[1] Flee for safety, O people of Benjamin, from the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow the trumpet in Teko'a, and raise a signal on Beth-hacche'rem; for evil
looms out of the north, and great destruction. [2] The comely and
delicately bred I will destroy, the daughter of Zion. [3] Shepherds with
their flocks shall come against her; they shall pitch their tents around
her, they shall pasture, each in his place. [4] "Prepare war against her;
up, and let us attack at noon!" "Woe to us, for the day declines, for the
shadows of evening lengthen!" [5] "Up, and let us attack by night, and
destroy her palaces!" [6] For thus says the LORD of hosts: "Hew down her
trees; cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem. This is the city which must
be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her. [7] As a well
keeps its water fresh, so she keeps fresh her wickedness; violence and
destruction are heard within her; sickness and wounds are ever before me.
[8] Be warned, O Jerusalem, lest I be alienated from you; lest I make you a
desolation, an uninhabited land." [9] Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Glean
thoroughly as a vine the remnant of Israel; like a grape-gatherer pass your
hand again over its branches." [10] To whom shall I speak and give warning,
that they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed, they cannot listen;
behold, the word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn, they take no
pleasure in it. [11] Therefore I am full of the wrath of the LORD; I am
weary of holding it in. "Pour it out upon the children in the street, and
upon the gatherings of young men, also; both husband and wife shall be
taken, the old folk and the very aged. [12] Their houses shall be turned
over to others, their fields and wives together; for I will stretch out my
hand against the inhabitants of the land," says the LORD. [13] "For from
the least to the greatest of them, every one is greedy for unjust gain; and
from prophet to priest, every one deals falsely. [14] They have healed the
wound of my people lightly, saying, `Peace, peace,' when there is no peace.
[15] Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not
at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall
among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be
overthrown," says the LORD. [16] Thus says the LORD: "Stand by the roads,
and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in
it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, `We will not walk in it.'
[17] I set watchmen over you, saying, `Give heed to the sound of the
trumpet!' But they said, `We will not give heed.' [18] Therefore hear, O
nations, and know, O congregation, what will happen to them. [19] Hear, O
earth; behold, I am bringing evil upon this people, the fruit of their
devices, because they have not given heed to my words; and as for my law,
they have rejected it. [20] To what purpose does frankincense come to me
from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not
acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me. [21] Therefore thus says
the LORD: `Behold, I will lay before this people stumbling blocks against
which they shall stumble; fathers and sons together, neighbor and friend
shall perish.'" [22] Thus says the LORD: "Behold, a people is coming from
the north country, a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of
the earth. [23] They lay hold on bow and spear, they are cruel and have no
mercy, the sound of them is like the roaring sea; they ride upon horses,
set in array as a man for battle, against you, O daughter of Zion!" [24] We
have heard the report of it, our hands fall helpless; anguish has taken
hold of us, pain as of a woman in travail. [25] Go not forth into the
field, nor walk on the road; for the enemy has a sword, terror is on every
side. [26] O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, and roll in ashes;
make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for suddenly the
destroyer will come upon us. [27] "I have made you an assayer and tester
among my people, that you may know and assay their ways. [28] They are all
stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron,
all of them act corruptly. [29] The bellows blow fiercely, the lead is
consumed by the fire; in vain the refining goes on, for the wicked are not
removed. [30] Refuse silver they are called, for the LORD has rejected
them."