1. O sons of Benjamin, gather yourselvesto flee from the midst of Jerusalem,and blow the trumpet in Tekoa,and set up a sign of fire in Beth Hakkerem;for disaster appears out of the north,and great destruction.
2. I have likened the daughter of Zionto a comely and delicate woman.
3. The shepherds with their flocks will come to her.They will pitch their tents against her all around.They will pasture each in his place.
4. “Prepare war against her;arise, and let us go up at noon.”“Woe to us, for the day declines,for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.”
5. “Arise, and let us go by nightand let us destroy her palaces.”
6. For thus says the Lord of Hosts: Hew down treesand build a mound against Jerusalem.This is the city to be punished.She is full of oppression in her midst.
7. As a fountain casts out her waters,so she casts out her wickedness.Violence and devastation are heard in her;before Me continually are grief and wounds.
8. Be instructed, O Jerusalem,lest My soul depart from you;lest I make you desolate,a land not inhabited.
9. Thus says the Lord of Hosts: They will thoroughly gleanthe remnant of Israel as a vine.Turn back your handas a grape gatherer into the baskets.
10. To whom shall I speak and give warningthat they may hear?See, their ears are closed,and they cannot listen.Indeed, the word of the Lord is a reproach to them;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 in the streetand upon the assembly of young men together;for even the husband with the wife shall be taken,the aged with him who is full of days.
12. Their houses shall be turned to others,with their fields and wives together;for I will stretch out My handupon the inhabitants of the land,says the Lord.
13. For from the least of them even to the greatest of them,everyone is given to covetousness.And from the prophet even to the priest,everyone deals falsely.
14. They have healed also the brokennessof the daughter of My people superficially,saying, “Peace, peace,”when there is no peace.
15. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?They were not at all ashamed,nor could they blush.Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;at the time that I punish them they shall be cast down,says the Lord.
16. Thus says the Lord Stand in the ways and see,and ask for the old pathswhere the good way is and walk in it,and you shall find rest for your souls.But they said, “We will not walk in it.”