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The Imminence and Horror of the Invasion

Flee for safety, O children of Benjamin,
    from the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow the trumpet in Tekoa,
    and raise a signal on Beth-haccherem,
for evil looms out of the north
    and great destruction.(A)
I have likened daughter Zion
    to the loveliest pasture.[a](B)
Shepherds with their flocks shall come against her.
    They shall pitch their tents around her;
    they shall pasture, all in their places.(C)
“Prepare war against her;
    up, and let us attack at noon!”
“Woe to us, for the day declines;
    the shadows of evening lengthen!”(D)
“Up, and let us attack by night,
    and destroy her palaces!”(E)
For thus says the Lord of hosts:
Cut down her trees;
    cast up a siege ramp against Jerusalem.
This is the city that must be punished;[b]
    there is nothing but oppression within her.(F)
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.(G)
Take warning, O Jerusalem,
    or I shall turn from you in disgust
and make you a desolation,
    an uninhabited land.(H)

Thus says the Lord of hosts:
Glean[c] thoroughly as a vine
    the remnant of Israel;
like a grape gatherer, pass your hand again
    over its branches.(I)

10 To whom shall I speak and give warning,
    that they may hear?
See, their ears are closed;[d]
    they cannot listen.
The word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn;
    they take no pleasure in it.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. 6.2 Or I will destroy daughter Zion, the loveliest pasture
  2. 6.6 Or the city of license
  3. 6.9 Cn Compare Gk: Heb They shall glean
  4. 6.10 Heb are uncircumcised

Jerusalem Under Siege

“Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!
    Flee from Jerusalem!
Sound the trumpet(A) in Tekoa!(B)
    Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!(C)
For disaster looms out of the north,(D)
    even terrible destruction.
I will destroy Daughter Zion,(E)
    so beautiful and delicate.(F)
Shepherds(G) with their flocks will come against her;
    they will pitch their tents around(H) her,
    each tending his own portion.”

“Prepare for battle against her!
    Arise, let us attack at noon!(I)
But, alas, the daylight is fading,
    and the shadows of evening grow long.
So arise, let us attack at night
    and destroy her fortresses!”

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Cut down the trees(J)
    and build siege ramps(K) against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished;
    it is filled with oppression.(L)
As a well pours out its water,
    so she pours out her wickedness.
Violence(M) and destruction(N) resound in her;
    her sickness and wounds are ever before me.
Take warning, Jerusalem,
    or I will turn away(O) from you
and make your land desolate
    so no one can live in it.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Let them glean the remnant(P) of Israel
    as thoroughly as a vine;
pass your hand over the branches again,
    like one gathering grapes.”

10 To whom can I speak and give warning?
    Who will listen(Q) to me?
Their ears are closed[a](R)
    so they cannot hear.(S)
The word(T) of the Lord is offensive to them;
    they find no pleasure in it.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 6:10 Hebrew uncircumcised