18. Therefore hear, O nations,and know, O congregation,what is among them.
19. Hear, O earth.I will bring calamity on this people,even the fruit of their thoughts,because they have not listened to My words,nor to My law, but rejected it.
20. To what purpose does incense from Sheba come to Me,and the sweet cane from a far country?Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,nor are your sacrifices sweet to Me.
21. Therefore thus says the Lord: See, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people,and the fathers and the sons together will fall upon them.The neighbor and his friend will perish.
22. Thus says the Lord: See, a people comesfrom the north country,and a great nation will be raisedfrom the remote parts of the earth.
23. They will lay hold on bow and spear;they are cruel and have no mercy.Their voice roars like the sea,and they ride upon horses,set in array as men for waragainst you, O daughter of Zion.
24. “We have heard the report of it;our hands grow feeble.Anguish has taken hold of us,and pain as of a woman in labor.
25. Do not go out into the field,nor walk on the road.For the sword of the enemyand terror is on every side.”
26. O daughter of my people, gird yourself with sackclothand wallow in ashes.Mourn as for an only son,a most bitter lamentation;for the destroyershall suddenly come upon us.
27. I have set you as an assayerand fortress among My peoplethat you may knowand try their way.
28. They all are stubborn rebelswalking about practicing slander.They are bronze and iron;they all are corrupters.
29. The bellows blow fiercely,the lead is consumed by the fire;the founder melts in vain,for the wicked are not plucked away.
30. Men will call them rejected silver,because the Lord has rejected them.