Jeremiah 6
1Find safety, people of Benjamin, by leaving Jerusalem. Blow a trumpet in Tekoa. 1 Raise up over Beth Hakkerem a signal, since wickedness is appearing from the north; a great crushing is coming. 1
2The daughter of Zion, the beautiful and delicate woman, will be destroyed. 1
3The shepherds and their flocks will go to them; 1 they will set up tents against her all around; each man will shepherd with his own hand. 1
4“Dedicate yourselves to the gods for the battle. Arise, let us attack at noon. 1 It is too bad that the daylight is fading away, that the evening shadows are falling. 1
5But let us attack at night and destroy her fortresses.” 1
6For Yahweh of hosts says this: Cut her trees, and heap up siegeworks against Jerusalem. 1 This is the right city to attack, because it is filled with oppression. 1
7As a well pours out fresh water, so this city keeps producing wickedness. 1 Violence and disorder are heard within her; sickness and wounds are continually before my face. 1
8Accept discipline, Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you 1 and make you into a ruin, an uninhabited land.'” 1
9Yahweh of hosts says this, “They will certainly glean those who are left in Israel like a vineyard. 1 Reach out again with your hand to pick grapes from the vines. 1
10To whom should I declare and warn so they will listen? 1 Look! Their ears are uncircumcised; they are not able to pay attention! 1 Look! The word of Yahweh has come to them to correct them, but they do not want it.” 1
11But I am filled with Yahweh's fury. I am tired of holding it in. He said, to me, “Pour it out on the children in the streets 1 and on the groups of young men. For every man will be taken away with his wife; 1 and every old person heavy with years. 1
12Their houses will be turned over to others, both their fields and their wives together. 1 For I will attack the inhabitants of the land with my hand—this is Yahweh's declaration. 1
13Yahweh declares that from the least to the greatest, all of them are greedy for dishonest gain. 1 From the prophet to the priest, all of them practice deceit. 1
14They have healed the wounds of my people lightly, 1 saying, 'Peace, Peace,' when there is no peace. 1
15Were they ashamed when they practiced abominations? They were not ashamed; they did not know how to blush! 1 So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says Yahweh. 1
16Yahweh says this, “Stand at the road crossing and look; ask for the ancient pathways. 1 'Where is this good way?' Then go on it and find a resting place for yourselves. 1 But the people say, 'We will not go.' 1
17I appointed for you watchmen to listen for the trumpet. 1 But they said, 'We will not listen.' 1
18Therefore, nations, listen! See, you witnesses, what will happen to them. 1
19Hear, earth! See, I am about to bring disaster to this people—the fruit of their thoughts. 1 They paid no attention to my word or law, but they instead rejected it.” 1
20“What does this frankincense going up from Sheba mean to me? Or these sweet smells from a distant land? 1 Your burnt offerings are not acceptable to me, nor are your sacrifices. 1
21So Yahweh says this, 'See, I am about to place a stumbling block against this people. 1 They will stumble over it—fathers and sons together. Inhabitants and their neighbors will also perish.' 1
22Yahweh says this, 'See, a people is coming from the land of the north, 1 a great nation is being stirred up from the farthest parts of the earth. 1
23They will pick up bows and spears. They are cruel and have no compassion. 1 Their sound is like the sea roar, 1 and they are riding on horses, 1 set out in order as men for battle, against you, 1 daughter of Zion.'” 1
24We have heard the reports about them and our hands fall limp in distress. 1 Anguish seizes us as a woman giving birth. 1
25Do not go out to the fields, and do not walk on the roads, 1 for the swords of the enemy and terror are all around. 1
26Daughter of my people, put on sackcloth and roll in ashes; 1 mourn with painful sobs as for an only son, 1 for the destroyer will suddenly come upon us. 1
27“I have made you, Jeremiah, one who tests my people like one would test metal, so you will inspect and test their ways. 1
28They are all the most stubborn of people, who go about slandering others. 1 All of them are bronze and iron, acting corruptly. 1
29The bellows are scorched by the fire that is burning them; the lead is consumed in the flames. 1 The refining continues among them, but it is useless, because the evil is not removed. 1
30They will be called rejected silver, for Yahweh has rejected them.”