Jerusalem belägras men folket omvänder sig inte

Fly bort från Jerusalem, ni Benjamins barn!
Blås i hornet i Tekoa,
    res upp ett högt baner i Bet-Hakkerem!
Ty en olycka hotar från norr
    med stor förödelse.
Jag vill ödelägga dotter Sion,
    den vackra och bortskämda.
Herdar skall komma över henne med sina hjordar.
De skall slå upp sina tält runt omkring henne
och beta av, var och en sitt stycke.
Rusta er till strid mot henne!
    "Kom låt oss dra upp vid middagstid!
Men ve oss, dagen går mot sitt slut
    och kvällens skuggor förlängs.
Kom, låt oss dra upp om natten
    och förstöra hennes palats."

Ty så säger Herren Sebaot:
    Fäll träd och kasta upp vallar mot Jerusalem!
Detta är staden som skall straffas.
    Den är full av förtryck.
Som en källa låter vatten välla fram,
så låter den sin ondska välla ut.
    Om våld och förödelse hör man där,
sår och slag är alltid inför mina ögon.
Låt varna dig, Jerusalem,
    så att jag inte vänder mig ifrån dig
och gör dig till en ödemark,
    till ett land där ingen bor.

Så säger Herren Sebaot:
    En efterskörd, som på en vinstock,
skall man bärga på kvarlevan av Israel.
Räck på nytt ut din hand,
    som när man plockar druvor från rankorna.
10 Till vem skall jag tala
    och för vem skall jag vittna, så att de hör?
Deras öron är tillslutna[a]
    så att de inte kan höra.
Herrens ord föraktas bland dem,
    de vill inte veta av det.

11 Därför är jag fylld av Herrens vrede,
jag orkar inte hålla den tillbaka.
    Töm ut den över barnen på gatan
och över alla unga män där de samlas.
Både man och kvinna skall drabbas,
också den gamle och den som fyllt sina dagars mått.
12 Främlingar skall ta över deras hus,
deras åkrar och hustrur,
    ty jag vill räcka ut min hand mot dem som bor i landet,
säger Herren.

13 Ty hög som låg, alla söker de orätt vinning.
Både profet och präst,
    alla handlar de lögnaktigt.
14 De tar det lätt med att hela mitt folks skada
och säger: "Allt står väl till, allt står väl till".
Men allt står inte väl till.
15 De skall stå där med skam,
    ty de har bedrivit avskyvärda ting.
Ändå känner de ingen skam
    och förstår inte att blygas.
Därför skall de falla bland dem som faller.
När tiden kommer att jag skall straffa dem,
skall de komma på fall, säger Herren.

16 Så säger Herren:
    "Ställ er vid vägarna och spana,
fråga efter de urgamla stigarna.
    Fråga efter den goda vägen
och vandra på den,
    så skall ni finna ro för era själar."
Men de svarade: "Vi vill inte vandra på den."
17 När jag satte väktare över er och sade:
"Lyssna till ljudet från hornet", svarade de:
"Vi vill inte lyssna."

18 Hör därför, ni hednafolk,
    lägg noga märke till, du menighet,
vad som sker bland dem.
19 Hör du jord:
    Se, jag skall låta olycka drabba detta folk,
frukten av deras tankar,
    eftersom de inte har lyssnat på mina ord
utan har förkastat min lag.
20 Vad bryr jag mig om rökelse
    även om den kommer från Saba,
eller om bästa kalmus från fjärran land?
Era brännoffer har jag inte behag till
och era slaktoffer tycker jag inte om.

21 Därför säger Herren så:
    Se, jag skall lägga stötestenar framför detta folk,
och på dem skall fäder och söner tillsammans snubbla,
grannar och vänner förgås.

22 Så säger Herren:
    Se, ett folk kommer från landet i norr,
ett stort hednafolk reser sig vid jordens yttersta ände.
23 De bär båge och lans,
    de är grymma och skoningslösa.
Deras röst är som havets dån,
    och på sina hästar rider de fram,
rustade som kämpar till strid
    mot dig, du dotter Sion.
24 Vi har hört ryktet om dem
    våra händer sjunker ner,
ängslan griper oss,
    ångest som hos en barnaföderska.
25 Gå inte ut på öppna fältet
    och vandra ej på vägen,
ty fiendens svärd är där med skräck från alla sidor.
26 Du, mitt folk, min dotter, kläd dig i säcktyg,
rulla dig i aska,
    höj sorgesång som efter ende sonen
och håll bitter dödsklagan.
    Ty plötsligt kommer fördärvaren över oss.

