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Jerusalem’s Last Warning
“Run for your lives, you people of Benjamin!
Get out of Jerusalem!
Sound the alarm in Tekoa!
Send up a signal at Beth-hakkerem!
A powerful army is coming from the north,
coming with disaster and destruction.
“Run for your lives, you people of Benjamin!
Get out of Jerusalem!
Sound the alarm in Tekoa!
Send up a signal at Beth-hakkerem!
A powerful army is coming from the north,
coming with disaster and destruction.
Jerusalem Under Siege
“Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!
Flee from Jerusalem!
Sound the trumpet in Tekoa!
Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!
For disaster looms out of the north,
even terrible destruction.
“Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!
Flee from Jerusalem!
Sound the trumpet in Tekoa!
Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!
For disaster looms out of the north,
even terrible destruction.
I will destroy Daughter Zion,
so beautiful and delicate.
so beautiful and delicate.
Enemies will surround you, like shepherds camped around the city.
Each chooses a place for his troops to devour.
Each chooses a place for his troops to devour.
Shepherds with their flocks will come against her;
they will pitch their tents around her,
each tending his own portion.”
they will pitch their tents around her,
each tending his own portion.”
They shout, ‘Prepare for battle!
Attack at noon!’
‘No, it’s too late; the day is fading,
and the evening shadows are falling.’
Attack at noon!’
‘No, it’s too late; the day is fading,
and the evening shadows are falling.’
“Prepare for battle against her!
Arise, let us attack at noon!
But, alas, the daylight is fading,
and the shadows of evening grow long.
Arise, let us attack at noon!
But, alas, the daylight is fading,
and the shadows of evening grow long.
‘Well then, let’s attack at night
and destroy her palaces!’”
and destroy her palaces!’”
So arise, let us attack at night
and destroy her fortresses!”
and destroy her fortresses!”
This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says:
“Cut down the trees for battering rams.
Build siege ramps against the walls of Jerusalem.
This is the city to be punished,
for she is wicked through and through.
“Cut down the trees for battering rams.
Build siege ramps against the walls of Jerusalem.
This is the city to be punished,
for she is wicked through and through.
This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Cut down the trees
and build siege ramps against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished;
it is filled with oppression.
“Cut down the trees
and build siege ramps against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished;
it is filled with oppression.
She spouts evil like a fountain.
Her streets echo with the sounds of violence and destruction.
I always see her sickness and sores.
Her streets echo with the sounds of violence and destruction.
I always see her sickness and sores.
As a well pours out its water,
so she pours out her wickedness.
Violence and destruction resound in her;
her sickness and wounds are ever before me.
so she pours out her wickedness.
Violence and destruction resound in her;
her sickness and wounds are ever before me.
Listen to this warning, Jerusalem,
or I will turn from you in disgust.
Listen, or I will turn you into a heap of ruins,
a land where no one lives.”
or I will turn from you in disgust.
Listen, or I will turn you into a heap of ruins,
a land where no one lives.”
Take warning, Jerusalem,
or I will turn away from you
and make your land desolate
so no one can live in it.”
or I will turn away from you
and make your land desolate
so no one can live in it.”
This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says:
“Even the few who remain in Israel
will be picked over again,
as when a harvester checks each vine a second time
to pick the grapes that were missed.”
Judah’s Constant Rebellion
“Even the few who remain in Israel
will be picked over again,
as when a harvester checks each vine a second time
to pick the grapes that were missed.”
Judah’s Constant Rebellion
This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Let them glean the remnant of Israel
as thoroughly as a vine;
pass your hand over the branches again,
like one gathering grapes.”
“Let them glean the remnant of Israel
as thoroughly as a vine;
pass your hand over the branches again,
like one gathering grapes.”
To whom can I give warning?
Who will listen when I speak?
Their ears are closed,
and they cannot hear.
They scorn the word of the LORD.
They don’t want to listen at all.
Who will listen when I speak?
Their ears are closed,
and they cannot hear.
They scorn the word of the LORD.
They don’t want to listen at all.
So now I am filled with the LORD’s fury.
Yes, I am tired of holding it in!
“I will pour out my fury on children playing in the streets
and on gatherings of young men,
on husbands and wives
and on those who are old and gray.
Yes, I am tired of holding it in!
“I will pour out my fury on children playing in the streets
and on gatherings of young men,
on husbands and wives
and on those who are old and gray.
But I am full of the wrath of the Lord,
and I cannot hold it in.
“Pour it out on the children in the street
and on the young men gathered together;
both husband and wife will be caught in it,
and the old, those weighed down with years.
and I cannot hold it in.
“Pour it out on the children in the street
and on the young men gathered together;
both husband and wife will be caught in it,
and the old, those weighed down with years.
Their homes will be turned over to their enemies,
as will their fields and their wives.
For I will raise my powerful fist
against the people of this land,”
says the LORD.
as will their fields and their wives.
For I will raise my powerful fist
against the people of this land,”
says the LORD.
Their houses will be turned over to others,
together with their fields and their wives,
when I stretch out my hand
against those who live in the land,”
declares the Lord.
together with their fields and their wives,
when I stretch out my hand
against those who live in the land,”
declares the Lord.
“From the least to the greatest,
their lives are ruled by greed.
From prophets to priests,
they are all frauds.
their lives are ruled by greed.
From prophets to priests,
they are all frauds.
“From the least to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;
prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit.
all are greedy for gain;
prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit.
They offer superficial treatments
for my people’s mortal wound.
They give assurances of peace
when there is no peace.
for my people’s mortal wound.
They give assurances of peace
when there is no peace.
