Jerusalem's Final Warning
1O ye childrenof Benjamin,gather yourselves to fleeout of the midstof Jerusalem,and blowthe trumpetin Tekoa,and set upa signof fire in Bethhaccerem:for evilappearethout of the north,and greatdestruction.
2I have likenedthe daughterof Zionto a comelyand delicate[woman].
3The shepherdswith their flocksshall comeunto her; they shall pitch[their] tentsagainst her round about;they shall feedevery onein his place.
4Prepareye waragainst her; arise,and let us go upat noon.Woeunto us! for the daygoeth away,for the shadowsof the eveningare stretched out.
5Arise,and let us goby night,and let us destroyher palaces.
6For thus hath the LORDof hostssaid,Hew ye downtrees,and casta mountagainst Jerusalem:this [is] the cityto be visited;she [is] wholly oppressionin the midstof her.
7As a fountaincasteth outher waters,so she casteth outher wickedness:violenceand spoilis heardin her; before mecontinually[is] griefand wounds.
8Be thou instructed,O Jerusalem,lest my souldepartfrom thee; lest I makethee desolate,a landnot inhabited.
9Thus saiththe LORDof hosts,They shall throughlygleanthe remnantof Israelas a vine:turn backthine handas a grapegathererinto the baskets.
Israel's Rebellion and God's Wrath
(Jeremiah 25:15-33;Jonah 1:4-10;Acts 27:13-26;Romans 1:18-32)
10To whom shall I speak,and give warning,that they may hear?behold, their ear[is] uncircumcised,and they cannothearken:behold, the wordof the LORDis unto them a reproach;they have no delightin it.
11Therefore I am fullof the furyof the LORD;I am wearywith holding in:I will pour it outupon the childrenabroad,and upon the assemblyof young mentogether:for even the husbandwith the wifeshall be taken,the agedwith [him that is] fullof days.
12And their housesshall be turnedunto others,[with their] fieldsand wivestogether:for I will stretch outmy handupon the inhabitantsof the land,saiththe LORD.
13For from the leastof them even unto the greatestof them every one [is] givento covetousness;and from the propheteven unto the priestevery one dealethfalsely.
14They have healedalso the hurt[of the daughter] of my peopleslightly,saying,Peace,peace;when [there is] no peace.
15Were they ashamedwhen they had committedabomination?nay,they were not at allashamed,neithercouldthey blush:therefore they shall fallamong them that fall:at the time[that] I visitthem they shall be cast down,saiththe LORD.
16Thus saiththe LORD,Standye in the ways,and see,and askfor the oldpaths,where [is] the goodway,and walktherein, and ye shall findrestfor your souls.But they said,We will not walk[therein].
17Also I setwatchmenover you, [saying], Hearkento the soundof the trumpet.But they said,We will not hearken.
18Therefore hear,ye nations,and know,O congregation,what [is] among them.
19Hear,O earth:behold, I will bringevilupon this people,[even] the fruitof their thoughts,because they have not hearkenedunto my words,nor to my law,but rejectedit.
20To what purpose comeththere to me incensefrom Sheba,and the sweetcanefrom a farcountry?your burnt offerings[are] not acceptable,nor your sacrificessweetunto me.
21Therefore thus saiththe LORD,Behold, I will laystumblingblocksbefore this people,and the fathersand the sonstogethershall fallupon them; the neighbourand his friendshall perish.
An Invasion from the North
22Thus saiththe LORD,Behold, a peoplecomethfrom the northcountry,and a greatnationshall be raisedfrom the sidesof the earth.
23They shall lay holdon bowand spear;they [are] cruel,and have no mercy;their voiceroarethlike the sea;and they rideupon horses,set in arrayas menfor waragainst thee, O daughterof Zion.
24We have heardthe famethereof: our handswax feeble:anguishhath taken holdof us, [and] pain,as of a woman in travail.
25Go not forthinto the field,nor walkby the way;for the swordof the enemy[and] fear[is] on every side.
26O daughterof my people,gird[thee] with sackcloth,and wallowthyself in ashes:makethee mourning,[as for] an only son,most bitterlamentation:for the spoilershall suddenlycomeupon us.
27I have setthee [for] a tower[and] a fortressamong my people,that thou mayest knowand trytheir way.
28They [are] all grievousrevolters,walkingwith slanders:[they are] brassand iron;they [are] all corrupters.
29The bellowsare burned,the leadis consumedof the fire;the foundermeltethin vain:for the wickedare not plucked away.
30Reprobatesilvershall [men] callthem, because the LORDhath rejectedthem.
