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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Impending Disaster for Jerusalem

Flee for safety, (A)O people of Benjamin,
    from the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow the trumpet in (B)Tekoa,
    and raise a signal on (C)Beth-haccherem,
for disaster looms (D)out of the north,
    and great destruction.
The lovely and delicately bred I will destroy,
    (E)the daughter of Zion.[a]
(F)Shepherds with their flocks shall come against her;
    (G)they shall pitch their tents around her;
    they shall pasture, each in his place.
(H)“Prepare war against her;
    arise, and let us attack (I)at noon!
Woe to us, for the day declines,
    for the shadows of evening lengthen!
Arise, and let us attack by night
    and destroy her palaces!”

For thus says the Lord of hosts:
(J)“Cut down her trees;
    (K)cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem.
This is the city that must be (L)punished;
    there is nothing but oppression within her.
(M)As a well keeps its water fresh,
    so she keeps fresh her evil;
(N)violence and destruction are heard within her;
    sickness and wounds are ever before me.
Be warned, O Jerusalem,
    (O)lest I turn from you in disgust,
lest I make you (P)a desolation,
    an uninhabited land.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 6:2 Or I have likened the daughter of Zion to the loveliest pasture

O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.

The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

For thus hath the Lord of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds.

Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

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