1 O you children1121 of Benjamin,1144 gather5756 yourselves to flee5756 out of the middle7130 of Jerusalem,3389 and blow8628 the trumpet7782 in Tekoa,8620 and set5375 up a sign4864 of fire in Bethhaccerem:1021 for evil7451 appears8259 out of the north,6828 and great1419 destruction.7667

2 I have likened1819 the daughter1323 of Zion6726 to a comely5000 and delicate6026 woman.

3 The shepherds7462 with their flocks5739 shall come935 to her; they shall pitch8628 their tents168 against5921 her round5439 about; they shall feed7462 every376 one376 in his place.3027

4 Prepare6942 you war4421 against5921 her; arise,6965 and let us go5927 up at noon.6672 Woe188 to us! for the day3117 goes6437 away, for the shadows6752 of the evening6153 are stretched5186 out.

5 Arise,6965 and let us go5927 by night,3915 and let us destroy7843 her palaces.759

6 For thus3541 has the LORD3068 of hosts6635 said,559 Hew3772 you down trees,6097 and cast8210 a mount5550 against5921 Jerusalem:3389 this1931 is the city5892 to be visited;6485 she is wholly3605 oppression6233 in the middle7130 of her.

7 As a fountain953 casts6979 out her waters,4325 so3651 she casts6979 out her wickedness:7451 violence2555 and spoil7701 is heard8085 in her; before5921 6440 me continually8548 is grief2483 and wounds.4347

8 Be you instructed,3256 O Jerusalem,3389 lest6435 my soul5315 depart3363 from you; lest6435 I make7760 you desolate,8077 a land776 not inhabited.3427

9 Thus3541 said559 the LORD3068 of hosts,6635 They shall thoroughly glean5953 the remnant7611 of Israel3478 as a vine:1612 turn7725 back7725 your hand3027 as a grape gatherer1219 into5921 the baskets.5552

10 To whom4310 shall I speak,1696 and give warning,5749 that they may hear?8085 behold,2009 their ear241 is uncircumcised,6189 and they cannot3808 3201 listen:7181 behold,2009 the word1697 of the LORD3068 is to them a reproach;2781 they have no3808 delight2654 in it.

11 Therefore I am full4392 of the fury2534 of the LORD;3068 I am weary3811 with holding3557 in: I will pour8210 it out on the children5768 abroad,2351 and on the assembly5475 of young970 men together:3162 for even1571 the husband376 with the wife802 shall be taken,3920 the aged2205 with him that is full4390 of days.3117

12 And their houses1004 shall be turned5437 to others,312 with their fields7704 and wives802 together:3162 for I will stretch5186 out my hand3027 on the inhabitants3427 of the land,776 said5002 the LORD.3068

13 For from the least6996 of them even to the greatest1419 of them every3605 one is given to covetousness;1215 and from the prophet5030 even to the priest3548 every3605 one deals6213 falsely.8267

14 They have healed7495 also the hurt7667 of the daughter of my people5971 slightly,7043 saying,559 Peace,7965 peace;7965 when there is no369 peace.7965

15 Were they ashamed954 when3588 they had committed6213 abomination?8441 no,1571 they were not at all ashamed,954 neither1571 3808 could3045 they blush:3637 therefore3651 they shall fall5307 among them that fall:5307 at the time6256 that I visit6485 them they shall be cast3782 down,3782 said559 the LORD.3068

16 Thus3541 said559 the LORD,3068 Stand5975 you in the ways,1870 and see,7200 and ask7592 for the old5769 paths,5410 where335 is the good2896 way,1870 and walk3212 therein, and you shall find4672 rest4771 for your souls.5315 But they said,559 We will not walk3212 therein.

17 Also I set6965 watchmen6822 over5921 you, saying, Listen7181 to the sound6963 of the trumpet.7782 But they said,559 We will not listen.7181

18 Therefore3651 hear,8085 you nations,1471 and know,3045 O congregation,5712 what853 834 is among them.

19 Hear,8085 O earth:776 behold,2009 I will bring935 evil7451 on this2088 people,5971 even the fruit6529 of their thoughts,4284 because3588 they have not listened7181 to my words,1697 nor to my law,8451 but rejected3988 it.

20 To what4100 purpose comes935 there to me incense3828 from Sheba,7614 and the sweet2896 cane7070 from a far4801 country?776 your burnt5930 offerings are not acceptable,7522 nor3808 your sacrifices2077 sweet6149 to me.

21 Therefore3651 thus3541 said559 the LORD,3068 Behold,2005 I will lay5414 stumbling blocks4383 before413 this2088 people,5971 and the fathers1 and the sons1121 together3162 shall fall3782 on them; the neighbor7934 and his friend7453 shall perish.6

22 Thus3541 said559 the LORD,3068 Behold,2009 a people5971 comes935 from the north6828 country,776 and a great1419 nation1471 shall be raised5782 from the sides3411 of the earth.776

23 They shall lay hold2388 on bow7198 and spear;3591 they are cruel,394 and have no3808 mercy;7355 their voice6963 roars1993 like the sea;3220 and they ride7392 on horses,5483 set in array6186 as men376 for war4421 against5921 you, O daughter1323 of Zion.6726

24 We have heard8085 the fame8089 thereof: our hands3027 wax feeble:7503 anguish6869 has taken2388 hold2388 of us, and pain,2427 as of a woman in travail.3205

25 Go3318 not forth3318 into the field,7704 nor408 walk3212 by the way;1870 for the sword2719 of the enemy341 and fear4032 is on every5437 side.5439

26 O daughter1323 of my people,5971 gird2296 you with sackcloth,8242 and wallow6428 yourself in ashes:665 make6213 you mourning,60 as for an only3173 son,3173 most bitter8563 lamentation:4553 for the spoiler7703 shall suddenly6597 come935 on us.

27 I have set5414 you for a tower969 and a fortress4013 among my people,5971 that you may know3045 and try974 their way.1870

28 They are all3605 grievous5493 rebels,5637 walking1980 with slanders:7400 they are brass5178 and iron;1270 they are all3605 corrupters.7843

29 The bellows4647 are burned,2787 the lead5777 is consumed8552 of the fire;784 the founder6884 melts6884 in vain:7723 for the wicked7451 are not plucked5423 away.

30 Reprobate3988 silver3701 shall men call7121 them, because3588 the LORD3068 has rejected3988 them.