Threatened Siege of Jerusalem

“Run for cover,(A) Benjaminites,
out of Jerusalem!
Sound the ram’s horn(B) in Tekoa;(C)
raise a smoke signal(D) over Beth-haccherem,[a]
for disaster threatens from the north,(E)
even great destruction.
Though she is beautiful and delicate,
I will destroy[b] Daughter Zion.
Shepherds and their flocks will come against her;
they will pitch their tents all around her.(F)
Each will pasture his own portion.
Set them apart for war(G) against her;
rise up, let’s attack at noon.
Woe to us, for the day is passing;
the evening shadows grow long.
Rise up, let’s attack by night.
Let us destroy her fortresses.”

For this is what the Lord of Hosts says:

Cut down the trees;(H)
raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished.
There is nothing but oppression within her.(I)
As a well gushes out its water,
so she pours out her evil.[c]
Violence and destruction(J) resound in her.
Sickness and wounds keep coming to My attention.
Be warned, Jerusalem,
or I will turn away from you;(K)
I will make you a desolation,
a land without inhabitants.(L)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 6:1 = House of the Vineyard
  2. Jeremiah 6:2 Or silence
  3. Jeremiah 6:7 Or well keeps its water fresh, so she keeps her evil fresh

Flee for safety, O children of Benjamin,
    from the midst of Jerusalem.
And in Tekoa blow a horn,
    and on Beth-haccherem lift up a signal,
for evil looks down from the north,
    and a great destruction.
The lovely and the delicate,
    the daughter of Jerusalem, I will destroy.
Shepherds and their flocks will come against her,
    they will pitch their tents against her all around,
    they will pasture, each his portion.[a]
Sanctify[b] war against her.
    Arise, and let us attack at noon.
Woe to us, for the day turns,
    for the shadows of evening are lengthened.
Arise, and let us attack by night,
    and let us destroy her citadel fortresses.”
For thus says Yahweh of hosts,
    “Cut down trees and heap up a siege ramp against Jerusalem.
This is the city that must be punished,
    its oppression is in its midst.
As a water well keeps its water cool,
    so she keeps cool her wickedness.
Violence and destruction are heard within her,
    sickness and wounds[c] are continually before me.[d]
Be warned, O Jerusalem,
    lest I turn away from you in disgust,
lest I make you a desolation,
    a land that is not inhabited.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 6:3 Literally “hand”
  2. Jeremiah 6:4 Or “Consecrate”
  3. Jeremiah 6:7 Hebrew “wound”
  4. Jeremiah 6:7 Literally “at the face of me”