Jeremiah 6
1. O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee * out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow * the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up * a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth * out of the north, and great destruction.
2. I have likened * the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate * woman.
3. The shepherds * with their flocks shall come * unto her; they shall pitch * their tents against her round about; they shall feed * every one in his place.
4. Prepare * ye war against her; arise * , and let us go up * at noon.Woe unto us! for the day goeth away * , for the shadows of the evening are stretched out * .
5. Arise * , and let us go * by night, and let us destroy * her palaces.
6. For thus hath the LORD of hosts said * , Hew ye down * trees, and cast * a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited * ; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
7. As a fountain casteth out * her waters, so she casteth out * her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard * in her; before me continually is grief and wounds.
8. Be thou instructed * , O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart * from thee; lest I make * thee desolate, a land not inhabited * .
9. Thus saith * the LORD of hosts,They shall throughly * glean * the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back * thine hand as a grapegatherer * into the baskets.
10. To whom shall I speak * , and give warning * , that they may hear * ? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot * hearken * : behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight * in it.
11. Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary * with holding in * : I will pour it out * upon the children abroad, 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.
12. And their houses shall be turned * unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out * my hand upon the inhabitants * of the land,saith * the LORD.
13. For 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.
14. They have healed * also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly * , saying * , Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
15. Were 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 * the LORD.
16. Thus saith * the LORD, 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.
17. Also I set * watchmen * over you, saying, Hearken * to the sound of the trumpet. But they said * , We will not hearken * .
18. Therefore hear * , ye nations, and know * , O congregation, what is among them.
19. Hear * , O earth: behold, I will bring * evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened * unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected * it.
20. To what purpose cometh * there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet * unto me.
21. Therefore thus saith * the LORD, Behold, I will lay * stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall * upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish * .
22. Thus saith * the LORD, Behold, a people cometh * from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised * from the sides of the earth.
23. They shall lay hold * on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy * ; their voice roareth * like the sea; and they ride * upon horses, set in array * as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.
24. We have heard * the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble * : anguish hath taken hold * of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail * .
25. Go not forth * into the field, nor walk * by the way; for the sword of the enemy * and fear is on every side.
26. O 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 spoiler * shall suddenly come * upon us.
27. I have set * thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know * and try * their way.
28. They are all grievous * revolters * , walking * with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters * .
29. The bellows are burned * , the lead is consumed * of the fire; the founder * melteth * in vain:for the wicked are not plucked away * .
30. Reprobate * silver shall men call * them, because the LORD hath rejected * them.
