Chapter 6

O ye children of Benjamin, gather⁵⁴ yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow³ the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up³ a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: ^{3754 1021} for evil appeareth⁸ out of the north, and great destruction.

I have likened¹ the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate³⁰ [woman].

The shepherds⁶ with their flocks shall come⁴ unto her; they shall pitch¹ [their] tents against her round about; they shall feed¹ every one in his place.

Prepare¹⁶ ye war against her; arise,³ and let us go up⁴ at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away,¹ for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.¹¹

Arise,³ and let us go⁴ by night, and let us destroy⁵⁵ her palaces.

For thus hath the LORD of hosts said,¹ Hew ye down³ trees, and cast³ a mount against Jerusalem: this [is] the city to be visited;⁹⁰ she [is] wholly oppression in the midst of her.

As a fountain casteth out⁵³ her waters, so she casteth out⁵² her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard¹¹ in her; before me continually [is] grief and wounds.

Be thou instructed,¹⁰ O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart⁴ from thee; lest I make⁴ thee desolate, a land not inhabited.⁸

Thus saith¹ the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly²³ glean²⁵ the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back⁵⁴ thine hand as a grapegatherer⁶ into the baskets.

To whom shall I speak,¹⁷ and give warning,⁵⁵ that they may hear?⁴ behold, their ear [is] uncircumcised, and they cannot ^{3201 4} hearken:⁵³ behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight⁴ in it.

Therefore I am full¹ of the fury of the LORD; I am weary⁸ with holding in:⁵³ I will pour it out² upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken,¹¹ the aged with [him that is] full of days.

And their houses shall be turned⁸ unto others, [with their] fields and wives together: for I will stretch out⁵⁵ my hand upon the inhabitants⁶ of the land, saith⁷ the LORD.

For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one [is] given⁶ to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth⁶ falsely.

They have healed¹⁷ also the hurt [of the daughter] of my people slightly,⁸ saying,² Peace, peace; when [there is] no peace.

Were they ashamed⁵² when they had committed¹ abomination? nay, they were not at all² ashamed,⁴ neither could¹ they blush:⁵³ therefore they shall fall⁴ among them that fall:⁶ at the time [that] I visit¹ them they shall be cast down,¹¹ saith¹ the LORD.

Thus saith¹ the LORD, Stand³ ye in the ways, and see,³ and ask³ for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk³ therein, and ye shall find³ rest for your souls. But they said,⁴ We will not walk⁴ [therein].

Also I set⁵² watchmen⁶ over you, [saying], Hearken⁵⁴ to the sound of the trumpet. But they said,⁴ We will not hearken.⁵⁵

Therefore hear,³ ye nations, and know,³ O congregation, what [is] among them.

Hear,³ O earth: behold, I will bring⁵⁶ evil upon this people, [even] the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened⁵² unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected⁴ it.

To what purpose cometh⁴ there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet¹ unto me.

Therefore thus saith¹ the LORD, Behold, I will lay⁶ stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall¹ upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.¹

Thus saith¹ the LORD, Behold, a people cometh⁶ from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised¹¹ from the sides of the earth.

They shall lay hold⁵⁵ on bow and spear; they [are] cruel, and have no mercy;¹⁷ their voice roareth⁴ like the sea; and they ride⁴ upon horses, set in array⁷ as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

We have heard¹ the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble:¹ anguish hath taken hold⁵² of us, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail.⁶

Go not forth⁴ into the field, nor walk⁴ by the way; for the sword of the enemy⁶ [and] fear [is] on every side.

O daughter of my people, gird³ [thee] with sackcloth, and wallow¹⁰⁰ thyself in ashes: make³ thee mourning, [as for] an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler⁶ shall suddenly come⁴ upon us.

I have set¹ thee [for] a tower [and] a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know⁴ and try¹ their way.

They [are] all grievous⁶ revolters,⁶ walking⁶ with slanders: [they are] brass and iron; they [are] all corrupters.⁵⁶

The bellows are burned,⁸ the lead is consumed¹ of the fire; ⁷⁸⁴ the founder² melteth¹ in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.⁸

Reprobate¹² silver shall [men] call¹ them, because the LORD hath rejected¹ them.