1Flee for safety , ye children of Benjamin , out of the midst of Jerusalem , and blow the trumpet in Tekoa , and raise up a signal on Beth-haccherem ; for evil looketh forth from the north , and a great destruction . 2The comely and delicate one, the daughter of Zion , will I cut off . 3Shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her ; they shall pitch their tents against her round about ; they shall feed every one in his place . 4Prepare ye war against her ; arise , and let us go up at noon . Woe unto us ! for the day declineth , for the shadows of the evening are stretched out . 5Arise , and let us go up by night , and let us destroy her palaces. 6For thus hath Jehovah of hosts said, Hew ye down trees , and cast up a mound against Jerusalem : this is the city to be visited ; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her . 7As a well casteth forth its waters , so she casteth forth her wickedness : violence and destruction is heard in her ; before me continually is sickness and wounds . 8Be thou instructed , O Jerusalem , lest my soul be alienated from thee ; lest I make thee a desolation , a land not inhabited .
The Consequences of Rejection
9Thus saith Jehovah of hosts , They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine : turn again thy hand as a grape-gatherer into the baskets . 10To whom shall I speak and testify , that they may hear ? behold , their ear is uncircumcised , and they cannot hearken : behold , the word of Jehovah is become unto them a reproach ; they have no delight in it . 11Therefore I am full of the wrath of Jehovah ; I am weary with holding in : pour it out upon the children in the street , and upon the assembly of young men together ; for even the husband with the wife shall be taken , the aged with him that is full of days . 12And their houses shall be turned unto others, their fields and their wives together ; for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land , saith Jehovah . 13For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness ; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely . 14They have healed also the hurt of my people slightly , saying, Peace , peace ; when there is no peace . 15Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination ? nay , they were not at all ashamed , neither could they blush : therefore they shall fall among them that fall ; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down , saith Jehovah .
The Inability to Understand
16Thus saith Jehovah , Stand ye in the ways and see , and ask for the old paths , where is the good way ; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls : but they said, We will not walk therein . 17And I set watchmen over you , saying , Hearken to the sound of the trumpet ; but they said, We will not hearken . 18Therefore hear , ye nations , and know , O congregation , what is among them . 19Hear , O earth: behold , I will bring evil upon this people , even the fruit of their thoughts , because they have not hearkened unto my words ; and as for my law , they have rejected it . 20To what purpose cometh there to me frankincense from Sheba , and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt-offerings are not acceptable , nor your sacrifices pleasing unto me . 21Therefore thus saith Jehovah , Behold , I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people ; and the fathers and the sons together shall stumble against them ; the neighbor and his friend shall perish.
The Coming Judgment
22Thus saith Jehovah , Behold , a people cometh from the north country; and a great nation shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth. 23They lay hold on bow and spear ; they are cruel, and have no mercy ; their voice roareth like the sea , and they ride upon horses , every one set in array , as a man to the battle , against thee, O daughter of Zion . 24We have heard the report thereof; our hands wax feeble : anguish hath taken hold of us , and pangs as of a woman in travail . 25Go not forth into the field , nor walk by the way ; for the sword of the enemy, and terror , are on every side . 26O daughter of my people , gird thee with sackcloth , and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning , as for an only son , most bitter lamentation ; for the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us . 27I have made thee a trier and a fortress among my people ; that thou mayest know and try their way . 28They are all grievous revolters , going about with slanders ; they are brass and iron : they all of them deal corruptly . 29The bellows blow fiercely ; the lead is consumed of the fire: in vain do they go on refining ; for the wicked are not plucked away . 30Refuse silver shall men call them , because Jehovah hath rejected them .