The Coming Destruction of Jerusalem

“Flee to safety, you sons of (A)Benjamin,
From the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow a trumpet in Tekoa
And raise a warning signal over [a](B)Beth-haccerem;
For evil looks down from the (C)north,
Along with a great destruction.
The beautiful and (D)delicate one, (E)the daughter of Zion, I will destroy.
(F)Shepherds and their flocks will come to her,
They will (G)pitch their tents [b]around her,
They will pasture, each in his [c]place.
[d](H)Prepare for war against her;
Arise, and let’s [e]attack at (I)noon.
Woe to us, for the day declines,
For the shadows of the evening lengthen!
Arise, and let’s [f]attack by night
And (J)destroy her [g]palaces!’”
For this is what the Lord of armies says:
(K)Cut down her trees
And pile up an (L)assault ramp against Jerusalem.
This is the city to be punished,
In whose midst there is only (M)oppression.
(N)As a well [h]keeps its waters fresh,
So she [i]keeps fresh her wickedness.
(O)Violence and destruction are heard in her;
(P)Sickness and wounds are constantly before Me.
(Q)Be warned, Jerusalem,
Or [j](R)I shall be alienated from you,
And make you a desolation,
An uninhabited land.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 6:1 I.e., house of the vineyard
  2. Jeremiah 6:3 Lit against her round about
  3. Jeremiah 6:3 Lit hand
  4. Jeremiah 6:4 Lit Sanctify war
  5. Jeremiah 6:4 Lit go up
  6. Jeremiah 6:5 Lit go up
  7. Jeremiah 6:5 Or fortified towers
  8. Jeremiah 6:7 Lit keeps cold
  9. Jeremiah 6:7 Lit keeps cold
  10. Jeremiah 6:8 Lit my soul

The Imminence and Horror of the Invasion

Flee for safety, O people of Benjamin,
    from the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow the trumpet in Teko′a,
    and raise a signal on Beth-hacche′rem;
for evil looms out of the north,
    and great destruction.
The comely and delicately bred I will destroy,
    the daughter of Zion.
Shepherds with their flocks shall come against her;
    they shall pitch their tents around her,
    they shall pasture, each in his place.
“Prepare war against her;
    up, and let us attack at noon!”
“Woe to us, for the day declines,
    for the shadows of evening lengthen!”
“Up, and let us attack by night,
    and destroy her palaces!”

For thus says the Lord of hosts:

“Hew down her trees;
    cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem.
This is the city which must be punished;
    there is nothing but oppression within her.
As a well keeps its water fresh,
    so she keeps fresh her wickedness;
violence and destruction are heard within her;
    sickness and wounds are ever before me.
Be warned, O Jerusalem,
    lest I be alienated from you;
lest I make you a desolation,
    an uninhabited land.”

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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.”

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