They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
when there is no peace.
as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
when there is no peace.
Are they ashamed of their disgusting actions?
Not at all — they don’t even know how to blush!
Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered.
They will be brought down when I punish them,”
says the LORD.
Judah Rejects the LORD’s Way
Not at all — they don’t even know how to blush!
Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered.
They will be brought down when I punish them,”
says the LORD.
Judah Rejects the LORD’s Way
Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when I punish them,”
says the Lord.
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when I punish them,”
says the Lord.
This is what the LORD says:
“Stop at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
“Stop at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
I posted watchmen over you who said,
‘Listen for the sound of the alarm.’
But you replied,
‘No! We won’t pay attention!’
‘Listen for the sound of the alarm.’
But you replied,
‘No! We won’t pay attention!’
I appointed watchmen over you and said,
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But you said, ‘We will not listen.’
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But you said, ‘We will not listen.’
“Therefore, listen to this, all you nations.
Take note of my people’s situation.
Take note of my people’s situation.
Therefore hear, you nations;
you who are witnesses,
observe what will happen to them.
you who are witnesses,
observe what will happen to them.
Listen, all the earth!
I will bring disaster on my people.
It is the fruit of their own schemes,
because they refuse to listen to me.
They have rejected my word.
I will bring disaster on my people.
It is the fruit of their own schemes,
because they refuse to listen to me.
They have rejected my word.
Hear, you earth:
I am bringing disaster on this people,
the fruit of their schemes,
because they have not listened to my words
and have rejected my law.
I am bringing disaster on this people,
the fruit of their schemes,
because they have not listened to my words
and have rejected my law.
There’s no use offering me sweet frankincense from Sheba.
Keep your fragrant calamus imported from distant lands!
I will not accept your burnt offerings.
Your sacrifices have no pleasing aroma for me.”
Keep your fragrant calamus imported from distant lands!
I will not accept your burnt offerings.
Your sacrifices have no pleasing aroma for me.”
What do I care about incense from Sheba
or sweet calamus from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;
your sacrifices do not please me.”
or sweet calamus from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;
your sacrifices do not please me.”
Therefore, this is what the LORD says:
“I will put obstacles in my people’s path.
Fathers and sons will both fall over them.
Neighbors and friends will die together.”
An Invasion from the North
“I will put obstacles in my people’s path.
Fathers and sons will both fall over them.
Neighbors and friends will die together.”
An Invasion from the North
Therefore this is what the Lord says:
“I will put obstacles before this people.
Parents and children alike will stumble over them;
neighbors and friends will perish.”
“I will put obstacles before this people.
Parents and children alike will stumble over them;
neighbors and friends will perish.”
This is what the LORD says:
“Look! A great army coming from the north!
A great nation is rising against you from far-off lands.
“Look! A great army coming from the north!
A great nation is rising against you from far-off lands.
This is what the Lord says:
“Look, an army is coming
from the land of the north;
a great nation is being stirred up
from the ends of the earth.
“Look, an army is coming
from the land of the north;
a great nation is being stirred up
from the ends of the earth.
They are armed with bow and spear;
they are cruel and show no mercy.
They sound like the roaring sea
as they ride on their horses;
they come like men in battle formation
to attack you, Daughter Zion.”
they are cruel and show no mercy.
They sound like the roaring sea
as they ride on their horses;
they come like men in battle formation
to attack you, Daughter Zion.”
We have heard reports about the enemy,
and we wring our hands in fright.
Pangs of anguish have gripped us,
like those of a woman in labor.
and we wring our hands in fright.
Pangs of anguish have gripped us,
like those of a woman in labor.
We have heard reports about them,
and our hands hang limp.
Anguish has gripped us,
pain like that of a woman in labor.
and our hands hang limp.
Anguish has gripped us,
pain like that of a woman in labor.
Don’t go out to the fields!
Don’t travel on the roads!
The enemy’s sword is everywhere
and terrorizes us at every turn!
Don’t travel on the roads!
The enemy’s sword is everywhere
and terrorizes us at every turn!
Do not go out to the fields
or walk on the roads,
for the enemy has a sword,
and there is terror on every side.
or walk on the roads,
for the enemy has a sword,
and there is terror on every side.
Oh, my people, dress yourselves in burlap
and sit among the ashes.
Mourn and weep bitterly, as for the loss of an only son.
For suddenly the destroying armies will be upon you!
and sit among the ashes.
Mourn and weep bitterly, as for the loss of an only son.
For suddenly the destroying armies will be upon you!
Put on sackcloth, my people,
and roll in ashes;
mourn with bitter wailing
as for an only son,
for suddenly the destroyer
will come upon us.
and roll in ashes;
mourn with bitter wailing
as for an only son,
for suddenly the destroyer
will come upon us.
“I have made you a tester of metals
and my people the ore,
that you may observe
and test their ways.
and my people the ore,
that you may observe
and test their ways.
They are the worst kind of rebel,
full of slander.
They are as hard as bronze and iron,
and they lead others into corruption.
full of slander.
They are as hard as bronze and iron,
and they lead others into corruption.
They are all hardened rebels,
going about to slander.
They are bronze and iron;
they all act corruptly.
going about to slander.
They are bronze and iron;
they all act corruptly.
The bellows fiercely fan the flames
to burn out the corruption.
But it does not purify them,
for the wickedness remains.
to burn out the corruption.
But it does not purify them,
for the wickedness remains.
The bellows blow fiercely
to burn away the lead with fire,
but the refining goes on in vain;
the wicked are not purged out.
to burn away the lead with fire,
but the refining goes on in vain;
the wicked are not purged out.