O ye children{H1121} of Benjamin{H1144}, gather yourselves to flee{H5756}{(H8685)} out of the midst{H7130} of Jerusalem{H3389}, and blow{H8628}{(H8798)} the trumpet{H7782} in Tekoa{H8620}, and set up{H5375}{(H8798)} a sign{H4864} of fire in Bethhaccerem{H1021}: for evil{H7451} appeareth{H8259}{(H8738)} out of the north{H6828}, and great{H1419} destruction{H7667}.

I have likened{H1820}{(H8804)} the daughter{H1323} of Zion{H6726} to a comely{H5116} and delicate{H6026}{(H8794)} woman.

The shepherds{H7462}{(H8802)} with their flocks{H5739} shall come{H935}{(H8799)} unto her; they shall pitch{H8628}{(H8804)} their tents{H168} against her round about{H5439}; they shall feed{H7462}{(H8804)} every one{H376} in his place{H3027}.

Prepare{H6942}{(H8761)} ye war{H4421} against her; arise{H6965}{(H8798)}, and let us go up{H5927}{(H8799)} at noon{H6672}. Woe{H188} unto us! for the day{H3117} goeth away{H6437}{(H8804)}, for the shadows{H6752} of the evening{H6153} are stretched out{H5186}{(H8735)}.

Arise{H6965}{(H8798)}, and let us go{H5927}{(H8799)} by night{H3915}, and let us destroy{H7843}{(H8686)} her palaces{H759}.

For thus hath the LORD{H3068} of hosts{H6635} said{H559}{(H8804)}, Hew ye down{H3772}{(H8798)} trees{H6097}, and cast{H8210}{(H8798)} a mount{H5550} against Jerusalem{H3389}: this is the city{H5892} to be visited{H6485}{(H8717)}; she is wholly oppression{H6233} in the midst{H7130} of her.

As a fountain{H953} casteth out{H6979}{(H8687)} her waters{H4325}, so she casteth out{H6979}{(H8689)} her wickedness{H7451}: violence{H2555} and spoil{H7701} is heard{H8085}{(H8735)} in her; before me{H6440} continually{H8548} is grief{H2483} and wounds{H4347}.

Be thou instructed{H3256}{(H8734)}, O Jerusalem{H3389}, lest my soul{H5315} depart{H3363}{(H8799)} from thee; lest I make{H7760}{(H8799)} thee desolate{H8077}, a land{H776} not inhabited{H3427}{(H8738)}.

Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} of hosts{H6635}, They shall throughly{H5953}{(H8780)} glean{H5953}{(H8779)} the remnant{H7611} of Israel{H3478} as a vine{H1612}: turn back{H7725}{(H8685)} thine hand{H3027} as a grapegatherer{H1219}{(H8802)} into the baskets{H5552}.

To whom shall I speak{H1696}{(H8762)}, and give warning{H5749}{(H8686)}, that they may hear{H8085}{(H8799)}? behold, their ear{H241} is uncircumcised{H6189}, and they cannot{H3201}{(H8799)} hearken{H7181}{(H8687)}: behold, the word{H1697} of the LORD{H3068} is unto them a reproach{H2781}; they have no delight{H2654}{(H8799)} in it.

Therefore I am full{H4392} of the fury{H2534} of the LORD{H3068}; I am weary{H3811}{(H8738)} with holding in{H3557}{(H8687)}: I will pour it out{H8210}{(H8800)} upon the children{H5768} abroad{H2351}, and upon the assembly{H5475} of young men{H970} together{H3162}: for even the husband{H376} with the wife{H802} shall be taken{H3920}{(H8735)}, the aged{H2205} with him that is full{H4390}{(H8804)} of days{H3117}.

And their houses{H1004} shall be turned{H5437}{(H8738)} unto others{H312}, with their fields{H7704} and wives{H802} together{H3162}: for I will stretch out{H5186}{(H8686)} my hand{H3027} upon the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of the land{H776}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the LORD{H3068}.

For from the least{H6996} of them even unto the greatest{H1419} of them every one is given{H1214}{(H8802)} to covetousness{H1215}; and from the prophet{H5030} even unto the priest{H3548} every one dealeth{H6213}{(H8802)} falsely{H8267}.

They have healed{H7495}{(H8762)} also the hurt{H7667} of the daughter{H1323}{(H8676)} of my people{H5971} slightly{H7043}{(H8738)}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Peace{H7965}, peace{H7965}; when there is no peace{H7965}.

Were they ashamed{H3001}{(H8689)} when they had committed{H6213}{(H8804)} abomination{H8441}? nay{H1571}, they were not at all{H954}{(H8800)} ashamed{H954}{(H8799)}, neither{H1571} could{H3045}{(H8804)} they blush{H3637}{(H8687)}: therefore they shall fall{H5307}{(H8799)} among them that fall{H5307}{(H8802)}: at the time{H6256} that I visit{H6485}{(H8804)} them they shall be cast down{H3782}{(H8735)}, saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}.

Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}, Stand{H5975}{(H8798)} ye in the ways{H1870}, and see{H7200}{(H8799)}, and ask{H7592}{(H8798)} for the old{H5769} paths{H5410}, where is the good{H2896} way{H1870}, and walk{H3212}{(H8799)} therein, and ye shall find{H4672}{(H8798)} rest{H4771} for your souls{H5315}. But they said{H559}{(H8799)}, We will not walk{H3212}{(H8798)} therein.

Also I set{H6965}{(H8689)} watchmen{H6822}{(H8802)} over you, saying, Hearken{H7181}{(H8685)} to the sound{H6963} of the trumpet{H7782}. But they said{H559}{(H8799)}, We will not hearken{H7181}{(H8686)}.

Therefore hear{H8085}{(H8798)}, ye nations{H1471}, and know{H3045}{(H8798)}, O congregation{H5712}, what is among them.

Hear{H8085}{(H8798)}, O earth{H776}: behold, I will bring{H935}{(H8688)} evil{H7451} upon this people{H5971}, even the fruit{H6529} of their thoughts{H4284}, because they have not hearkened{H7181}{(H8689)} unto my words{H1697}, nor to my law{H8451}, but rejected{H3988}{(H8799)} it.

To what purpose cometh{H935}{(H8799)} there to me incense{H3828} from Sheba{H7614}, and the sweet{H2896} cane{H7070} from a far{H4801} country{H776}? your burnt offerings{H5930} are not acceptable{H7522}, nor your sacrifices{H2077} sweet{H6149}{(H8804)} unto me.

Therefore thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}, Behold, I will lay{H5414}{(H8802)} stumblingblocks{H4383} before this people{H5971}, and the fathers{H1} and the sons{H1121} together{H3162} shall fall{H3782}{(H8804)} upon them; the neighbour{H7934} and his friend{H7453} shall perish{H6}{(H8804)}.

Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}, Behold, a people{H5971} cometh{H935}{(H8802)} from the north{H6828} country{H776}, and a great{H1419} nation{H1471} shall be raised{H5782}{(H8735)} from the sides{H3411} of the earth{H776}.

They shall lay hold{H2388}{(H8686)} on bow{H7198} and spear{H3591}; they are cruel{H394}, and have no mercy{H7355}{(H8762)}; their voice{H6963} roareth{H1993}{(H8799)} like the sea{H3220}; and they ride{H7392}{(H8799)} upon horses{H5483}, set in array{H6186}{(H8803)} as men{H376} for war{H4421} against thee, O daughter{H1323} of Zion{H6726}.

We have heard{H8085}{(H8804)} the fame{H8089} thereof: our hands{H3027} wax feeble{H7503}{(H8804)}: anguish{H6869} hath taken hold{H2388}{(H8689)} of us, and pain{H2427}, as of a woman in travail{H3205}{(H8802)}.

Go not forth{H3318}{(H8799)} into the field{H7704}, nor walk{H3212}{(H8799)} by the way{H1870}; for the sword{H2719} of the enemy{H341}{(H8802)} and fear{H4032} is on every side{H5439}.

O daughter{H1323} of my people{H5971}, gird{H2296}{(H8798)} thee with sackcloth{H8242}, and wallow{H6428}{(H8690)} thyself in ashes{H665}: make{H6213}{(H8798)} thee mourning{H60}, as for an only son{H3173}, most bitter{H8563} lamentation{H4553}: for the spoiler{H7703}{(H8802)} shall suddenly{H6597} come{H935}{(H8799)} upon us.

I have set{H5414}{(H8804)} thee for a tower{H969} and a fortress{H4013} among my people{H5971}, that thou mayest know{H3045}{(H8799)} and try{H974}{(H8804)} their way{H1870}.

They are all grievous{H5493}{(H8802)} revolters{H5637}{(H8802)}, walking{H1980}{(H8802)} with slanders{H7400}: they are brass{H5178} and iron{H1270}; they are all corrupters{H7843}{(H8688)}.

The bellows{H4647} are burned{H2787}{(H8738)}, the lead{H5777} is consumed{H8552}{(H8804)} of the fire{H800}{H784}; the founder{H6884}{(H8800)} melteth{H6884}{(H8804)} in vain{H7723}: for the wicked{H7451} are not plucked away{H5423}{(H8738)}.

Reprobate{H3988}{(H8737)} silver{H3701} shall men call{H7121}{(H8804)} them, because the LORD{H3068} hath rejected{H3988}{(H8804)} them.