Jeremiah 6:16-30

English Standard Version

¹⁶Thus says the Lord:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
    and ask for ^(A)the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
    ^(B)and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
¹⁷^(C)I set watchmen over you, saying,
    ‘Pay attention to ^(D)the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ^(E)‘We will not pay attention.’
¹⁸Therefore hear, O nations,
    and know, O congregation, what will happen to them.
¹⁹Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people,
    ^(F)the fruit of their devices,
because they have not paid attention to my words;
    and as for my law, they have rejected it.
²⁰^(G)What use to me is ^(H)frankincense that comes from ^(I)Sheba,
    or sweet cane from a distant land?
^(J)Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,
    nor your sacrifices pleasing to me.
²¹Therefore thus says the Lord:
^(K)‘Behold, I will lay before this people
    stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble;
fathers and sons together,
    neighbor and friend shall perish.’”

²²Thus says the Lord:
^(L)“Behold, a people is coming ^(M)from the north country,
    a great nation is stirring from ^(N)the farthest parts of the earth.
²³They lay hold on bow and javelin;
    they are ^(O)cruel and have no mercy;
    ^(P)the sound of them is like the roaring sea;
they ride on horses,
    set in array as a man for battle,
    against you, O daughter of Zion!”
²⁴We have heard the report of it;
    ^(Q)our hands fall helpless;
anguish has taken hold of us,
    ^(R)pain as of a woman in labor.
²⁵Go not out into the field,
    nor walk on the road,
for the enemy has a sword;
    ^(S)terror is on every side.
²⁶O daughter of my people, ^(T)put on sackcloth,
    and ^(U)roll in ashes;
^(V)make mourning as for an only son,
    most bitter lamentation,
for suddenly the destroyer
    will come upon us.

²⁷“I have made you ^(W)a tester of metals among my people,
    that you may know and ^(X)test their ways.
²⁸^(Y)They are all stubbornly rebellious,
    ^(Z)going about with slanders;
they are ^(AA)bronze and iron;
    all of them act corruptly.
²⁹The ^(AB)bellows blow fiercely;
    the lead is consumed by the fire;
^(AC)in vain the refining goes on,
    for the wicked are not removed.
³⁰^(AD)Rejected silver they are called,
    for the Lord has rejected them.”