Dual Panel1“Run for safety <05756>, people <01121> of Benjamin <01144>! Get out of <07130> Jerusalem <03389>! Sound <08628> the trumpet <07782> in <05921> Tekoa <08620>! Light <05375> the signal fires <04864> at Beth Hakkerem <01021>! For <03588> disaster <07451> lurks out <08259> of the north <06828>; it will bring great <01419> destruction <07667>.
2I will destroy Daughter <01323> Zion <06726>, who is as delicate <05000> and defenseless <06026> as a young maiden.
3Kings will come <0935> against <05921> it with their armies. They will encamp in siege all around <05439> it. Each <0376> of them will devastate the portion assigned to him.
4They will say, ‘Prepare <06942> to do battle <04421> against <05921> it! Come on <06965>! Let’s attack <05927> it at noon <06672>!’ But later they will say, ‘Oh, oh! Too bad <0188>! The day <03117> is almost over <06437> and the shadows <06752> of evening <06153> are getting long <05186>.
5So come on <06965>, let’s go ahead <06965> and attack <05927> it by night <03915> and destroy <07843> all its fortified buildings <0759>.’
6All of this is because <03588> the Lord <03068> who rules over all <06635> has said <0559>: ‘Cut down <03772> the trees <06097> around Jerusalem <03389> and build up a siege <08210> ramp <05550> against <05921> its walls. This <01931> is the city <05892> which is to be punished <06485>. Nothing but <03605> oppression <06233> happens in <07130> it.
7As a well <0953> continually pours out <06979> fresh water <04325> so <03651> it continually pours out <06979> wicked <07451> deeds. Sounds of violence <02555> and destruction <07701> echo <08085> throughout it. All I see are sick <02483> and wounded <04347> people.’
8So take warning <03256>, Jerusalem <03389>, or <06435> I <05315> will abandon <03363> you in <04480> disgust and make <07760> you desolate <08077>, a place <0776> where no <03808> one can live <03427>.”
9This is what <03541> the Lord <03068> who rules over all <06635> said <0559> to me: “Those who remain <07611> in Israel <03478> will be like the grapes thoroughly gleaned <05953> <05953> from a vine <01612>. So go over <07725> them again, as though you were a grape harvester <01219> passing your hand <03027> over <05921> the branches <05552> one last time.”
10I answered, “Who <04310> would listen <08085> if I spoke <01696> to them and warned <05749> them? Their ears <0241> are so closed <06189> that they cannot <03201> <03808> hear <07181>! Indeed <02009>, what <01697> the Lord <03068> says <01697> is offensive <02781> to them. They do not <03808> like it <02654> at all.
11I am as full <04392> of anger <02534> as you are, Lord <03068>, I am tired <03811> of trying to hold <03557> it in.” The Lord answered, “Vent <08210> it, then, on <05921> the children <05768> who play in the street <02351> and on <05921> the young men <0970> who <03588> are gathered <05475> together <03162>. Husbands <0376> and <01571> wives <0802> are to be included <03920>, as well as the old <02205> and <05973> those who are advanced <04390> in years <03117>.
12Their houses <01004> will be turned over <05437> to others <0312> as will their fields <07704> and their wives <0802>. For <03588> I will unleash <05186> my power <03027> against <05921> those who live <03427> in this land <0776>,” says <05002> the Lord <03068>.
13“That is because <03588>, from the least important <06996> to <05704> the most important <01419> of them, all <03605> of them are greedy <01214> for dishonest gain <01215>. Prophets <05030> and priests <03548> alike, all <03605> of them practice <06213> deceit <08267>.
14They offer only superficial <07043> help for the harm my people <05971> have suffered <07667>. They say <0559>, ‘Everything <07965> will be all right <07965>!’ But everything is not <0369> all right <07965>!
15Are they ashamed <03001> because <03588> they have done <06213> such shameful things <08441>? No, they are not <03808> at all ashamed <0954>. They do not <03808> even <01571> know <03045> how to blush <03637>! So <03651> they will die <05307>, just like others have died <05307>. They will be brought <03782> to ruin <03782> when I punish <06485> them,” says <0559> the Lord <03068>.
