6 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. 2 I
have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman. 3 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. 4 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. 5 Arise,
and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces. 6 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. 7 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. 8 Be
thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make
thee desolate, a land not inhabited. 9 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. 10 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. 11 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. 12 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. 13 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. 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? 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. 16 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. 17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying,
Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. 18 Therefore hear, ye 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 unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. 20 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. 21 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. 22 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. 23 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. 24 We have heard the fame thereof: our
hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, 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 fear is on every side. 26 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. 27 I have set thee for a tower and a fortress
among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way. 28 They are all grievous revolters, walking
with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. 29 The bellows are burned, the lead is
consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not
plucked away. 30 Reprobate silver shall men call them,
because the LORD hath rejected them.