 1 O children of Benjamin, take refuge out of the midst of Jerusalem. And blow the ram's horn in Tekoa, and set up a signal fire over Bethhaccerem. For evil appears out of the north, and great ruin. 2 I will destroy the daughter of Zion, the beautiful and tender one. 3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come to her. They shall pitch tents on her all around. They shall feed each one in his hand. 4 Prepare war against her. Arise and let us go up at noon. Woe to us. For the day goes away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out. 5 Arise and let us go by night. Let us destroy her palaces. 6 For the Lord of hosts has said, Cut down trees and cast a mound against Jerusalem. She is the city to be visited. There is nothing but oppression in her midst. 7 As a fountain keeps its waters fresh, so she keeps fresh her evil. Violence and spoil is heard in her. Always before me are grief and wounds. 8 O Jerusalem, you must be instructed lest my soul depart from you. Lest I make you desolate, a land without people. 9 Thus says the Lord of hosts: They will thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel like a vine. Turn your hand back like a grape gatherer into the baskets. 10 To whom shall I speak and give warning so that they may hear? Behold, their ears are not circumcised and they cannot listen. Behold, the Word of the Lord is a reproach to them. 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 on the children in the street and on the circle of young men together. Even the husband with the wife will be taken and the aged with fullness of days. 12 Their houses will be turned to others together with their fields and wives. For I will stretch out my hand on the people of the land, says the Lord. 13 For everyone from the least of them even to the greatest of them cuts off a profit. And from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely. 14 They have also healed 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, nor could they blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall. At the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, says the Lord. 16 Thus says the Lord: Stand in the path way and see. Ask for the old paths where the good way is and walk in it. Then you will 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 ram's horn. But they said, We will not listen. 18 Therefore hear, nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. 19 Hear, O earth. Behold, I will bring evil on this people, the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words, nor to my law, but have rejected it. 20 Why does frankincense come to me from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not pleasing, 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 will fall on them. The neighbor and his friend will perish. 22 Thus says the Lord: Behold, a people comes from the north country, and a great nation shall be stirred from the sides of the earth. 23 They will lay hold on bow and spear. They are cruel and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea. They ride on horses, set in order like a man for war against you, O daughter of Zion. 24 We have heard the rumor of it. Our hands become feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, and pain, like a woman in labor.f 25 Do not go out into the field nor walk by the way. For the sword of the enemy and fear are on every side. 26 O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth and wallow in ashes. Mourn for yourself as for an only son, most bitter weeping. For the ravager will suddenly come upon us. 27 I have made you an examiner among my people so that you may know and test their ways. 28 They are all grievous revolters, walking in slanders. They are bronze and iron. They are all corrupters. 29 The bellows are burned. The lead is melted by the fire. The refiner melts in vain. For the wicked are not plucked away. 30 Reprobate silver they call them, because the Lord has rejected them.
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