1 O ye children1121 of Benjamin,1144 gather yourselves to flee5756 out of the midst4480 7130 of Jerusalem,3389 and blow8628 the trumpet7782 in Tekoa,8620 and set up5375 a sign of fire4864 in5921 Beth-haccerem:1021 for3588 evil7451 appeareth8259 out of the north,4480 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 unto413 her; they shall pitch8628 their tents168 against5921 her round about;5439 they shall feed7462 every one376 in854 his place.3027

4 Prepare6942 ye war4421 against5921 her; arise,6965 and let us go up5927 at noon.6672 Woe188 unto us! for3588 the day3117 goeth away,6437 for3588 the shadows6752 of the evening6153 are stretched out.5186

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

6 For3588 thus3541 hath the LORD3068 of hosts6635 said,559 Hew ye down3772 trees,6097 and cast8210 a mount5550 against5921 Jerusalem:3389 this1931 is the city5892 to be visited;6485 she is wholly3605 oppression6233 in the midst7130 of her.

7 As a fountain953 casteth out6979 her waters,4325 so3651 she casteth6979 out her wickedness:7451 violence2555 and spoil7701 is heard8085 in her; before5921 6440 me continually8548 is grief2483 and wounds.4347

8 Be thou instructed,3256 O Jerusalem,3389 lest6435 my soul5315 depart3363 from4480 thee; lest6435 I make7760 thee desolate,8077 a land776 not3808 inhabited.3427

9 Thus3541 saith559 the LORD3068 of hosts,6635 They shall throughly glean5953 5953 the remnant7611 of Israel3478 as a vine:1612 turn back7725 thine hand3027 as a grape gatherer1219 into5921 the baskets.5552

10 To5921 whom4310 shall I speak,1696 and give warning,5749 that they may hear?8085 behold,2009 their ear241 is uncircumcised,6189 and they cannot3201 3808 hearken:7181 behold,2009 the word1697 of the LORD3068 is1961 unto them a reproach;2781 they have no3808 delight2654 in it.

11 Therefore I am full4392 of854 the fury2534 of the LORD;3068 I am weary3811 with holding3557 in: I will pour it out8210 upon5921 the children5768 abroad,2351 and upon5921 the assembly5475 of young men970 together:3162 for3588 even1571 the husband376 with5973 the wife802 shall be taken,3920 the aged2205 with5973 him that is full4390 of days.3117

12 And their houses1004 shall be turned5437 unto others,312 with their fields7704 and wives802 together:3162 for3588 I will stretch out5186 853 my hand3027 upon5921 the inhabitants3427 of the land,776 saith5002 the LORD.3068

13 For3588 from the least4480 6996 of them even unto5704 the greatest1419 of them every one3605 is given to1214 covetousness;1215 and from the prophet4480 5030 even unto5704 the priest3548 every one3605 dealeth6213 falsely.8267

14 They have healed7495 also853 the hurt7667 of the daughter of my people5971 slightly,5921 7043 saying,559 Peace,7965 peace;7965 when there is no369 peace.7965

15 Were they ashamed954 when3588 they had committed6213 abomination?8441 nay,1571 they were not3808 at all ashamed,954 954 neither3808 could3045 they blush:3637 therefore3651 they shall fall5307 among them that fall:5307 at the time6256 that I visit6485 them they shall be cast down,3782 saith559 the LORD.3068

16 Thus3541 saith559 the LORD,3068 Stand5975 ye in5921 the ways,1870 and see,7200 and ask7592 for the old5769 paths,5410 where335 2088 is the good2896 way,1870 and walk1980 therein, and ye shall find4672 rest4771 for your souls.5315 But they said,559 We will not3808 walk1980 therein.

17 Also I set6965 watchmen6822 over5921 you, saying, Hearken7181 to the sound6963 of the trumpet.7782 But they said,559 We will not3808 hearken.7181

18 Therefore3651 hear,8085 ye nations,1471 and know,3045 O congregation,5712 853 what834 is among them.

19 Hear,8085 O earth:776 behold,2009 I595 will bring935 evil7451 upon413 this2088 people,5971 even the fruit6529 of their thoughts,4284 because3588 they have not3808 hearkened7181 unto5921 my words,1697 nor to my law,8451 but rejected3988 it.

20 To what4100 purpose2088 cometh935 there to me incense3828 from Sheba,4480 7614 and the sweet2896 cane7070 from a far4801 country?4480 776 your burnt offerings5930 are not3808 acceptable,7522 nor3808 your sacrifices2077 sweet6149 unto me.

21 Therefore3651 thus3541 saith559 the LORD,3068 Behold,2009 I will lay5414 stumblingblocks4383 before413 this2088 people,5971 and the fathers1 and the sons1121 together3162 shall fall3782 upon them; the neighbor7934 and his friend7453 shall perish.6

22 Thus3541 saith559 the LORD,3068 Behold,2009 a people5971 cometh935 from the north6828 country,4480 776 and a great1419 nation1471 shall be raised5782 from the sides4480 3411 of the earth.776

23 They shall lay hold2388 on bow7198 and spear;3591 they1931 are cruel,394 and have no3808 mercy;7355 their voice6963 roareth1993 like the sea;3220 and they ride7392 upon5921 horses,5483 set in array6186 as men376 for war4421 against5921 thee, O daughter1323 of Zion.6726

24 We have heard8085 853 the fame8089 thereof: our hands3027 wax feeble:7503 anguish6869 hath taken hold2388 of us, and pain,2427 as of a woman in travail.3205

25 Go not forth408 3318 into the field,7704 nor408 walk1980 by the way;1870 for3588 the sword2719 of the enemy341 and fear4032 is on every side.4480 5439

26 O daughter1323 of my people,5971 gird2296 thee with sackcloth,8242 and wallow thyself6428 in ashes:665 make6213 thee mourning,60 as for an only son,3173 most bitter8563 lamentation:4553 for3588 the spoiler7703 shall suddenly6597 come935 upon5921 us.

27 I have set5414 thee for a tower969 and a fortress4013 among my people,5971 that thou mayest know3045 and try974 853 their way.1870

28 They are all3605 grievous5493 revolters,5637 walking1980 with slanders:7400 they are brass5178 and iron;1270 they1992 are all3605 corrupters.7843

29 The bellows4647 are burned,2787 the lead5777 is consumed8552 of the fire;4480 784 the founder6884 melteth6884 in vain:7723 for the wicked7451 are not3808 plucked away.5423

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