27
I have made you a trier [and] a fortress among my people; that you may know and try
their way.
28
They are all grievous revolters, 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 YHWH has rejected them.