Jer 6 | ABEn | STEP | Grow in strength, O sons of Benjamin, from the midst of Jerusalem! And in Tekoa signify by trumpet! And over Beth-haccerem lift a sign! For bad things look from the north, and [ 2 destruction 1 great] is happening.

Jeremiah 6

CHAPTER 6 Destruction from the North

1 Grow in strength, O sons of Benjamin, from the midst of Jerusalem! And in Tekoa signify by trumpet! And over Beth-haccerem lift a sign! For bad things look from the north, and [²destruction ¹great] is happening. 2 And [²shall be removed ¹your haughtiness], O daughter of Zion. 3 [³unto ⁴her ²shall come ¹Shepherds] and their flocks; and they shall pitch [²against ³her ¹tents] round about. And [²shall tend ¹each] with his hand. 4 Make preparations against her for war! Rise up! for we should ascend upon her at midday. Woe to us, for [³has declined ¹the ²day], for [⁵fail ¹the ²shadows ³of the ⁴day]. 5 Rise up! for we should ascend at night, and utterly destroy her foundations. 6 For thus says the lord of the forces, Cut down her trees! Discharge [²against ³Jerusalem ¹a force], O [²city ¹lying]! Complete tyranny is in her. 7 As [²cools ¹a well] its water, so [²cools ¹evil] her. Impiety and misery shall be heard in her before her face always. 8 In misery and with a whip you shall be corrected, O Jerusalem, lest [²should depart ¹my soul] from you; lest I should make you an untrodden land, which shall not be settled in. 9 For thus says the lord of the forces, Glean! Glean [⁴as ⁵a grapevine ¹the ²remnants ³of Israel]! Return as one gathering the vintage returns unto his basket! 10 To whom should I speak, and testify, and he shall hearken? Behold, [²are uncircumcised ¹their ears], and they are not able to hear. Behold, the word of the lord became to them as a scorning; in no way shall they be willing to hear it. 11 And [²my rage ¹I filled], and I waited, but not finished them off entirely. I will pour out upon the simple ones outside, and upon the gathering of young men together; for man and woman shall be seized; the elder with the one full of days. 12 And [²shall be transferred ¹their houses] to others, with fields and their wives together. For I will stretch out my hand against the ones dwelling this land, says the lord. 13 For from their small and unto great all have completed lawless deeds; from the priest and unto false prophet, all acted falsely. 14 And they repaired the destruction of my people treating it with contempt, and saying, Peace. And where is peace? 15 They were shamed for they failed; but neither as ones being disgraced were they disgraced; and their dishonor they knew not. On account of this they shall fall in their downfall, and in time of their visitation they shall perish, said the lord. 16 Thus says the lord, Stand upon the ways, and behold! and ask [²roads ³of the lord ¹of eternal]! and see what kind is the [²way ¹good]! and proceed in it! and you will find purification to your souls. And they said, We will not go. 17 I have placed over you watchmen; hearken to the sound of the trumpet! But they said, We will not hearken. 18 On account of this, [³heard ¹the ²nations], and the ones tending their flocks. 19 Hearken, O earth! Behold, I will bring upon this people bad things -- the fruit of their rejection. For my word they heeded not, and my law they have thrust away. 20 Why [⁵to me ²frankincense ³from out of ⁴Sheba ¹do you bring], and cinnamon from out of a land far off? Your whole burnt-offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices have not delighted me. 21 On account of this, thus says the lord, Behold, I impute upon this people weakness, and [⁴shall weaken ⁵in ⁶it ¹fathers ²and ³sons] together; neighbor and his near one shall perish. 22 Thus says the lord, Behold, a people comes from the north, and nations shall be awakened from the end of the earth. 23 Bow and pike they shall hold. It is audacious, and will not show mercy. Its sound is as the sea swelling up. Upon horses and chariots it shall deploy as fire for war against you, O daughter of Zion. 24 We heard the report of them; [²were disabled ¹our hands]; affliction holds us down; pangs as a woman giving birth. 25 Do not go forth into a field, and [³in ⁴the ⁵ways ¹do not ²proceed]! For a broadsword of the enemies sojourns round about. 26 Daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth! Strew ashes! [³mourning ⁴as of a beloved one ¹You shall observe ²for yourself] by beating the breast pitiably. For suddenly [²shall come ¹misery] upon you. 27 [³as an approver ¹I have appointed ²you] among peoples being tried; and you shall know in my trying their way. 28 All are unhearing, going crookedly; as brass and iron [²all ³being corrupted ¹they are]. 29 [²failed ¹The bellows] at the fire; [²failed ¹the lead]; [³in ⁴vain ¹the silversmith ²works silver]; their wickednesses do not melt away. 30 [⁴silver ³rejected ¹Call ²them]! for [²rejected ³them ¹the lord].