20. Of what use to me is incense that comes from Sheba,or sweet cane from far-off lands?Your burnt offerings find no favor with me,your sacrifices do not please me.
21. Therefore, thus says the Lord:See, I will place before this peopleobstacles to trip them up;Parents and children alike,neighbors and friends shall perish.
22. Thus says the Lord:See, a people comes from the land of the north,a great nation, rising from the very ends of the earth.
23. Bow and javelin they wield;cruel and pitiless are they.They sound like the roaring seaas they ride forth on horses,Each in his place for battleagainst you, daughter Zion.
24. We hear news of them;our hands hang helpless,Anguish takes hold of us,pangs like a woman in childbirth.
25. Do not go out into the field,do not step into the street,For the enemy has a sword;terror on every side!
26. Daughter of my people, dress in sackcloth,roll in the ashes.Mourn as for an only childwith bitter wailing:“How suddenly the destroyercomes upon us!”
27. A tester for my people I have appointed you,to search and test their way.
28. Arch-rebels are they all,dealers in slander,bronze and iron, all of them,destroyers they are.
29. The bellows are scorched,the lead is consumed by the fire;In vain has the refiner refined,the wicked are not drawn off.
30. “Silver rejected” they shall be called,for the Lord has rejected them.