27 Jag har satt dig att pröva mitt folk
    och gjort dig till en fast borg,
för att du skall lära känna och pröva deras vandel.
28 Alla är de förhärdade upprorsmakare,
som går med förtal,
    de är som koppar och järn.
Alla handlar de fördärvligt.
29 Blåsbälgen pustar,
    men ur elden kommer bara bly.
All ytterligare rening är förgäves,
    de onda kan inte avlägsnas.
30 "Förkastat silver" kallar man dem,
    ty Herren har förkastat dem.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremia 6:10 tillslutna Ordagrant: "oomskurna".

Jerusalem Under Siege

“Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!
    Flee from Jerusalem!
Sound the trumpet(A) in Tekoa!(B)
    Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!(C)
For disaster looms out of the north,(D)
    even terrible destruction.
I will destroy Daughter Zion,(E)
    so beautiful and delicate.(F)
Shepherds(G) with their flocks will come against her;
    they will pitch their tents around(H) her,
    each tending his own portion.”

“Prepare for battle against her!
    Arise, let us attack at noon!(I)
But, alas, the daylight is fading,
    and the shadows of evening grow long.
So arise, let us attack at night
    and destroy her fortresses!”

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Cut down the trees(J)
    and build siege ramps(K) against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished;
    it is filled with oppression.(L)
As a well pours out its water,
    so she pours out her wickedness.
Violence(M) and destruction(N) resound in her;
    her sickness and wounds are ever before me.
Take warning, Jerusalem,
    or I will turn away(O) from you
and make your land desolate
    so no one can live in it.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Let them glean the remnant(P) of Israel
    as thoroughly as a vine;
pass your hand over the branches again,
    like one gathering grapes.”

10 To whom can I speak and give warning?
    Who will listen(Q) to me?
Their ears are closed[a](R)
    so they cannot hear.(S)
The word(T) of the Lord is offensive to them;
    they find no pleasure in it.
11 But I am full of the wrath(U) of the Lord,
    and I cannot hold it in.(V)

“Pour it out on the children in the street
    and on the young men(W) gathered together;
both husband and wife will be caught in it,
    and the old, those weighed down with years.(X)
12 Their houses will be turned over to others,(Y)
    together with their fields and their wives,(Z)
when I stretch out my hand(AA)
    against those who live in the land,”
declares the Lord.
13 “From the least to the greatest,
    all(AB) are greedy for gain;(AC)
prophets and priests alike,
    all practice deceit.(AD)
14 They dress the wound of my people
    as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
    when there is no peace.(AE)
15 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
    No, they have no shame at all;
    they do not even know how to blush.(AF)
So they will fall among the fallen;
    they will be brought down when I punish(AG) them,”
says the Lord.

16 This is what the Lord says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;
    ask for the ancient paths,(AH)
ask where the good way(AI) is, and walk in it,
    and you will find rest(AJ) for your souls.
    But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I appointed watchmen(AK) over you and said,
    ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’(AL)
    But you said, ‘We will not listen.’(AM)
18 Therefore hear, you nations;
    you who are witnesses,
    observe what will happen to them.
19 Hear, you earth:(AN)
    I am bringing disaster(AO) on this people,
    the fruit of their schemes,(AP)
because they have not listened to my words(AQ)
    and have rejected my law.(AR)
20 What do I care about incense from Sheba(AS)
    or sweet calamus(AT) from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;(AU)
    your sacrifices(AV) do not please me.”(AW)

21 Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“I will put obstacles before this people.
    Parents and children alike will stumble(AX) over them;
    neighbors and friends will perish.”

22 This is what the Lord says:

“Look, an army is coming
    from the land of the north;(AY)
a great nation is being stirred up
    from the ends of the earth.(AZ)
23 They are armed with bow and spear;
    they are cruel and show no mercy.(BA)
They sound like the roaring sea(BB)
    as they ride on their horses;(BC)
they come like men in battle formation
    to attack you, Daughter Zion.(BD)

24 We have heard reports about them,
    and our hands hang limp.(BE)
Anguish(BF) has gripped us,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.(BG)
25 Do not go out to the fields
    or walk on the roads,
for the enemy has a sword,
    and there is terror on every side.(BH)
26 Put on sackcloth,(BI) my people,
    and roll in ashes;(BJ)
mourn with bitter wailing(BK)
    as for an only son,(BL)
for suddenly the destroyer(BM)
    will come upon us.

