1
"Flee for safety, O sons of Benjamin, From the midst of Jerusalem! Now blow a trumpet in Tekoa And raise a signaloverBeth-haccerem; For evillooksdown from the north, And a greatdestruction.
6
For thussays the LORD of hosts, "Cutdown her trees And cast up a siegeagainstJerusalem. This is the city to be punished, In whose midst there is onlyoppression.
7
"As a wellkeeps its watersfresh, So she keepsfresh her wickedness. Violence and destruction are heard in her; Sickness and wounds are everbefore* Me.
9
Thussays the LORD of hosts, "They will thoroughlyglean as the vine the remnant of Israel; Pass your handagain like a grape gathererOver the branches."
10
To whom shall I speak and givewarning That they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed And they cannot*listen. Behold, the word of the LORD has become a reproach to them; They havenodelight in it.
11
But I am full of the wrath of the LORD; I am weary with holding it in. "Pour it out on the children in the street And on the gathering of youngmentogether; For bothhusband and wife shall be taken, The aged and the very*old*.
12
"Their houses shall be turnedover to others, Their fields and their wivestogether; For I will stretch out My handAgainst the inhabitants of the land," declares the LORD.
15
"Were they ashamedbecause of the abomination they have done? They were not evenashamed at all; They did not evenknow how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be castdown," says the LORD.
16
Thussays the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancientpaths, Where the goodway is, and walk in it; And you will findrest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'
19
"Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringingdisaster on thispeople, The fruit of their plans, Because* they have not listened to My words, And as for My law, they have rejected it also.
20
"For whatpurpose does frankincensecome to Me from Sheba And the sweetcane from a distantland? Your burntofferings are not acceptable And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me."
h,n'q.w aw{b't a'b.Vim h'nw{b.l yil h,Z -h'M'l ? !w{c'r.l a{l ~,kyetw{l{[ q'x.r,m #,r,aem bw{J;h ? yil .Wb.r'[ -a{l ~,kyex.biz.w
21
Therefore, thussays the LORD, "Behold, I am layingstumblingblocksbeforethispeople. And they will stumble against them, Fathers and sonstogether; Neighbor and friend will perish."
23
"They seizebow and spear; They are cruel and havenomercy; Their voiceroars like the sea, And they ride on horses, Arrayed as a man for the battleAgainst you, O daughter of Zion!"
26
O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth And roll in ashes; Mourn as for an onlyson, A lamentationmostbitter. For suddenly the destroyer Will come upon us.