20. To what purpose comes there to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me.”
21. Therefore Yahweh says, “Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people. The fathers and the sons together shall stumble against them. The neighbor and his friend shall perish.”
22. Yahweh says, “Behold, a people comes from the north country. A great nation shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.
23. They take hold of bow and spear. They are cruel, and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, daughter of Zion.”
24. We have heard its report; our hands become feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pains as of a woman in labor.
25. Don’t go out into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and terror, are on every side.
26. Daughter of my people, clothe yourself with sackcloth, and wallow in ashes! Mourn, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the destroyer shall suddenly come on us.
27. “I have made you a tester of metals and a fortress among my people; that you may know and try their way.
28. They are all grievous rebels, going about with slanders; they are brass and iron: they all of them deal corruptly.
29. The bellows blow fiercely; the lead is consumed of the fire: in vain do they go on refining; for the wicked are not plucked away.
30. Men will call them rejected silver, because Yahweh has rejected them.”