27 “I have made you a tester(BN) of metals
    and my people the ore,
that you may observe
    and test their ways.
28 They are all hardened rebels,(BO)
    going about to slander.(BP)
They are bronze and iron;(BQ)
    they all act corruptly.
29 The bellows blow fiercely
    to burn away the lead with fire,
but the refining(BR) goes on in vain;
    the wicked are not purged out.
30 They are called rejected silver,(BS)
    because the Lord has rejected them.”(BT)

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 6:10 Hebrew uncircumcised

Strengthen yourselves, sons of Benjamin, From the midst of Jerusalem, And in Tekoa blow ye a trumpet, And over Beth-Haccerem lift ye up a flame, For evil hath been seen from the north, And great destruction.

The comely and the delicate one I have cut off, The daughter of Zion.

Unto her come do shepherds and their droves, They have stricken tents by her round about, They have fed each [in] his own station.

Sanctify ye against her the battle, Rise, and we go up at noon. Wo to us, for turned hath the day, For stretched out are the shades of evening,

`Rise, and we go up by night, And we destroy her palaces.'

For thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Cut down her wood, And pour out against Jerusalem a mount, She [is] the city to be inspected, Wholly -- she is oppression in her midst.

As the digging of a well, is [for] its waters, So she hath digged [for] her wickedness, Violence and spoil is heard in her, Before My face continually [are] sickness and smiting.

Be instructed, O Jerusalem, Lest My soul be alienated from thee, Lest I make thee a desolation, a land not inhabited.

Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: They surely glean, as a vine, the remnant of Israel, Put back thy hand, as a gatherer to the baskets.

10 To whom do I speak, and testify, and they hear? Lo, their ear [is] uncircumcised, And they are not able to attend. Lo, a word of Jehovah hath been to them for a reproach, They delight not in it.

11 And with the fury of Jehovah I have been filled, (I have been weary of containing,) To pour [it] on the suckling in the street, And on the assembly of youths together, For even husband with wife are captured, An elder with one full of days,

12 And their houses have been turned to others, Fields and wives together, For I stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land, An affirmation of Jehovah.

13 For from their least unto their greatest, Every one is gaining dishonest gain, And from prophet even unto priest, Every one is dealing falsely,

14 And they heal the breach of the daughter of my people slightly, Saying, `Peace, peace!' and there is no peace.

15 They were ashamed when they did abomination! Yea, they are not at all ashamed, Yea, blushing they have not known, Therefore they do fall among those falling, In the time I have inspected them, They stumble, said Jehovah.

16 Thus said Jehovah: Stand ye by the ways and see, and ask for paths of old, Where [is] this -- the good way? and go ye in it, And find rest for yourselves. And they say, `We do not go.'

17 And I have raised up for you watchmen, Attend ye to the voice of the trumpet. And they say, `We do not attend.'

18 Therefore hear, O nations, and know, O company, That which [is] upon them.

19 Hear, O earth, lo, I am bringing evil on this people, The fruit of their devices, For to My words they gave no attention, And My law -- they kick against it.

20 Why [is] this to Me? frankincense from Sheba cometh, And the sweet cane from a land afar off, Your burnt-offerings [are] not for acceptance, And your sacrifices have not been sweet to Me.

21 Therefore thus said Jehovah: Lo, I do give to this people stumbling blocks, And stumbled against them have fathers and sons together, The neighbour and his friend do perish.

22 Thus said Jehovah: Lo, a people hath come from a north country, And a great nation is stirred up from the sides of the earth.

23 Bow and javelin they take hold of, Fierce it [is], and they have no mercy, Their voice as a sea doth sound, And on horses they ride, set in array as a man of war, Against thee, O daughter of Zion.

24 `We have heard its sound, feeble have been our hands, Distress hath seized us, pain as of a travailing woman.

25 Go not forth to the field, And in the way walk not, For a sword hath the enemy, fear [is] round about.

26 O daughter of My people, Gird on sackcloth, and roll thyself in ashes, The mourning of an only one make for thee, A lamentation most bitter, For suddenly come doth the spoiler against us.