16The Lord <03068> said <0559> to his people: “You are standing <05975> at <05921> the crossroads <01870>. So consider <07200> your path. Ask <07592> where the old <05769>, reliable paths <05410> are. Ask where <0335> the path <01870> is that leads to blessing <02896> and follow <01980> it. If you do, you will find <04672> rest <04771> for your souls <05315>.” But they said <0559>, “We will not <03808> follow <01980> it!”
17The Lord said, “I appointed <06965> prophets as watchmen <06822> to <05921> warn you, saying: ‘Pay attention <07181> to the warning sound <06963> of the trumpet <07782>!’” But they said <0559>, “We will not <03808> pay attention <07181>!”
18So <03651> the Lord said, “Hear <08085>, you nations <01471>! Be witnesses and take note <03045> of what <0834> will happen to these people <05712>.
19Hear <08085> this, you peoples of the earth <0776>: ‘Take note <02009>! I <0595> am about to bring <0935> disaster <07451> on <0413> these <02088> people <05971>. It will come as punishment <06529> for their scheming <04284>. For <03588> they have paid no attention <07181> <03808> to <05921> what I have said <01697>, and they have rejected <03988> my law <08451>.
20I take no delight when they offer up to me frankincense <03828> that comes <0935> from Sheba <07614> or sweet-smelling <02896> cane <07070> imported from a faraway <04801> land <0776>. I cannot <03808> accept <07522> the burnt offerings <05930> they bring me. I get no <03808> pleasure <06149> from the sacrifices <02077> they offer to me.’
21So <03651>, this <03541> is what the Lord <03068> says <0559>: ‘I will assuredly <02005> make <05414> these <02088> people <05971> stumble <04383> to <0413> their doom. Parents <01> and children <01121> will stumble <03782> and fall <03782> to their destruction. Friends <07453> <03162> and neighbors <07934> will die <06>.’
22“This is what <03541> the Lord <03068> says <0559>: ‘Beware <02009>! An army <05971> is coming <0935> from a land <0776> in the north <06828>. A mighty <01419> nation <01471> is stirring <05782> into action in faraway parts <03411> of the earth <0776>.
23Its soldiers are armed with <02388> bows <07198> and spears <03591>. They are cruel <0394> and show no <03808> mercy <07355>. They sound <06963> like the roaring <01993> sea <03220> as they ride forth <07392> on <05921> their horses <05483>. Lined up in formation <06186> like men <0376> going into battle <04421> to attack you, Daughter <01323> Zion <06726>.’”
24The people cry out, “We have heard <08085> reports <08089> about them! We have become helpless <07503> with fear <03027>! Anguish <06869> grips <02388> us, agony <02427> like that of a woman giving birth <03205> to a baby!
25Do not <0408> go out <03318> into the countryside <07704>. Do not <0408> travel <01980> on the roads <01870>. For <03588> the enemy <0341> is there with sword <02719> in hand. They are spreading terror <04032> everywhere <05439>.”
26So I said, “Oh, my dear <01323> people <05971>, put on <02296> sackcloth <08242> and roll <06428> in ashes <0665>. Mourn <060> with painful <08563> sobs <04553> as though you had lost your only child <03173>. For any moment now <06597> that <03588> destructive army <07703> will come <0935> against <05921> us.”
27The Lord said to me, “I have made <05414> you like a metal assayer <0969> to test <04013> my people <05971> like ore. You are to observe <03045> them and evaluate <0974> how they behave <01870>.”
28I reported, “All <03605> of them are the most stubborn <05493> of rebels <05637>! They are as hard as bronze <05178> or iron <01270>. They go <01980> about telling lies <07400>. They all <03605> deal corruptly <07843>.
29The fiery <0800> bellows <04647> of judgment burn fiercely <02787>. But there is too much dross <05777> to be removed. The process <06884> <06884> of refining <06884> <06884> them has proved useless <07723>. The wicked <07451> have not <03808> been purged <05423>.
30They are regarded <07121> as ‘rejected <03988> silver <03701>’ because <03588> the Lord <03068> rejects <03988> them.”