Jeremiah 6

1O 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 Beth-haccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

2I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.footnote a

3The 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.

4Prepare 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.

5Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

6For 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.footnote b

7As 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.

8Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.footnote c

9Thus 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.

10To 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.

11Therefore 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.

12And 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.

13For 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.

14They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.footnote d

15Were 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.

16Thus 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.

17Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of 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 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.

20To 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.

21Therefore 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.

22Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.

23They 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.

24We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

25Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.

26O 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.

27I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.

28They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.

29The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.

30Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.footnote e

Jerusalem’s Final Warning

1“Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin;flee from Jerusalem!Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa;send up a signal over Beth-haccherem,for disaster looms from the north,even great destruction. 2Though she is beautiful and delicate,I will destroy the Daughter of Zion.footnote a 3Shepherds and their flockswill come against her;they will pitch their tents all around her,each tending his own portion: 4‘Prepare for battle against her;rise up, let us attack at noon.Woe to us, for the daylight is fading;the evening shadows grow long. 5Rise up, let us attack by nightand destroy her fortresses!’”

6For this is what the LORD of Hosts says:“Cut down the treesand raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem.This city must be punished;there is nothing but oppression in her midst. 7As a well gushes its water,so she pours out her evil.Violence and destruction resound in her;sickness and wounds are ever before Me. 8Be forewarned, O Jerusalem,or I will turn away from you;I will make you a desolation,a land without inhabitant.”

9This is what the LORD of Hosts says:“Glean the remnant of Israelas thoroughly as a vine.Pass your hand once more like a grape gathererover the branches.”

10To whom can I give this warning?Who will listen to me?Look, their ears are closed,footnote bso they cannot hear.See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them;they find no pleasure in it. 11But I am full of the LORD’s wrath;I am tired of holding it back.“Pour it out on the children in the street,and on the young men gathered together.For both husband and wife will be captured,the old and the very old alike. 12Their houses will be turned over to others,their fields and wives as well,for I will stretch out My handagainst the inhabitants of the land,”declares the LORD. 13“For from the least of them to the greatest,all are greedy for gain;from prophet to priest,all practice deceit. 14They dress the wound of My peoplewith very little care,saying, ‘Peace, peace,’when there is no peace at all. 15Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed?No, they have no shame at all;they do not even know how to blush.So they will fall among the fallen;when I punish them, they will collapse,”says the LORD.

16This is what the LORD says:“Stand at the crossroads and look.Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’ 17I appointed watchmen over you and said,‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’ 18Therefore hear, O nations,and learn, O congregations,what will happen to them. 19Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people,the fruit of their own schemes,because they have paid no attention to My wordand have rejected My instruction. 20What use to Me is frankincense from Shebaor sweet cane from a distant land?Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;your sacrifices do not please Me.”

21Therefore this is what the LORD says:“I will lay stumbling blocks before this people;fathers and sons alike will be staggered;friends and neighbors will perish.”

An Invasion from the North

22This is what the LORD says:“Behold, an army is comingfrom the land of the north;a great nation is stirred upfrom the ends of the earth. 23They grasp the bow and spear;footnote cthey are cruel and merciless.Their voice roars like the sea,and they ride upon horses,lined up like men in formationagainst you, O Daughter of Zion.”

24We have heard the report;our hands hang limp.Anguish has gripped us,pain like that of a woman in labor. 25Do not go out to the fields;do not walk the road.For the enemy has a sword;terror is on every side. 26O daughter of my people,dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes.Mourn with bitter wailing,as you would for an only son,for suddenly the destroyerwill come upon us.

27“I have appointed you to examine My people like ore,footnote dso you may know and try their ways. 28All are hardened rebels,walking around as slanderers.They are bronze and iron;all of them are corrupt. 29The bellows blow fiercely,blasting away the lead with fire.The refining proceeds in vain,for the wicked are not purged. 30They are called rejected silver,because the LORD has rejected them.”