27 A watch-tower I have given thee, Among My people a fortress, And thou knowest, and hast tried their way.

28 All of them are turned aside by apostates, Walking slanderously -- brass and iron, All of them are corrupters.

29 The bellows have been burnt, By fire hath the lead been consumed, In vain hath a refiner refined, And the wicked have not been drawn away.

30 `Silver rejected,' they have called to them, For Jehovah hath kicked against them!

Impending Destruction from the North

“O you children of Benjamin,
Gather yourselves to flee from the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow the trumpet in Tekoa,
And set up a signal-fire in (A)Beth Haccerem;
(B)For disaster appears out of the north,
And great destruction.
I have likened the daughter of Zion
To a lovely and delicate woman.
The (C)shepherds with their flocks shall come to her.
They shall pitch their tents against her all around.
Each one shall pasture in his own place.”

“Prepare(D) war against her;
Arise, and let us go up (E)at noon.
Woe to us, for the day goes away,
For the shadows of the evening are lengthening.
Arise, and let us go by night,
And let us destroy her palaces.”

For thus has the Lord of hosts said:

“Cut down trees,
And build a mound against Jerusalem.
This is the city to be punished.
She is full of oppression in her midst.
(F)As a fountain [a]wells up with water,
So she wells up with her wickedness.
(G)Violence and plundering are heard in her.
Before Me continually are [b]grief and wounds.
Be instructed, O Jerusalem,
Lest (H)My soul depart from you;
Lest I make you desolate,
A land not inhabited.”

Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“They shall thoroughly glean as a vine the remnant of Israel;
As a grape-gatherer, put your hand back into the branches.”

10 To whom shall I speak and give warning,
That they may hear?
Indeed their (I)ear is uncircumcised,
And they cannot give heed.
Behold, (J)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.
(K)I am weary of holding it in.
“I will pour it out (L)on the children outside,
And on the assembly of young men together;
For even the husband shall be taken with the wife,
The aged with him who is full of days.
12 And (M)their houses shall be turned over to others,
Fields and wives together;
For I will stretch out My hand
Against the inhabitants of the land,” says the Lord.
13 “Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is given to (N)covetousness;
And from the prophet even to the (O)priest,
Everyone deals falsely.
14 They have also (P)healed the [c]hurt of My people [d]slightly,
(Q)Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’
When there is no peace.
15 Were they (R)ashamed when they had committed abomination?
No! They were not at all ashamed;
Nor did they know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
At the time 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 (S)old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find (T)rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.
17 Also, I set (U)watchmen over you, saying,
(V)‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We will not listen.’
18 Therefore hear, you nations,
And know, O congregation, what is among them.
19 (W)Hear, O earth!
Behold, I will certainly bring (X)calamity on this people—
(Y)The fruit of their thoughts,
Because they have not heeded My words
Nor My law, but rejected it.
20 (Z)For what purpose to Me
Comes frankincense (AA)from Sheba,
And (AB)sweet cane from a far country?
(AC)Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,
Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me.”

21 Therefore thus says the Lord:

“Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people,
And the fathers and the sons together shall fall on them.
The neighbor and his friend shall perish.”

22 Thus says the Lord:

“Behold, a people comes from the (AD)north country,
And a great nation will be raised from the farthest parts of the earth.
23 They will lay hold on bow and spear;
They are cruel and have no mercy;
Their voice (AE)roars like the sea;
And they ride on horses,
As men of war set in array against you, O daughter of Zion.”

24 We have heard the report of it;
Our hands grow feeble.
(AF)Anguish has taken hold of us,
Pain as of a woman in [e]labor.
25 Do not go out into the field,
Nor walk by the way.
Because of the sword of the enemy,
Fear is on every side.
26 O daughter of my people,
(AG)Dress in sackcloth
(AH)And roll about in ashes!
(AI)Make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation;
For the plunderer will suddenly come upon us.

27 “I have set you as an assayer and (AJ)a fortress among My people,
That you may know and test their way.
28 (AK)They are all stubborn rebels, (AL)walking as slanderers.
They are (AM)bronze and iron,
They are all corrupters;
29 The bellows blow fiercely,
The lead is consumed by the fire;
The smelter refines in vain,
For the wicked are not drawn off.
30 People will call them (AN)rejected silver,
Because the Lord has rejected them.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 6:7 gushes
  2. Jeremiah 6:7 sickness
  3. Jeremiah 6:14 Lit. crushing
  4. Jeremiah 6:14 Superficially
  5. Jeremiah 6:24 childbirth